Glory - Mark 9

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Study notes on Mark 9:1-13
Glory


Q: What are the marks of the Kingdom that Jesus brings in Mark's gospel so far?


For the second time in Mark, God speaks about Jesus directly but, in contrast to his baptism, this is a private not a public statement. It is likely this occurs because the glory of God (the Shekinah Glory) had not been seen for centuries. The light and cloud that accompanied God's self revelation at the giving of the law (Sinai), at the dedication of the first temple (Jerusalem), and which Ezekiel the prophet saw leaving the temple before the exile of the Jews to Babylon had not been seen since Ezekiel's days.
The Rabbinic writings of Jesus' day record a kind of despair about this, yet, what happens on the mountain in Mark 9 uses a type of language the Old Testament used to describe the glory of God. The witnesses are sworn to secrecy because if the word messiah is easily misinterpreted (see notes on Mark 8:27-9:1 above) we can only imagine what people would have made of reports of this experience.

In Exodus 24 has Moses and the elders standing before God to receive the covenant/contract of the law of God. In Exodus 33:12-23 after Moses has pleaded with The Lord not to abandon his people because of the rebellion where they worshipped the Golden Calf (Exodus 32); Moses asks to see the glory of God but is not allowed to see the face of God because, as elsewhere in the Old Testament, the experience would be fatal.

Q: In the Mark passage where is the glory coming from?
Q: What aspects of the Old Testament do Moses and Elijah represent?
Q: When do people under the Old Testament normally build a tabernacle or tents or booths?
Q: Why do we need a priesthood, temple, sacrifices, purity to mediate between us and God?

Peter is terrified and cries out for the protection of mediation when the cloud of God's presence descends upon them. God speaks - 'This is my son, listen to him' and then there is no one except Jesus. No law (Moses), no prophets (Elijah), just Jesus the mediator, priest, temple and soon to be sacrifice, if you want access to the glory of God.

In verses 9-13 the witnesses discuss the significance of this experience. They ask about Elijah's return before the coming of God (see Malachi 4). The parallels with John the Baptist and Elijah are many, in this instance Elijah opposed Ahad and Jezebel (one problematic marriage) but he escaped them. John opposed Antipas and Herodias (another problematic marriage) but was killed. Likewise Jesus must die.

Q: Why must the glory of God, that has been so longed for, die?
Q: What value does this give to Jesus' death?
Q: Why do we come to worship? What are we expecting?
Q: Why do most people want to see God or experience a more vivid reality than the one we commonly share?
Q: How do you allow worship, prayer, Biblical teaching to change you?