How does Mark 9:2 connect to Old Testament revelations of God's glory? “After six days, Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves, where He was transfigured before them.” Setting the stage: a familiar pattern • “After six days” mirrors the six-day wait Moses experienced before God called him into the cloud on Sinai (Exodus 24:15-16). • A “high mountain” immediately recalls Sinai and Horeb—traditional meeting places between God and His servants. • By adopting these details, the Gospel signals that what follows reprises earlier mountain revelations of divine glory. Echoes of Sinai: Moses and the consuming fire • Exodus 24:16-17—“The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai… and to the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire.” • Both scenes involve: – A select group ascending (Moses with leaders; Jesus with three disciples). – Divine glory manifesting in visible splendor. – God confirming covenant purposes—first through the Law, now through the Son (compare Hebrews 1:1-2). Elijah on the mountain: prophetic confirmation • 1 Kings 19:11-13 places Elijah in a cave on Horeb where “the LORD passed by.” • The same prophet stands with Jesus in Mark 9, showing continuity; the God who revealed Himself to Elijah now reveals Himself in His incarnate Son. Shining faces: a shared radiance • Exodus 34:29—“Moses did not realize that the skin of his face shone because he had spoken with the LORD.” • In Mark 9:2-3 Jesus’ whole being gleams (“His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them,” v. 3). • Moses reflected glory; Jesus emanates it, underscoring His divine identity. Clothed in light: Scripture’s glory motif • Psalm 104:1-2—God “wraps Himself in light as with a garment”; Mark portrays that very garment on Christ. • Ezekiel 1:26-28 describes a brightness “like glowing metal” around the throne; the disciples witness a comparable brilliance on the mountain. The prophetic bridge to the Messiah • Deuteronomy 18:15—God promised a prophet “like” Moses; the Transfiguration shows Jesus surpassing Moses while standing with him. • Daniel 7:13-14—“One like a Son of Man” receives “dominion, glory, and a kingdom.” The Father’s voice in Mark 9:7 (“This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!”) publicly aligns Jesus with that glorious Son-of-Man figure. Shared elements that stitch the Testaments together • Mountain setting • Cloud or brilliant light • Audible divine voice • Covenant or kingdom affirmation • Human witnesses called to testify Key takeaways • Mark 9:2 is not an isolated marvel; it intentionally links Jesus to every prior mountain-top display of God’s glory. • The same Lord who revealed Himself to Moses and Elijah now reveals Himself in the person of His Son—literally, visibly, and gloriously. • Old Testament anticipations of radiant majesty find their fullest fulfillment in Christ, confirming the unity and reliability of Scripture from beginning to end. |
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