[1] And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, [2] And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. [3] And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. [4] Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. [5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. [6] And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. [7] And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. [8] And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Verses 1-3 Expanded Bible Comments
| And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, [2] And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. [3] And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| After six days from what? | Six days after Jesus told how he would be delivered to the priests and killed at Jerusalem. It is also six days since he told them "There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." |
| Why did Jesus take these three with him? | It would appear he loved Peter, James and John most because of their zeal. Remember how Peter for a moment walked on the water and later proclaimed "Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God." And of James and John, please see Mark 3:17. |
| Is there any significance to them going into a "high mountain?" | We know that mountain is the symbol for a kingdom. A high mountain likely pictures the Kingdom of God. |
| While there, what happened to Jesus, and what does that picture? | He was transfigured so that his face shone as the sun and his clothes appears as white light. |
| Who appeared with Jesus? | Moses and Elijah. |
| Why those men? | Moses pictured the Jewish people and the age of the Law. Elijah pictured the church in the flesh and the Gospel Age. |
| Were Moses and Elijah really with him in the mount? Please give evidence to back up your answer. | No. The whole thing was a vision, and we are told this in verse 9 – "Tell the vision to no man." Also, Moses and Elijah had already died. Since Jesus was "the firstborn from the dead" (Col. 1:18) this could not have actually been Moses and Elijah. |
Verses 4-8 Expanded Bible Comments
| Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. [5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. [6] And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. [7] And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. [8] And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| What did Peter want to do? | Build tabernacles, one each for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. |
| Did this indicate a worldly or a spiritual attitude on the part of Peter? | While the desire to stay "on the mountain top" among the brethren indicates an appreciation of the spiritual blessings yet the reality is that in order to attain to the kingdom we must develop our characters in by experiencing the conflict with the world, the flesh and the devil. – R2660:1 |
| What happened while Peter was speaking? | God spoke out of the cloud: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." |
| How did the three disciples react to this? | They were "sore afraid" and fell on their faces. |
| What did Jesus do? | As with all of us, He touched them and calmed their fears. |
[9] And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. [10] And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? [11] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things. [12] But I say unto you, That Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. [13] Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Verses 9-13 Expanded Bible Comments
| And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. [10] And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? [11] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things. [12] But I say unto you, That Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they wanted. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. [13] Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| Why did Jesus tell them not to tell anyone about the vision? | 1. It was not the time for this to be known. 2. People would have thought them mad. |
| Did the disciples notice what Jesus said about the Son of man rising from the dead? | Yes but there is no record that they asked Jesus about it. Mark 9:10 |
| What prompted the disciples to ask "Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?" | They had just seen Elijah talking with Jesus and Moses. |
| What is the prophecy Jesus and his disciples were referring to? | Mal. 4:5-6 |
| Did John the Baptist "restore all things?" | He attempted but failed. |
| Who does Elijah picture? | The Christ, Head and body (the church,) in the flesh during the Gospel Age. |
| How do we explain our Lord's words here: "Elijah shall first come, and restore all things?" | In the Mal. 4:5-6 it says that Elijah will come "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD." It then tells us about the work of Elijah in converting the world and finally adds "Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." The fact that the Lord added this warning about smiting the earth (organized society) indicates, at least, the possibility that Elijah may not be successfull in his mission. Otherwise, what would be the sense of this warning? Just as John the Baptist did a restorative work which reached a small portion of the people but was, in the main, unsuccessfull, so too the church in the flesh during the Gospel Age has done a work of converting the world from its fallen ways but has, for the most part, likewise been unsuccessfull. Thus the church in the flesh has done the Elijah work, but, because of only limited success, the Lord comes to smith the earth (organized society) with a curse ("the great and dreadful day of the LORD," the "time of trouble.") |
[14] And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, [15] Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. [16] And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. [17] Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. [18] And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
[19] Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? [20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. [21] Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Verses 14-16 Expanded Bible Comments
| And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, [15] Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. [16] And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| What was the condition of the man's son? | He was possessed by a devil, vexed and would often fall into fire and into water. |
| What did the man do prior to coming to Jesus? | He asked Jesus' disciples to heal his son. |
| What did the man ask of Jesus? | For Jesus to have mercy on him. |
Verses 17 Expanded Bible Comments
| Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| Why did Jesus say "O faithless and perverse generation?" | The multitude included the scribes (Mark 9:14,16.) While they all needed an increase in faith, the scribes had perverted the word of God. It may be that he was especially addressing them with this remark. |
| Why did Jesus say "how long shall I be with you?" | He was implying that he would be not be with them very long. Also that they would not be able to have his miraculous healing for much longer. |
| What did he mean by "how long shall I suffer you?" | "How long shall I bear with you?" |
| What did he instruct the people to do? | To bring him the child. |
Mark 9:20-24 Expanded Bible Comments
| And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. [21] And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. [22] And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. [23] Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. [24] And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| What did the evil spirit do? | Tore him so that he fell on the ground. |
| How long had the man's son been like this? | Since childhood. |
| What did the man think the devil was trying to do to his son? | "To destroy him." |
| What did the man ask of Jesus? | To have compassion on both him and his son. This implied that he hoped Jesus could relieve the situation. |
| What was Jesus' response? | "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." |
| Is this a different lesson than he had taught before? | No. He was always emphasizing the importance of faith. |
| How did the man respond? | The man did have faith but he feared that his faith was not strong enough to he asked Jesus for help with his faith. |
| What lesson is there for us? | If we feel that we have a lack of faith then we too should turn to the Lord and ask Him to increase our faith. |
Verses 18 Expanded Bible Comments
| And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| What did Jesus do? | He cast out the devil and cured the child. Also, in Mark 9:25 he commanded the spirit not only to leave the child but not to return. |
Verses 19-21 Expanded Bible Comments
| Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? [20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. [21] Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| What question did the disciples ask of Jesus? | Why were we unable to cast out this evil spirit? |
| What was Jesus' response. | Because their faith was not strong enough. |
| What did Jesus say that someone could do if they had enough faith? | That person could say to a mountain, "Remove hence to yonder place" and it would happen. |
| Was Jesus exaggerating? | No. But the person having the proper faith would also recognize that he should be asking for nothing that would not be in harmony with God's will. If it were God's will that a mountain should be removed out of its place by the command of one or more of His faithful servants then we may be assured that it would take place. |
| Has anyone ever successfully done this? | Yes. Pastor Russell taught for nearly forty years that the great Mountain (kingdom) of Christendom would be removed out of its place and be cast into the sea (irreligious masses of mankind,) and it happened. |
| What is impossible to someone who has the right level of faith? | Nothing that is in harmony with the will of God. |
| What comfort did Jesus give to his disciples? | He told them that this evil spirit was particularly strong and could only be cast out "by prayer and fasting." |
[22] And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: [23] And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
Verses 22-23 Expanded Bible Comments
| And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: [23] And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| What did Jesus tell his disciples would happen to him? | He would be betrayed, and killed, but that he would rise on the third day. |
| What was their reaction? | "They were exceeding sorry." |
[24] And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? [25] He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? [26] Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. [27] Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Verses 24-27 Expanded Bible Comments
| And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? [25] He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? [26] Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. [27] Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. | |
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| Question | Answer |
| What did the tax-collectors ask of Peter? | Does Jesus pay taxes? |
| How did Peter respond? | Yes. |
| What did Jesus explain to Peter? | That the kings of the earth take tribute (taxes) of those they rule over (strangers) but not of their children. |
| What did Jesus tell Peter to do? | Go to the shore and find a fish. It would have the money in its mouth to pay their taxes. |
| What lesson is there for us? | There are at least two lessons. (1) We should not complain about our taxes and other such things that the governments of this world place on us. Remember, they could have no power unless it was permitted of God. (2) While we should make every reasonable effort to take care of ourselves and our family, when it becomes more than it seems we are able to handle, take it to the Lord in prayer and trust in His overruling providences. |