The Transfiguration – Mark 9:2-13

When was your most recent mountaintop experience with God?

Bible Reading

Mark 9:2-13

2  Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

3  His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

4  And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5  Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”–

6  because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

7  And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

8  Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

9  Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10  So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

11  And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

12  Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

13  “But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

(NKJ)

 

Food for Thought

1.   When was the last time you found your self speechless?

2.   Is there a place where you feel particularly close to God?

 

Bible Study

3.   What happened to Jesus on the mountain? (9:3)

4.   Who appeared with Jesus in the transfiguration? (9:4)

5.   What is significant about the people who appeared with Jesus? (9:4)

6.   How did Peter respond to the transfiguration of Jesus? (9:5)

7.   Why were the disciples frightened when they saw Jesus?? (9:6)

8.   What did God say to the disciples? (9:7)

9.   What did God want the disciples to do? (9:7)

10. What orders did Jesus give to the disciples? (9:9)

11. What caught the disciples off-guard and became a topic of discussion on the way down from the mountain? (9:10)

12. Why did the disciples ask Jesus about Elijah? (9:11)

13. About who was Jesus speaking when he said “Elijah has come?” (9:12-13)

 

Kingdom Dynamics

14. Why was it necessary for Jesus to go up a high mountain with his disciples?

15. Why do you think Jesus took time for a trip to the mountains not long before his crucifixion?

16. Why do you think Jesus chose only three disciples to witness the transfiguration?

17. Why did Peter suggest building three shelters?

18. What is implied by God’s command that we listen to Jesus?

19. When and how did you come to grasp Jesus’ glory in a special way?

20. When was your most recent mountaintop experience with God?

21. How would you describe your relationship with God right now?

22. Did the scriptures actually say Elijah would come first?

23. How can John the Baptist’s experience help the disciples understand the nature of Jesus’ ministry?

24. How does the picture of a suffering Messiah shape your view of what the believer’s life is all about?

25. What can we learn from this account about the relationship between the Father and the Son?”

 

Practical Christianity

26. What specific word or command of Jesus can you obey more carefully this week and how?

27. What can you do over the coming week to be more sensitive to God’s voice?