Mark 9:9-13

< Back to Mark Index

TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Jesus’ Conversation after the Transfiguration

There is a right time and a wrong time for us to relate our mountain-top experiences.
Let's bring our biblical questions directly to the Lord.

Why did the Lord tell His disciples not to share what they had seen in the mount, until after the resurrection?
What was the content of the disciples' discussion of the Lord's statement about the resurrection of the dead?
How did the Lord answer the disciples concerning this prophecy?
What does "dependant fulfillment" mean?
Is there a right/wrong time to share mountain-top experiences? How did Paul share his mountain-top experience with the Corinthians? (See 2 Corinthians 12:1ff).

If they had started sharing this experience, it would have promoted the wrong idea of what the Lord's messiahship was all about. People would have thought that Jesus was to be King of the Kingdom of God immediately.
They understood the idea of a general resurrection, for that was a part of the Jewish Old Testament thought, but the idea of a resurrection out from the dead was new to them.
See Mark 9:11-13.
This can be looked at as a) partial fulfillment, where John the Baptist partially fulled the Malachi prophecy and the Elijah to come will completely fulfill it in the future, and b) typical fulfillment, where John the Baptist was a type or picture of the one who is to come in the future.
Sometimes we need to use restraint because others wouldn't understand, or because it would fuel our pride. When our sharing is under control and with understanding, it could be the right time to share. Always make sure that it will bring glory to God. Paul shared his experience of being caught up into Paradise, but only after fourteen years.

Have you had mountain-top experiences with the Lord? If so, did you relate them immediately, or did you wait? What were the results?
"Elijah has come and is coming." What does this mean?

Peter, James and John didn't take their questions to the Lord. Do you find yourself searching everywhere else for biblical answers, or do you take your questions directly to the Lord? Cite examples. "They asked Him...Then He answered them..." (Mark 9:11-12)

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:9)