Signs about Jesus or done by him appear to have two general purposes:

1. They were intended to authenticate his ministry and
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   his glory; and
2. They were to
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   people to put their faith in him.

Once we understand a sign, it can sometimes radically alter our

about what the sign represents.

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.… —Mark 9:2ab (NLT)

…As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. —Mark 9:2cd-3 (NLT)

This experience has historically been called the

.

Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. —Mark 9:4 (NLT)

“Elijah and Moses” Appearance Conveyed Several Things:

1. In Jewish thought, Elijah represented the

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   , while Moses represented the
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   .
   

2. Both men had met with and heard

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   voice on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 19, 1 Kings 19)
   

3. In some Jewish traditions, Elijah and Moses appear together as a sign of the coming end of the age and the coming of the

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   of God.
   

Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. —Mark 9:5-6 (NLT)

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them. —Mark 9:7-8 (NLT)

There are several occasions in the Old Testament when a “cloud” signifies God’s

.

At the Transfiguration, God is telling these disciples that Jesus, the Messiah, is His beloved Son, and He

them to listen to Jesus.

For disciples then and today,

is the mark of our listening to Jesus.

Jesus: … “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” —Mark 8:34 (ESV)

Jesus is calling us to

obedience, and God the Father reinforces this with His words to the disciples.

As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.” —Mark 9:9-10 (NLT)

Once Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, it was then time for Jesus to help his disciples understand what

meant by the Messiah, instead of what the Jews were expecting.

Then Jesus began to tell [his disciples] that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. —Mark 8:31 (NLT)

To keep people from mobbing Jesus and trying to force him into a warrior messiah role, he told the disciples they couldn’t tell anyone about this transfiguration experience until his death and resurrection had occurred, when the full nature of the Messiah would be

.

This is important for us, too, because today many people still have the

idea about Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, and what he came to do.

Jesus was calling them and us to open our eyes to the bigger truth of who he is, to let go of many of our preconceptions and personal desires and, instead, see where he is

us, which is to full and abundant life, now and forever.

Next Week – Freedom: Confession