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A GLIMPSE OF THE CROWN (I)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Mark 9:1-13

Psalm 75

 

“…till they have seen the kingdom

of God come with power.”

 

A GLIMPSE OF THE CROWN (I)
 
No cross, no crown! Here, Jesus gives a glimpse of His crown—the kingdom of God to come. The transfiguration of Christ is one of the highlights of His life on earth. It is found in Matthew, Mark and Luke immediately after the Lord’s prediction that “there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). By “some of them” Jesus must have been thinking of His inner circle of disciples—Peter, James and John—for they were the only ones who had the privilege of previewing Jesus in His glory during the transfiguration. For a brief moment, on a high mountain (possibly Hermon), Jesus was reclothed with the shekinah glory which He as God Himself possessed, and had removed when He became man (Phil 2:6,7). The glory that emanated from Him is described as intense brightness, shining like the sun, extremely white as white can ever be, with sparkling brilliance.
 
Moses and Elijah visited Jesus at this time to prepare Him to face with courage His coming death on the cross. Why Moses and Elijah? Obviously the reason is because Moses represents the law, and Elijah the prophets. The Old Testament comprising the law and the prophets was what Jesus had come to fulfil (Matt 5:17; Luke 24:27,44). That Jesus had by this time perfectly kept the Old Testament law and fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies is indicated by the Father’s commendation of the Son—“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt 17:5; Mark 9:7). This same commendation, one would recall, was also given at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry—at His baptism. Now that His ministry was about to end, the Father again commended Him for a work well done. Jesus had obeyed the instructions of His Father in every detail without fail and without error. Jesus was a perfectly obedient Son. Just as the Son has obeyed the Father, so also should all Christians obey the Son—“hear ye him.” “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5).
 
THOUGHT: “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Prov 3:35)
PRAYER: “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” (Ps 86:12)

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