The Transfiguration
Mark has been building the tension regarding Jesus' identity through the first half of Mark. In Mark 8, Peter makes a landmark confession: "You are the Christ." Jesus tells Peter he didn't come to this conclusion himself, but he was enlightened by the Spirit of God. At the Transfiguration, Jesus' identity is made crystal clear; the veil, so to speak, is pulled back. Halfway through Mark, the tension breaks: there's now no denying that Jesus is the Christ.
The word 'transfiguration' comes from the Greek, and it means a change of form and essential nature, similar to metamorphosis. However, Jesus' nature and form isn't changing. Christ is one person with two complete natures, divine and human. This is an unveiling of his true nature, a revelation to the three disciples (Peter, James, and John) of what has been true all along. Glory isn't being added to Christ; His glory is being revealed.
In Mark 9.1 Jesus says some of those present won't taste death until they see the Kingdom of God coming with power. Then he takes some of them up a mountain - Peter, James, and John - for the experience. Why take three disciples and not the whole bunch? A couple ideas:
(a) Per Mosaic Law, three witnesses are required to verify the truth of something. The three disciples serve as a witnesses to the truth of Christ's glory.(b) This is to encourage and prepare these specific disciples (Jesus' inner circle) for what's about to happen. The mountaintop experience will be followed by a dark valley.
(c) The Transfiguration reveals Christ's glory, and it contrasts with his prophecy of his humiliation at the end of Mark 8. Peter resists this - the Messiah is to do the opposite of that! - and Jesus identifies Peter as his adversary. The Transfiguration encourages Peter: despite the reality of what's about to go down, Jesus is indeed the Messiah!
The three disciples were terrified. They were greatly afraid seeing Christ's glory. This was not a pleasant spiritual moment. It was similar to Isaiah's heavenly experience in the throne room of God, in which he was undone and cried out "Woe is me!" The voice of God shatters the stillness: "This is my beloved Son (an echo of Jesus' baptism). Listen to him!"
The Transfiguration connects with the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai in multiple ways:
(a) both take place on a mountain(b) both have the voice of God speaking(c) both have a cloud descending(d) both have incredible radiance(e) both have terrified witnesses
When Moses came down from Sinai, his face glowed from a borrowed glory; he had been close to the presence God, and his appearance was altered. Whereas Moses reflects God's glory, Jesus' glory radiates off of Him. He isn't reflecting God's glory; He is the source of that divine glory.
"What's the deal with Moses and Elijah being present?"
(a) These two represent the Law and the Prophets.(b) Moses and Elijah are the only Old Testament figures who had theophanies on a mountain.(c) Both had unfinished expectations connected to them; Malachi, last OT prophet, mentions both, with roles in Messianic age; them being present with Christ echoes Malachi and informs us that the Messianic Age has come!
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