Jesus is the Center of a True Theology of Vital Hope

Hopes and Dreams

(Mark 9:9-13, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 26, 2019)

[9] 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. [10] So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. [11] And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” [12] And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? [13] But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Down from the mountain and under the sun

Peter, James, and John had just experienced the Transfiguration of Jesus. They were now on their way down the mountain back to the world that we all know.

They had seen an amazing miracle centered on Jesus who was shining in front of them with the light of God as the glorious Son of Man. They had heard the voice from heaven instructing them, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

They were supposed to do what Jesus said. His first command? “He charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”

Why not tell everyone? The timing was not yet right. Jesus was actually sovereign over coming events where he would appear to be the victim. He knew that he would die. This was all part of the divine plan. He also understood that he would rise from the dead. They could not talk about the Transfiguration even with the other disciples until he had risen from the dead.

Spiritual confusion – the disciples

What did “risen from the dead” mean? They were confused. This requires some consideration. These same three men were the only ones of his disciples that he had allowed to be witnesses to the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus in Mark 5:42. They had seen resurrection before and they (along with the girl's parents) were overcome with amazement. Other gospels mention at least two other resurrection miracles. Also, when Jesus sent out the twelve on mission in Mark 6:7, Matthew's version of the Lord's instructions to his friends included the specific command that they should “raise the dead.” We also know from various passages in the bible that the Pharisaic school of Judaism believed in a coming resurrection of the dead.

What then was the confusion of Peter, James, and John on this occasion? They were “questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.” We know that they were unable to fathom the biblical prophecies regarding the resurrection of the Messiah prior to the general resurrection of humanity at the day of judgment on the last day. We can only conclude that their confusion at this moment was not merely an intellectual problem that would have been solved with more explanation. As Paul writes about their fellow Jews in later decades in 2 Corinthians 3:14–17, “Their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

They didn't need more theological education just yet. They needed the gift of the Holy Spirit that would come to them at the day of Pentecost. Even after the resurrection of Jesus, “some doubted.” Their problem was a spiritual confusion that only God could fix.

Spiritual expectations – the scribes

As this inner core of three among the future apostles sought to come to a more satisfactory resolution concerning the Transfiguration event and the instruction of Jesus regarding his own resurrection, they reflected back upon what the scribal teaching of their youth had been concerning future events.

Jesus was clearly the Christ, but the scribes had taught an expectation that the next event should be, not the coming of the Messiah in the shining glory that they had witnessed, but the return of the ninth century BC prophet, “Elijah.” (See 1 Kings 19.)

Where did the scribes get this idea? From the abrupt ending of the book of one of the latest (fifth century BC) prophets, Malachi. They read in Malachi 4:5–6, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

The scribal expectation, and the understanding of all the Pharisees, did not include a first coming of the Messiah followed by an atoning death as a substitute, and then a singular resurrection and ascension. They did not understand passages like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 that demanded a resurrection after a death. They could not place the suffering servant songs of Isaiah in history and then fit them in with Daniel's teaching about a final resurrection of all of mankind. They had no clue about a ministry to all the people groups of the earth through a church composed of both Jews and Gentiles, though the Scriptures taught this. They rightly saw that Malachi said that Elijah would return before the grand finale of the day of the Lord. But here is the kicker: The Elijah figure had come—John the Baptist—and they missed him. (Luke 1:17, Matthew 11:14).

Spiritual certainty – Jesus

Only one man rightly understood what was going on (Mark 9:12-13). Even today many voices claim perfect knowledge of the world to come. Jesus alone has the authoritative word about his suffering and glory. He knew who John was. Jesus understood every prophecy about himself from the Old Testament and he was prepared to fulfill them all. Only in him can we find the spiritual certainty that allows us to live with godly hope.

We live in the midst of a crisis of hope. Do our beliefs about God's plans for the future make any difference at all? When Jesus spoke about about his own resurrection, the disciples had no idea what he was talking about. The scribes who were experts in their own religious views had taught certain doctrines to their contemporaries about the days to come, but they had no coherent system of hope that could satisfy the longings of eager minds. How was the word of Jesus concerning eternity different from anything else in the world? It came with the certainty of heaven and it was sealed in “the blood of the eternal covenant” (Hebrews 13:20). He is the center of a true theology of vital hope.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 110 – Melchizedek and Jesus

New Testament Reading—James 3:13-18 – Wisdom from Above