AR 9{Verse 1. And He said unto them, "Verily, I say unto you, 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." In the previous chapter He could speak of Himself as Son of Man who must suffer, be rejected, killed, and rise again. (Verse 31.) And in verse 38, He is the Son of Man who will come in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. And now He will show some of them a sample of the kingdom come with power.
Verses 2-8. "And after six days, Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them." What a sight for mortal eyes to behold! the glory of the Son of God, shining through the vail of His flesh. Peter, and James, and John, were upon the earth, but they saw Elias with Moses, who were talking with Jesus in all that bright glory. Luke 9:31 tells us the subject of their conversation. It was that precious death of the cross, the foundation of all blessing to man as well as the maintaining of the glory of God's throne, and without which He must remain forever alone. (John 12:24.)
Peter said, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias." What a privilege for those disciples to see and hear such wondrous things. But alas! Peter does not see Jesus as the alone Worthy One, that the glory was in Him, while Moses and Elias were in the glory sharing it with Him; as the saints raised from the dead, and the living saints changed, shall share it in the fixture. But Peter wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. Then the bright glory cloud came over them, and the voice out of the cloud said, "This is My Beloved Son: hear Him." No saints, however great, before men can be put for one instant on equality with Christ. His voice is alone to be heard, "Hear Him." Moses the law-giver, and Elias the law-restorer, as such must disappear. Jesus' testimony alone remains. What they taught was true, but grace has told a more blessed story. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 2 Peter 1:16 says, "We made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ... We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with Him on the holy mount.”
Verses 9-13. "And as they came down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of Man were risen from (`among' see N. T.) the dead." He had told them (8:31) of His death and resurrection, but they were not able to receive it. And now they were questioning among themselves: What the rising from among the dead should mean. They had yet to learn that all blessing to man was to be through Christ dead and risen and glorified at God's right hand.
The Jews believed in resurrection of the dead, but did not discern between the resurrection of the just and of the wicked.
Christ is the first fruits from the dead of those who are His. The wicked will also be raised, but at another time to stand at the great white throne to be judged about their sins. The just have their sins already judged in the death of Christ, and when glorified will stand at the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of themselves to God. All the saints who die will have part in the first resurrection, which is resurrection from among the dead.
Another difficulty presents itself to the disciples. "Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?" that is, before the Son of Man sets up His kingdom. They see Him as the King, and expect He is going to set up His kingdom; they are still leaving out the suffering and rejection. The Lord explains that Elias will come as in Mal. 4, and restore all things, but one has come in the spirit and power of Elias, as Isa. 40. "I say unto you, that Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him." They rejected John and also his Savior, of whom he testified.
Verses 14-29. And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them, and straightway all the people, when they beheld Him., were amazed and saluted Him. He asked the scribes, "What question ye with them?" One of the multitude answered, "Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth and gnasheth with his teeth and pineth away: and I spake to Thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not." His disciples did not know how to use the power He gave them. It was all in Him, and given to them if faith were in real exercise. The Lord felt this, and answered, "O, faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall 1 suffer you?" He would soon be away from them, but their faithlessness is not allowed to hinder His goodness meeting in compassion the man's need. He says, "Bring him unto Me." Faith, however small, He will strengthen and answer; the man will find sufficiency in Christ.
The child's state is very serious, the father's faith very feeble, but the Lord has taken the matter in hand, and will see it through. And he brought him unto Him; and when he saw Him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed, foaming. And He asked his father, "How long is it ago since this came unto him?" And he said, "Of a child, and ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." The Lord answers him, that the "if Thou canst" is on his part. "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth," and straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, with tears, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." The Lord answers his faith. And seeing the people coming together, curious to see what was going on, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee come out of him, and enter no more into him." And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him; and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and he arose. His disciples in the house asked Him privately, "Why could not we cast him out?" What a word His answer is to us all. May our exercise in this be deepened, and strengthened. "This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting." Intimate communion with God must ever be in true dependence, and setting aside of all self-pleasing. This is fasting in its real sense before God. Perfect Servant! ever hiding Himself and glorifying Him who sent Him. And what heights and depths we see here. In Chapter 8:31, He is obedient unto death; in verse 38 He is coming in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. In Chapter 9:2-7, He is the center of the excellent glory, and His Majesty revealed to the disciples. (2 Peter 1:16, 17, 18.) Now He comes down to meet Satan, and to deliver the one under his power; and this in perfect dependence upon God. Here we see also the deep compassion of His heart to the needy.
Verses 30-35; But He is rejected, and so as He passes through Galilee, He would have no man know it, for He is on His way to be delivered into the hands of men. Death is before Him, and then resurrection on-the third day, but the disciples could not understand, and were afraid to ask Him.
The reason why they could not understand such teaching was because they were thinking of themselves, of their own importance. He brought this out by asking them in the house in Capernaum, "What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?" But they held their peace; for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. He sat down, and called the twelve, to teach them the way of true greatness; and saith unto them, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." How contrary to the world this is; love delights to serve; selfishness to be served.
Verses 36, 37. "And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them; and when He had taken him in His. arms, He said unto them, "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me; and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me." "In My name"; that is the touchstone. Receiving one such little child in His name, was receiving Him., and also Him that sent Him. "In My name," showed regard for Him.
Verses 38-42. John had showed regard for His name, in a wrong way. He evidently thought this man casting out devils in Christ's name was not right, because "he followeth not us," and he forbad him. "Us" is very important, and tells of self-love instead of singleness of eye for Christ's glory. And Jesus said, "Forbid him not; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me; for he that is not against us is on our part, for whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily, I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." How important this name is, how much is in it! (Heb. 6:10.) This love for His name accompanies salvation.
And sad indeed is the fate of any who would spread a snare to cause the little ones who believe in Him to stumble; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. It would be opposition to God, and would bring down His judgment on such.
Verses 43-48. Another great lesson for them was to be faithful for Christ, and if it were something of as great value as a hand, a foot, or an eye, it. was better to get rid of it; better to enter into life maimed or halt, than to be lost, to go into the hell (gehenna) of fire that never shall be quenched. And three times the Lord says, "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." The pleasures of sin are only for a season, and then eternity.
With Christ it is pleasures begun now, and lasting for evermore.
Verses 49, 50. For every one shall be salted with fire. This applies to all. The judgment of God consumes the dross of the saints' ways; their sins' judgment was borne by their Savior on the cross. The sinner in his sins will be under this judgment of God forever. Salted by fire. And every sacrifice shall be salted with salt (see Lev. 2:13). The salt connects the sacrifice with God; it keeps it from what is defiling. We are to judge daily what is suitable to God, and thus to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, our intelligent service. (Rom. 12:1, 2.) If we mix up with what is of the world; the salt may lose its saltness. "Wherewith will ye season it?" Have salt in yourselves. We need diligence to keep our sanctification before God, and be at peace one with another, walking with each other in the fear of God.