God, Please Show Me Your Glory: A Study of Mark 9:2-9

Welcome to an in-depth study of Mark 9:2-9. In this blog, we’ll look at the context of this passage, analyze the text, explore its significance, discover the lessons God has in store for us, and apply the teachings to our lives. We’ll also be looking at the call to action: God loves to answer the prayer, “Show me your glory.” When your soul hungers, your tank feels empty, and you’re running on fumes when you open your Bible in the morning and ask for God’s help, a tremendous go-to request is this simple, honest, humble plea: “Father, show me your glory.”

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, leading them up a mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
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 know what else to say, for they were terrified.
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.
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.
Mark 9:2-9

An Introduction to Mark 9:2-9

Mark 9:2-9 is a story about Jesus and his disciples. In this passage, Jesus takes three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, up a mountain to pray. While they are on the mountain, Jesus is transfigured before them, his face shines like the sun, and his clothes become white and dazzling. Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus. A voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

The passage of Mark 9:2-9 is a powerful reminder of Jesus’ glory and the importance of listening to him. It is a reminder of God’s power and majesty and the importance of obedience. It reminds us that even amidst doubt and struggle, God is still with us and in control.

What is The Context of Mark 9:2-9

Mark 9:2-9 is part of a more significant section of the Gospel of Mark, chapters 8-10. This section is often referred to as the “Theological Interlude.” In this section, Jesus prepares his disciples for his death and resurrection. In Mark 8:31-33, Jesus predicts his death for the third time, and in Mark 9:30-32, he predicts his death for the fourth time. Mark 9:2-9 is sandwiched between these two predictions and reminds the disciples of Jesus’ glory and power.

This passage is also a larger theme in Mark of Jesus’ glory. In Mark 1:9, we see the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus like a dove and a voice from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.” In Mark 8:38, Jesus says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” In Mark 9:2-9, we see the glory of Jesus shining like the sun.

An Analysis of Mark 9:2-9, a second look.

The passage of Mark 9:2-9 is full of symbolism and meaning. It is a powerful reminder of God’s glory, power, and majesty. It reminds us of Jesus’ divinity and our need to listen to him. Let’s take a closer look at the passage.

In verse 2, Jesus takes three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, up a mountain to pray. This is significant because it shows that Jesus set aside time to pray and commune with his disciples. Jesus was taking the time to pour into his disciples and to prepare them for what was to come.

In verse 3, Jesus is transfigured before them, his face shines like the sun, and his clothes become white and dazzling. This is a powerful image of Jesus’ glory and power. It reminds us that Jesus is not just a man but the Son of God.

In verse 4, Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus. This is significant because it shows that Jesus is in the same category as Moses and Elijah. He is a prophet and a leader of God’s people.

In verse 5, a voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” This is significant because it shows that Jesus is God’s beloved Son and that we should obey him.

In verse 9, Peter suggests they build three dwellings (or tents). This is a reminder of the Israelites in the wilderness who built dwellings to worship God. It reminds us that even amidst struggle and doubt, God is still with us and in control.

How should we look At these nine verses: Mark 9:2-9

Now that we’ve looked at the passage of Mark 9:2-9 let’s consider how we should look at this passage. First, we should remember that this passage reminds us of Jesus’ glory and power. It reminds us that Jesus is not just a man but the Son of God. It reminds us that we should listen to Jesus and obey his commands.

Second, we should remember that this passage reminds us of God’s love for us. The voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” God loves us and wants us to know and love his Son.

Finally, we should remember that this passage reminds us of our need for faith. The disciples were full of doubt and fear, but Jesus was still with them and in control. In the same way, even when we are full of doubt and fear, God is still with us and is still in control. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he will never leave or forsake us.

The Significance of Mark 9:2-9

Now that we’ve taken a look at the context, the symbolism, and the meaning of Mark 9:2-9, let’s consider the significance of this passage. This passage is significant because it reminds of Jesus’ glory and power. It reminds us that Jesus is not just a man but the Son of God. It reminds us that we should listen to Jesus and obey his commands.

This passage is also significant because it reminds us of God’s love for us. The voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” God loves us and wants us to know and love his Son.

Finally, this passage is significant because it reminds us of our need for faith. The disciples were full of doubt and fear, but Jesus was still with them and in control. In the same way, even when we are full of doubt and fear, God is still with us and is still in control. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he will never leave or forsake us.

What does God want us to Learn From Mark 9:2-9

Now that we’ve taken a look at the context, the symbolism, and the meaning of Mark 9:2-9, let’s consider what God wants us to learn from this passage. First, God wants us to understand that Jesus is not just a man but is the Son of God. He is the one who reveals God’s glory and power. We should listen to him and obey his commands.

Second, God wants us to learn that he loves us. The voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” God loves us and wants us to know and love his Son.

Finally, God wants us to learn that we need faith. The disciples were full of doubt and fear, but Jesus was still with them and in control. In the same way, even when we are full of doubt and fear, God is still with us and is still in control. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he will never leave or forsake us.

Practical Application

Now that we’ve taken a look at the context, the symbolism, and the meaning of Mark 9:2-9, let’s consider how we can apply this passage to our lives. First, we can remember that Jesus is not just a man but is the Son of God. He is the one who reveals God’s glory and power. We should listen to him and obey his commands.

Second, we can remember that God loves us. The voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” God loves us and wants us to know and love his Son.

Finally, we can remember that we need faith. The disciples were full of doubt and fear, but Jesus was still with them and in control. In the same way, even when we are full of doubt and fear, God is still with us and is still in control. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he will never leave or forsake us.

We can also pray, “Father, show me your glory.” When our souls’ hunger, our tanks feel empty, when we’re running on fumes, when we open our Bibles in the morning and ask for God’s help, this is a great go-to request. God loves to answer this simple, honest, humble plea.

Closing Reflections on Mark 9:2-9

Mark 9:2-9 is a powerful reminder of Jesus’ glory and power. It reminds us of God’s love for us, our need for faith, and our need to listen to Jesus and obey his commands. We can take comfort in knowing that even amidst doubt and fear, God is still with us and in control. We can also comfort ourselves knowing God loves to answer the prayer, “Show me your glory.” When our souls’ hunger, our tanks feel empty, when we’re running on fumes, when we open our Bibles in the morning and ask for God’s help, this is a great go-to request.

Conclusion: God Will Show Us His Glory

Mark 9:2-9 is a powerful reminder of Jesus’ glory and power. It reminds us of God’s love for us, our need for faith, and our need to listen to Jesus and obey his commands. When we open our Bibles in the morning and ask for God’s help, a tremendous go-to request is this simple, honest, humble plea: “Father, show me your glory.” God loves to answer this prayer. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he will never leave or forsake us. As we take comfort in knowing this, we can trust that God will show us his glory.

 

Bruce Mitchell is a speaker, writer, and Bible teacher who loves to share God’s Word in everyday life. He has studied at Biola University and Dallas Theological Seminary. His blog (Allelon.us) is all about the principles of Agapao Allelon (Loving One Another) and God’s Mercy, Grace, Love, and Forgiveness and how it applies to our daily lives as Christ-Followers. (1 Peter 4:8)