Mark 9:5-8 - Peter's Terror and God's Response

Mark 9:5-8
⁵ Peter *said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. ⁷ Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” ⁸ All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

Message: Peter's Terror and God's Response

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - As a reminder, this book is from Peter's information, provided to Mark to record. Lately, much of the encounters have been with Peter at the forefront. Jesus has spoken of his purpose suffering many things, be rejected, killed, and rise again and then Peter rebukes him on this; Jesus then says to his disciples what it means to be a true follower of Him. And now he is transfigured before 3 of the disciples and confirms that his nature is different from Moses and Elijah and his mission is different as he is transfigured into the radiant whiteness that was ascribed to God the Father previously at appearances to men. 

I saw this outline. It shows a turning point in the book at Mark 8:27-30. Prior, it was mostly about Jesus revealing himself by what he does and I think that is a very good summary of what I have reading and studying. Going forward, Jesus presses the claim that he is the Christ. I agree with this, as the messages from Jesus are ramping up. 

As I read verse 3 and Peter's response, after seeing the transfiguration and Moses and Elijah being present with Jesus, he states let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. At my first reading, as a Gentile, I don't understand this. So, here is my attempt to understand this. 

Moses and Elijah are figuratively seen as the Law and the Prophets. Their appearance then denotes this and is showing the bridge Jesus is to the Law and the Prophets. For the Jewish person or the Hebrew, the Law and the Prophets is what was known. And in some ways Jesus' ministry, then, is sort of an unknown or a mystery revealed; I wonder if the disciples are following someone they are still trying to figure out. Jesus remarked that he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). Jesus will also say later in this chapter that Elijah does first come to restore all things. This is said to refer to the final day of salvation. God even comes forward later to say basically, "just listen to My son."

Salvation is an interesting term. As a NT believer, salvation takes on a spiritual connotation.  Jesus has just used this word in Mark 8:35 as he states for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. Salvation occurs when we give up the life that we know and instead choose a life of denial and taking up the cross to follow Jesus. It is believing that Jesus can make us right with God. Thus, following Jesus results in salvation. The term salvation, on one hand, takes on the meaning of Jesus saving us, but the word is also used to describe the end of life. Salvation is not only momentary but life long as Jesus records these words in Mark 13:13 - and you will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. Life is a journey, as I often say, not a sprint. But, salvation is not on our own accord as Peter remarks in Acts 15:11 we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus and yet even Jesus states in Luke 19:10 that the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Thus, in the New Testament salvation is an event or a moment in time but it is also a lifetime. It begins and it continues. It is through the Lord Jesus. Jesus saves. 

Yet, for Peter, at this moment of the transfiguration this salvation idea was still being defined before him. They had heard the message of repent and believe (Mark 1:15), yet they were still in a discovery mode of understanding who Jesus is. They obviously knew he was someone significant for otherwise they would not have responded to Jesus and his call to Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men (Mark 1:17). They knew he had done some incredible works and said some incredible things, but they were still putting it together. So, at this moment, seeing Jesus and now seeing Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, and responding Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah, Peter relies on his past understanding of things. These tabernacles therefore took on some significance in their minds. 

Malachi 4:4-6 are the last words of the Old Testament recorded by the Lord - Remember the law of Moses My servant, statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. And he will restore the hearts of the father to children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse. Elijah, as Jesus recorded will restore all things. 

Salvation is an Old Testament word as well with a slightly different meaning. In the NT it was clearly a spiritual transformation. For the Jew, it represented a future exodus. With God as the active agent, salvation is victory or rescue from danger, defeat or distress. What is clear here is God is the source of salvation. God brings physical salvation to people, like Exodus 14:30 - Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians. Salvation was mostly a word to note a momentary physical happening. Israel obviously experienced a back and forth condition of being saved and being held captive. And yet they looked forward to a day of always being saved physically. But, again it is a physical salvation of not being captive or forced against one will which can be different from this NT idea of a spiritual change or conversion. Despite God saving Israel multiple times, the Israelite still often sought God on their own terms worshiping and serving idols - thus, going after what they could see and in doing this ignored God's commands. God wanted his people to know him. So, although salvation was often a change in physical condition, God still spoke of restoring Israel. As in Hosea 2:19-20 - And I will betroth You to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in loving kindness and in compassion and I will betroth you in Me in faithfulness, then you will know the Lord. 

Thus, the Old Testament yes speaks of physical salvation but also eternally knowing the true God. When Peter spoke of building tabernacles he most have thought that they needed a place to worship God. Tabernacles or tents were constructed and torn down and taken from one place to another. Exodus 25:8 says, And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. And in 25:22 I will meet with you...I will speak to you. Thus, Peter, seemed to desire to build this structure, for he knew that God was present, but he didn't understand it well. For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Peter was trying. He had goofed before, rejecting Jesus after he had told him his purpose in going to the cross. Peter was always trying to figure out how he was supposed to respond to these things happening to him and the disciples. 

At this moment, it happens, God speaks directly to Peter. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. It was clear. God was stating that Jesus was to be heard. Moses and Elijah were gone. Jesus was there. Maclaren writes:

‘Hear Him.’ God’s voice bids you listen to Christ’s voice-God’s voice bids you listen to Christ’s voice as His voice. Listen to Him when He speaks to you about God-do not trust your own fancy, do not trust your own fear, do not trust the dictates of your conscience, do not consult man, do not listen to others, do not speculate about the mysteries of the earth and the heavens, but go to Him, and listen to the only begotten Son in the bosom of the Father. 

Summary - Jesus goes to the mountaintop and brings Peter, James, and John. He was transfigured. They see Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) and Jesus shining as pure white. Something is happening, but they are not sure. Is this the fulfillment now of the final salvation, deliverance, complete exodus from exile? On that note, Peter builds a tabernacle - the place where God speaks. But, still he is unsure and terrified. God steps in and declares to them, what Jesus has already been saying to them, This is My beloved Son, listen to Him. 


Promise: We need to listen. We do not need a lightning bolt or even a voice from the Lord. We are able to simply listen. Jesus has proven to us that we can listen. 

Prayer: Lord, I need to listen to you and never question you. I can take you at your word. You have shown me through the years that your commands are true and that I can trust You. Help me to believe in this. Thank you for this lesson this morning and teaching me through Your Word. Give me insight into Your Word and what I need to understand from it.