THE TRANSFIGURATION
So Jesus is at “The Gates of Hell” in Caesarea Philippi announcing that He is going to build His National Assembly on Death’s Doorstep. If that didn’t get the attention of the Underworld, this next event was sure to.
We know from Mark 8:27 and Matthew 16:13 that Jesus and the disciples were in the region of Caesarea Philippi when Jesus asks them “Who do people say I am?”
Matthew 17:1 and Mark 9:2 tell us that after 6 days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a “high mountain.”
Look at the pin-spot where Caesarea Philippi is. Do you see a “high mountain” nearby they might’ve climbed?
Granted, in six days they could’ve walked down into Upper Galilee to Mount Meron (3,963ft, 1,208m) or Mount Ha’Ari (3,435ft, 1,047m). But they are already right at the base of Mount Hermon, (9,232ft, 2,814m) and Mark 9:30 says that after they departed from where the disciples had been waiting (presumably at the foot of the mountain), they “passed through Galilee.” You could hardly say they passed through Galilee if they were already in Galilee. I think there is strong evidence to support Mount Hermon as the location of the Transfiguration.
I’d far more readily accept even the smaller Galilean peaks to be the location of the Transfiguration than little Mount Tabor (1,886ft, 575m) which rises like a mole hill at the edge of a branch of the Jezreel Valley. It can hardly be called a “high” mountain compared to nearly any other. Mount Tabor wasn’t “identified” as the location of the Transfiguration until 3rd Century when the early Christian writer Origen designated it as the likely candidate; based on what evidence we are not told.
Mount Hermon is the highest peak in the whole land. It now sports a respectable ski resort. 🏔️🌨️🎿⛷️
If 200 rebel sons of God did indeed land on Mount Hermon in the days of Jared with a plot to hijack humanity and take over as lords of the earth, it would make perfect sense for the one and only eternal Son of God to choose that spot to reveal His celestial glory.
And who appears to Him? Moses and Elijah.
There is an interesting role reversal here. The Word of the LORD (the pre-incarnate Christ as the Angel of Yahweh) appeared to Moses in Mount Horeb. Now Moses is appearing to Jesus on the mountain. The Word of the LORD spoke to Elijah in Mount Horeb as the still small voice. And now Elijah speaks to the Word of the Lord in the mountain. Y’all… there is NO way human authors could’ve set up and then achieved that kind of centuries-later payoff. The Bible is absolutely supernatural.
And what is Jesus talking about with Moses and Elijah? Only Luke records that.
“And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”
Luke 9:30-31 ESV
They were talking about the cross, the resurrection, and ascension; His “departure.”
What Jesus was about to “accomplish at Jerusalem” was the beginning of the reclaiming of humanity from the clutches of the fallen realm. I think that Mount Hermon was a very appropriate place for that conversation.
Most of us tend to think that everything wrong with the world is a result of the forbidden fruit in Eden. But that was only the first of three major rebellions that got us where we are today.
- Rebellion of Eden – The idea was accepted that one could question/doubt the truthfulness and trustworthiness of what God said and decide for oneself between good & evil.
- Rebellion of the Sons of God – The idea was accepted that humans could achieve greatness through relationships with the angelic realm; their superior knowledge and power.
- Rebellion of Babel – The idea was accepted that humanity did not need Yahweh and did not need to listen to His commands. Humans would access Heaven on their own terms.
Do you see the progression of pride?
- Doubt God, I can be like God
- I can access divine knowledge.
- I will be autonomous among the gods.
The book of Enoch (ch 7-8) tells the true story behind the myth of “Pandora’s Box.” The chiefs of the rebel angels taught humanity how to make weapons of war, expensive jewels, seductive cosmetics, enchantments and potions, astrology, and interpreting celestial omens.
Even if you aren’t certain about the Book of Enoch, we know from Genesis 6 that the result of the sons of God episode was the near complete corruption of all creation. Only Noah’s family and the critters on the Ark were undefiled.
Jesus has come to break the power of sin and death. He stands on Mount Hermon – ground zero of the plot to hijack humanity – and says to the fallen realm, “Here I am. Come at me, bro.”
😎 Rapper Jesus: “They see me shinin.’ They hatin’.”
I don’t know how glowing and resplendent the angels that rebelled were, but I suspect they were pretty impressive.
I used to think that the statement “they took for themselves wives from all that they chose” might suggest that they forcibly took wives. (And perhaps it does) But now I wonder if it might mean something more like we would say of some billionaire alpha-male, “he could have any woman he wanted.” Like, the ladies were lined up begging to be in the harem. I dunno. I mean, there’s a reason we say things like “He’s got the body of a Greek god.”
And in a mirroring move, Jesus “lands” on the mountain top also with a plan to take a wife. Just one, but of all whom He called and chose.
In my opinion, there are a LOT of parallels here. Parallels to an event only recorded in detail in Enoch. But this Son of God is going to SAVE humanity, not corrupt it. THIS Son of God has the Father’s approval.
The transfiguration is a moment that does this:
Jesus has started the countdown to the cross. From this moment, Jesus is going to start talking a lot more about dying.
A STUBBORN DEMON
While Jesus has been on the mountain, a crowd has gathered at base camp. Mark says it was “a great multitude.” It’s very likely that the remaining disciples had been preaching the Kingdom and healing the sick while they waited for Jesus to return.
But Mark also records that some scribes – experts in the Law – were there questioning the disciples.
😐 It’s like when customers ask a bunch of questions and your supervisor isn’t there, and you’re just trying to answer as best as you can. And then the boss walks in. Whew! 😅
But there’s no time for debate. A man has a severely demonized son. The demon has caused this boy to make many suicide attempts. And the disciples have tried unsuccessfully to cast it out.
Now, Jesus had already given them power over unclean spirits. But this was a particularly stubborn one which could only be expelled by someone who was up on his prayer and fasting.
When the demonized young man saw Jesus, the spirit threw him onto the ground in a violent convulsive fit, foaming at the mouth.
“And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us!”
Mark 9:22 LEB
The unclean spirit wants to kill this kid. Jesus calls it a deaf-mute spirit (Mk. 9:25). It has robbed him of speech and hearing and a normal life. This poor father has had to live on suicide watch. He is desperate. Everything he has tried has failed. “IF you are able to do anything…” he says to Jesus.
“But Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things are possible for the one who believes!” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe! Help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:23-24 LEB
If you are able, indeed! If the Word which spoke the galaxies into existence is able? If the One Who rebuked the wind and waves is able? If the Son of God Who sent a thousand demons fleeing into a herd of pigs is… able? The One Who defeated Death itself…able? Oh yes He is.
“All things are possible for the one who believes,” Jesus said.
Now that I read that, I’m kinda wondering if Jesus was talking about Himself.
Perhaps some capital letters and a parenthetical conjectured mental comment will clarify what I mean:
“All things are possible for the One Who believes (That would be ME. I believe I Am very able to handle this).”
Jesus believes He can handle anything.
Do we?
Lord, help our unbelief.
I think this is a good spot to link this song:
THE FISHY TEMPLE TAX
Jesus gets back home to Capernaum and the census workers are there to collect the Temple Tax. This is not a Roman tax. This is the mandatory 1/2 shekel that every man aged 20 and up is required to pay so that the sacrificial system under the Law can be done to atone for their sins.
“When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the Lord. Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives.”
Exodus 30:12-15 ESV
This was the census that got David in trouble and led to a terrible plague which was only stopped when David offering a sacrifice on what would become the site of the Temple.
“When he [Peter] came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.”
Matthew 17:25-26 ESV
Jesus seems to be saying that as the Son of the King, He does not need to pay the Temple Tax. Jesus doesn’t require a priest to be paid to sacrifice on His behalf in the temple, so why should He pay the tax?
But so as not to offend, Jesus sends Peter to catch a fish that is swimming around with a shekel in its mouth so they can pay the tax.
This may be way out on a limb… but it strikes me that the only other thing I can think of in scripture that came out of a fish’s mouth was… Jonah. And Jonah is a “sign” of how Jesus will be in the tomb for 3 days and then come out. The shekel was made of pure silver. I’ve been told that silver represents redemption; probably because of the silver temple tax. The bases (“sockets”) of the posts for the Tabernacle walls and the hooks that held the curtains together were literally made from melted down redemption shekels, (Ex. 38:27-28). The silver is what held up and held together the house of God. Judas would also betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
With all that in mind, the silver coin taken out of the mouth of the fish is actually a very interesting picture of Jesus’ resurrection.
🤔 Do you suppose the fish was swimming around with that coin in its mouth for three days and nights?
Ya know, I wouldn’t be surprised if it had.
The further NT teaching is that once Jesus has become the once-for-all sacrifice for sin, there is no more need of a temple or its tax. The Redeemed are ALL sons of God through Christ. And the sons are tax free.
😏 Too bad the IRS doesn’t know this.
To The Reader 