Do you remember the biblical account of Elijah confronting the children of Israel on Mount Carmel? It’s recorded in First Kings chapters 18 and 19. He asked them, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” One true prophet of God faced off with 450 prophets of Baal.
Elijah proposed a test. The prophets of Baal would prepare a sacrifice for their God, and Elijah would prepare a sacrifice for the true God, Jehovah. Neither one was permitted to put fire under the sacrifice. The god who answered by fire would be the true God.
As you may recall, after nearly a whole day of futilely calling on Baal, the sacrifice on the altar of the false prophets remained untouched. Then, Elijah called the people near and repaired the Lord’s altar. He prepared his sacrifice to God and repeatedly doused it with water until the altar and ground were thoroughly soaked. The Lord answered by fire when he called upon the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. “When everyone saw this, they fell on their faces and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
Immediately, Elijah commanded the people to kill all the prophets of Baal. He said, “Don’t let one of them escape.” So, they took them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered every one of them. However, when Jezebel learned what Elijah had done, she threatened revenge. What did Elijah do? He fled for his life, first to the land of Beersheba and then on to Mount Horeb. He was so discouraged he wanted to die.
Many of us know from our life experiences that the aftermath of a “mountaintop experience” is often a journey into the valley, which can be filled with questions and uncertainty.
In the previous episode of our study from Mark’s Gospel, chapter nine, we encountered the unveiled Christ in the Transfiguration. What a fantastic mountaintop experience! It was something those who viewed it could never forget. However, that incredible experience cast some lengthening shadows.
Our study today centers on verses 9 to 13. These verses tell us about Jesus and His three disciples descending to the valley below, which was both literal and figurative. I’ve titled our study “Shadows of Suffering.” Listen carefully as I read our text, Mark 9:9 to 13.
In this text, Jesus addresses SHADOWS falling across the glorious scenes the disciples had just witnessed. These shadows reveal how glory and suffering are closely related.
The First SHADOW is,
The Prohibition
The text opens with the disciples and Jesus descending from the mountain. What had they seen? They had seen the unveiled glory of God in the person of Jesus as He was transfigured before their eyes! I imagine they were bursting with excitement and couldn’t wait to tell the other nine disciples what they had seen and heard. But Jesus said, “No. You’re not allowed to recount what you saw to anyone – until – until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”
What was the reason behind the prohibition? It was the shadow of unbelief. Could it be, at least in part, Jesus’ response to the Pharisees in Mark 8:11 and 12? “Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking a sign from heaven, testing Him. But He sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”
What Peter, Ja...
