Mark 9:1 “And” indicates that the topic continues from the previous chapter. Context is key to understanding the Bible. In the previous chapter, the teaching that Yeshua was doing was concerning understanding Torah from the context of Scripture. The teaching referred to protecting your soul by focusing upon true Torah. The danger of losing your soul (translated as life) was in failing to understand the scriptures. The idea of losing the soul was more like losing one’s way even to the point of losing the opportunity for salvation.

The audience that was being addressed was the crowds that were following him at the time (Mark 8:34). This was not a message to the twelve disciples. It is important to keep this in mind when reading this passage. If he were only addressing the disciples, possibly all twelve would see the kingdom come in power. This is considering when Judas killed himself, prior to or after Shavuot.

The thought is continued in this chapter (Mark 9:1). Yeshua promised that some would not taste death until they see the kingdom of God coming with power. Previously, I was under the understanding that the “kingdom of God” was a heavenly kingdom. This caused me to link this verse with the verse where Yeshua said that John not see death (John 21:21-24). Try to rethink this passage. If the kingdom of God is a celestial kingdom, then we are looking at the possibility that John may have lived to see it. He is the only disciple that we do not have an account of his death. They tried to kill him, even to the point of boiling him in oil, he just wouldn’t die. It is assumed that he died…

If however, we consider the kingdom of God to be the assembly of God as a body of believers, then we have a horse of a different color. At Pentecost, or Shavuot, the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. They immediately sprang into bringing the early church into existence. Very few churches have had the power of that early church. Massive salvations were taking place along with spiritual and physical healings. The “dynamis” (Greek) power of the Holy Spirit landed on the early church fifty days after Yeshua was sacrificed on the cross.

At least eleven of the twelve died hideous deaths. Yet, Yeshua promised that if we follow His word, then we will never see death (John 8:51-52). The argument of the Jews continues by saying that Abraham and the prophets died (John 8:53). Think this through for a moment. “Abraham and the prophets died”, that was their argument. How could anyone who follows the teachings of Jesus fail to taste death? Now we have the clincher of John’s statement. God would be the one who glorified Him (John 8:54-55). Let’s look at that passage now, I can’t help but wonder if it was written with the same event in mind:

John 8:51–59 (NLT)

⁵¹ I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” ⁵² The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” ⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ ⁵⁵ but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷ The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸ Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” ⁵⁹ At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

Context shows that John’s account follows on the heels of a teaching on the Word of God (John 8). Yeshua stated plainly that if people will live according to His word, then they will experience life. This is the same message that is being taught in Mark 8:34-38. Life according to the Jewish people comes from living according to the instructions of God (Torah). If you are not living according to the instructions of God, then you are living in death. Returning to Mark 8, if we fail to rightly interpret the scriptures then we are living in death. Yeshua flipped the statement to focus upon physical death to refocus the listeners on promise of eternal life.

Mark 9:2-9 Six days later, the transfiguration: The transfiguration did not take place immediately after the incident above. The teaching took place almost a week earlier was brought to its completion. If I am correct in tying the incident found in John with this event, then we see a gap between the declaration of Yeshua and the fulfillment of that event.

Peter, Jacob and John were present at the transfiguration. Yup, not James. King Jimmy wanted his name in the Bible so almost everywhere Jacob is mentioned in the New Testament, it is translated as James… For those who are under the disillusionment that the King James is the only inspired translation, think again, because King James changed the word of God so his name would be there.

What is important in this passage is that the statement Jesus made in John has come true. He is not a God of the dead, but one of the living. Moses and Elijah are both mentioned here. The Father is the voice that validated Yeshua. Death then is a transitional state where we cease to exist in this world but are moved to the next world (2 Cor 5:5-6; Phil 1:23-24; Phil 3:20-21).

Matthew 22:31–32 (NLT)

³¹ “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.”

The verification that Yeshua promised was given to the inner circle of disciples. They were instructed to keep the event secret until Yeshua rose from the dead. This event was validated by the Glory of God (Ex 40:34-38). They were given a full verification that Yeshua is certainly the one ordained by God as the Messiah.

The disciples suggested making tabernacles for Yeshua, Moses and Elijah. Let’s think through this for a moment. The Greek word for tabernacle is “skene”, the Hebrew word for it is “sukkot”. Why is this important? The Jewish festival of Booths is actually the festival of Sukkot. It is thought that Jesus was born on the first day of Sukkot and circumcised on the eight day of Sukkot. This is a festival where God’s people are commanded to live in tents or temporary dwellings (sukkot) for one week. It is a reminder of the Exodus. Yeshua took on a temporary dwelling on earth where He lived among us for a short period of time. The significance of the suggestion of the disciples is incredible from the Jewish perspective.

Mark 9:10-13 Connecting the dots: This idea caused a great discussion to take place with the disciples. What did that mean? They questioned Yeshua concerning the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Elijah was promised to come prior to the Messiah to set things straight. They had just met Elijah! They were beginning to understand that if Yeshua was the Messiah, then Elijah had to have come. Yeshua informed them that Elijah had certainly come. He came in the form of John the Baptist (Matt 17:10-13).