Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 64 – The essence of God – Omnipotence (miracles). Mar 8:10-21; 22-26; Luk 9:28-36.

Title: Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict, part 64 - The essence of God - Omnipotence (miracles). MAR 8:10-21; 22-26; LUK 9:28-36.      

 

MAR 8:10 And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples, and came to the district of Dalmanutha.

 

It is amazing what He says to them next. It’s not a part of the miracle but the fallout after the miracle if the believer remains under falsehood and human viewpoint.  

 

MAR 8:11 And the Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.

 

MAR 8:12 And sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation." 

 

His hour is soon approaching. The feeding of the 5000 was done at the Passover before His final Passover. It is now around summer/fall and He will leave the northern territory of Galilee and Decapolis for the last time. Only a few more months remain. Not only is He grieved because this generation in Israel doesn’t get it, but also because His hand picked disciples are still just as lost.

 

Since Mark was writing primarily for Gentile readers, he did not include our Lord's words concerning the sign of the Prophet Jonah (Matt 16:4, and see Matt 12:38-41). What is "the sign of Jonah"? First it is the warning of the destruction of the city unless there is repentance. Secondly it is the three days in the belly of the fish, representing Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The proof that Jesus is what He claimed to be is the fact of His own death, burial, and resurrection in the first gospel messages at Pentecost (Acts 2:22-36; 3:12-26).

 

MAR 8:13 And leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.

 

MAR 8:14 And they had forgotten to take bread; and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them.

 

It’s serious discussion time.

 

MAR 8:15 And He was giving orders to them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

 

Leaven represents sin, evil, and falsehood.

 

In this context, Jesus warned them about the false doctrine and legalism of the Pharisees and the followers of Herod. The Pharisees honored God with their lips but their heart was far from Him. They practiced and encouraged hypocrisy. The Herodians were a worldly group who catered to Herod Antipas (Herod the Great’s son), accepted the Roman way of life, and saw in Herod and his rule the promised kingdom for the Jewish nation.

 

The Lord warns them against the infection of legalism and false doctrine [leaven of Pharisees] as well as hope in worldly rulers for deliverance [leaven of Herod].

 

If this false teaching got into the hearts and minds of the disciples, it would infect them and pollute the truth Jesus Christ had given them to proclaim about Himself and His kingdom.

 

MAR 8:16 And they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.

 

Jesus left the Pharisees and crossed to the east side of the Sea of Galilee, and en route taught His disciples an important spiritual lesson. It appears that they were almost as blind as the Pharisees! The men were having a private discussion about their food supply, because somebody had forgotten to pack bread.

 

It must have grieved Jesus that His handpicked helpers were so spiritually obtuse. The fact that He had multiplied bread on two occasions and fed over 10,000 people had apparently made little impression on them! Why worry and argue over one loaf of bread when you have Jesus in the boat with you?

 

Their minds were dull, their hearts were hard:

Mark 6:51-52

And He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were greatly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

 

Their eyes were blind, and their ears were deaf as they often did not understand, but He loved them to the end and was patient, just like He is with you and me. Not only does the student need to be patient, but so does the teacher.

 

MAR 8:17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?

 

MAR 8:18 "Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember,

 

We can never be too careful about detecting and avoiding false doctrine. Only a small deviation from the Word may get into an individual or a church, but before long it will grow and infect everything. Only a little bit of leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. Our Lord did not often say "Beware!" but when He did it was important!

 

MAR 8:19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets [small baskets] full of broken pieces you picked up?" They said to Him," Twelve."

 

MAR 8:20 "And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven."

 

MAR 8:21 And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?"

 

He says the same thing, in the same manner as in verse 17. First, there was always more than enough provided by God. 

 

It is interesting that His question revolves around “how many,” and the answers are twelve and seven.

 

Twelve = the tribes of Israel and the apostles. Provision for Israel and the Church. Seven = Divine perfection and fulfillment of all God’s will.

 

24. Healing the blind man at Bethsaida. The light of God’s power comes progressively as the positive believer persists in faith in the word of God, MAR 8:22-26.

 

MAR 8:22 [only Mark] And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Him, and entreated Him to touch him.

 

Bethsaida was already reproached by Christ because so many miracles had been done there and still the city did not repent of their thinking about Christ. Therefore, Christ is going to take him out of the village.

 

LUK 10:13

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

 

Interestingly, Philip the apostle is from this city.

 

MAR 8:23 And taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes, and laying His hands upon him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?" 

 

MAR 8:24 And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about."

 

This is the only gradual healing and it reveals that the light of God’s power is not always attained immediately but progressively as we persist in faith and grow in grace and knowledge.

 

Kind of seeing is motivation for perfect vision of the things of God. One could not imagine this man saying that this far is enough or that I’m fine with only seeing things blurry. The same is true of the positive believer. He gets a glimpse of power as he gropes about in God’s plan and that only increases his desire for a perfect view of everything.

 

Partial glimpses of God’s power in the believer’s life are motivation for more complete vision of power.

 

MAR 8:25 Then again He laid His hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.

 

Light is shed on everything clearly. This is the light of aletheia. What was once buried first became fuzzy but recognizable and then eventually, as we continue in faith in His word, everything becomes clear.

 

MAR 8:26 And He sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village."

 

The man is not from Bethsaida and the Lord instructs him not to return to the village but to go home to reveal what Christ had done for him. Bethsaida had her fill of miracles and one more wasn’t going to help and, this man, now full of wonder and faith would have more impact and a greater reception at his own home for in the village he would have most likely been ridiculed.

 

25. The transfiguration of Jesus Christ. God’s power means Christ’s absolute victory over all opposition as well as fulfillment of all promises to Israel and the Church, LUK 9:28-36.

 

It is important to note that eight days earlier the Lord asked the disciples the question of who do the multitudes say that I am. Various false answers are given and then Peter, in great faith, steps out and says that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is then that the Lord states again that He will suffer by the hand of the elders, chief priests and scribes and that He will be killed but raised three days later. Infamously Peter responds by forbidding Him to go to Jerusalem and we all know the Lord’s famous reply to that.

 

The disciples have had a number of days to think over this, days of silence in the gospels but we can be sure days full of instruction about the Lord’s death and resurrection, and now the time is perfect for the inner three to see the future glory of the Lord. Though He will suffer and be killed, He will rise again in glory and He is seen with Moses (who died and was buried) and Elijah (who was directly translated to heaven, or raptured before death).

 

LUK 9:28 And some eight days after these sayings, it came about that He took along Peter and John and James, and went up to the mountain to pray.

 

It is evening since in verse 37 they return the next day.

 

Most scholars believe this to be Mount Hermon, which has several peaks, the highest being 9,400 feet and is snow covered, but now in the summer/fall there is only a little snow. They obviously didn’t climb the greatest peak, but up into one of the smaller ones they climb with the great peak always in front of them, white snow turning to orange as the sun set. To these three men, after the sorrow and deep reflection of the last few days over what Jesus had told them about His near future, a good vigorous climb, in the beautiful mountains, and in the fresh, cool mountain air was surely a welcome relief from the hotter air of the valley floor, but most of all a welcome distraction from the weight of burden of what Christ said a few days prior. At their resting point a few thousand feet up it would have been easy to spot the Sea of Galilee about 50 miles to the south, looking small now from this distance, it would have entered the minds of the inner three of their many crossings in various boats which seemed so long at the time and, of course, the two storms that seemed endless and ready to kill, and the water that their Lord walked on; and now that sea that they had come to know so well and even fear is just a small, dark blue spot on the valley floor - far away, harmless, beautiful, and the classroom of much learning. Ah, perspective is everything. [Monadnock]

 

As sunset turns to dark and shadows form from moonlight the Lord prays, most likely praying for them and for Israel. The light of day turns to darkness as the life of Christ will turn to death, but before that death, the disciples, aroused from sleepy minds, but never having actually fallen asleep, will see the true light of Christ - the glory of Christ far and above any glory of man.

 

The Lord used prayer, much like He often did so that His soul would lie calm in the presence of His Father, calm and still perfect in the unruffled quiet of His Self-surrender, the absolute rest of His Faith, and the victory of His Sacrificial Obedience. He is also in prayer for the preparation of His transfiguration.

 

The disciples need prayer as well in preparation for what they are soon to face, but they don’t realize its importance just yet, and so, they will almost sleep in their prayers this night until they are aroused by what they see. There are no such miracles in the Garden of Gethsemane so there when they get sleepy in their prayers they will doze off. No one could blame them for being sleepy on this night since it’s been a long and hot day and they finished a couple hour climb and it’s late and they’re tired.

 

LUK 9:29 And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming.

 

LUK 9:30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah,

 

LUK 9:31 who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure [exodus] which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

 

“departure” - e;xodoj[exodos] = departure; referring to the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, all occurring in Jerusalem.\

 

Luke isn’t there, in fact neither is Matthew or Mark, so they had to be awake to see the Lord transformed while He was praying and the appearance of the two men in glory and they must have heard their conversation, which was one of joy between the three since it meant victory and deliverance for all of them.

 

LUK 9:32 Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

 

Overcome with sleep in English means to have fallen asleep, but the Greek sentence is a bit different. I have to apologize to the guys for giving them a bum rap on this before. There is a verb for sleeping or falling asleep used in the gospels for the night in the Garden of Gethsemane, and that is not used here.

 

“overcome” - bare,w[bareo] = burden or heavy. “sleep” - u[pnoj[hupnos] = sleepy. Together they mean very sleepy.

 

If they fell asleep then there would have been no witnesses to verses 29-31.

 

There are some tremendous parallels between Moses and Elijah.

 

 

 

Moses delivered the people from bondage and Elijah delivered them from false gods and Christ will deliver the world from sin and death. And that is the same message the Christ gave to the disciples in the boat - beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.

 

We can see Moses as representing the Law which was fulfilled in Christ and Elijah, one of Israel’s greatest prophets, representing prophecy, which Christ fulfilled perfectly, all such prophecy and Law culminating in the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Elijah had two missions; He called Israel back to God and then paved the way for the coming Savior. Moses also had two missions; to release the Jews from bondage in Egypt and then to establish the Law and thus also paving the way for the coming of the Savior. Like all typology; it is clear and a beautiful symphony of the omniscience of God.

 

Neither Moses or Elijah were allowed to finish their missions. Moses struck the Rock twice in anger over the people of Israel when he was instructed to speak to the Rock. Elijah called for judgment upon Israel after he fled like a scared rabbit from Jezabel, in fact after hearing God in the quiet stillness, God asked Elijah a second time why he fled and Elijah wanted judgment on Israel again [1Ki 19]. So these men share double judgments on Israel when God asked them to communicate to Israel. God told Moses to speak to the Rock and God revealed Himself to Elijah, not in the mighty wind, the earthquake, or fire (Earth, Wind, and Fire) but in the gentle quiet blowing or voice, showing Elijah that God was not at this time in the judgment of Israel but in the word, warning Israel. Both were commanded to speak and both pronounced double judgment. Because of this Moses’ ministry was finished by Joshua and Elijah’s ministry was finished by Elisha.

 

So we see two great men of God who failed late in their ministries, victorious and in glory on the Mount of Transfiguration with the glory of the only one who was not allowed to fail in His ministry and didn’t! Therefore, through faith in Him the power of God brings all sons to glory, despite their failures.

 

So as you can see, these men were not arbitrarily chosen.

 

LUK 9:33 And it came about, as these were parting from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, 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" —  not realizing what he was saying.

 

Someone wrote, “If there are more than two people around Peter always does the talking.”

 

Peter likes this environment. No noisy people yelling after Jesus for healings, no crowds pushing in on him, no noisy bratty kids running around trying to get a glimpse of Jesus, just peace and quiet and two OT superstars and the ultimate superstar, Jesus Christ, all in glory. Peter asks if he can make three tents for them so they can all bivouac and hang out for a while, even away from the other nine at the base of the mountain.

 

The mountain top experience of victory is wonderful, but no believer can stay there. He’s got to go back into the valley and back into the conflict and keep striving.

 

Notice that Peter isn’t even answered. The cloud which represents the glory of God, a cloud filled with light resting on top of the mountain envelops them and they become afraid [phobeo].

 

LUK 9:34 And while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

 

Getting closer to the glory of God than one has capacity for will cause fear. Returning to the valley of conflict will produce more capacity.

 

In this point there is actually a comfort in the conflict. It is in the conflict that the power of God is developed and increased and then the intermittent mountain top experiences become sweeter as more capacity for their glory is had.

 

LUK 9:35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!"

 

Easy enough. The yoke is easy and light. Listen! Hear oh Israel. Hear and perceive oh believer and never quit on that.

 

“Chosen One” - o` evkle,gomai[ho eklegomai] = The Elected One. He is the victor of all conflicts and opposition to God through power.

 

No other voice has been elected to the seat of power, the right hand of God and so all opposition to Him must be falsehood and therefore rejected. It doesn’t mean to only listen to Him, you’ve got to listen to a lot of people, but if what you hear is in opposition to Him that thought should be taken captive into obedience to Him.

 

LUK 9:36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.