died). TheDisciples receivedavisionof God’stransfor- 9:1 thatsomeoftheDisciples wouldseebeforethey tion oftheKingdomGod (whichHepredictedinMark with theFather.” fied onenessofthelight theSonbothwithhimand him throughtheluminous cloud andindicatingtheuni- his belovedSon,theothershiningforthtogetherwith the Lord,onewitnessingwithhisvoicethatthiswas explains tousthat,byrevealingHiseternalglorySs. John 1:14.TheKontakionforthefeastofTransfiguration 9:28-36), andisreferredtobySt.JohntheTheologianin first threeGospels(seeMatthew17:1-8andLuke events recordedinScripture,andthusisthe Jesus’ Transfigurationwas thereforealsoarevela- The TransfigurationofChristisonethecentral MARK 9:1-8 MARK 9:1-8 LESSON TWELVE:THEGOSPELACCORDINGTOST.MARK9

Holy Spiritwereinvisiblywith tury: “BoththeFatherand wrote inthefourteenthcen- Trinity. St.GregoryPalamas also arevelationoftheHoly sion. wanted tofulfillHisdivinemis- the PassionprovesthatHe fact thatHewouldnotavoid predicted inMark8:31;the power toavoidthePassion Jesus showedthatHehadthe Peter, John,andJames, FAST FACTSFACTS The Transfigurationis anything thatcausesustosin. l not againstusisforus.” in Hisname,butdidnotdirectlyfollowHim,“Hewhois l l sion. l l Baptist. l Ss. Peter,James,andJohn. He talkedwithMosesandElijah.Thiswaswitnessedby l Jesus prophesiedforasecondtimeHiscomingPas- Jesus healedayoungmanpossessedbydemon. Jesus wasTransfiguredonahighmountain,where Those whoarecalledtoleadshouldserveothers. Jesus saidregardingthosewhoexorciseddemons Jesus taughtthatweshouldremovefromourlives The returnofElijahwasfulfilledbySt.Johnthe us: politan PhilaretofMoscowexplainshowthisappliesto tion occurredasJesusprayed(Luke9:28-29).Metro- 43). celebrating theannualharvestofcrops(Leviticus23:33- ing theIsraelites’journeythroughwilderness,and Sukkot probably meansthatSt.Peterwasreadytocelebrate (booths ofintertwinedbranches)forthethreeholymen Prophets. showing thatJesusisthefulfillmentofLawand and ElijahtheProphets(see1Kings17:1),therefore ers thatMosesrepresentedtheLaw(seeExodus24;12), ration? Itisgenerallyunderstoodbybiblicalinterpret- OUR FAITHTEACHES OUR FAITHTEACHES OUR FAITHTEACHES OUR FAITHTEACHES IT’S INTHEBIBLE... IT’S INTHEBIBLE... IT’S INTHEBIBLE... IT’S INTHEBIBLE... thy soulintoheaven. Tabor orcreate aTaborwithinthee;itwill call things forthee;itwillguide theeuntoMount overcome allthingswiththee andobtainall and effectualprayer,then thisprayershall itself, andbyprayerthou wilt firstobtaintrue art notthyselfequaltoit,then prayforprayer perseveringly, prayrightlyandpurely;ifthou might ofthysoul,praydiligentlyand Pray, Christian,ferventlyandwiththewhole The ChurchFatherspointoutthattheTransfigura- The HolyApostlePeter’sdesiretobuildtabernacles Why didMosesandElijahappearattheTransfigu- , theJewishfeastofTabernaclescommemorat- MAP mation of all creation. Archbishop Dmitri Royster explains: “In the dazzling light, in which the very mountain and all OUROUR FAITHFAITH TEACHESTEACHES the surroundings were altered, there is a glimpse of the Do Orthodox Christians believe that people will transfigured world (cosmos), when God will be all in all, forever be tormented in literal, physical fire and brim- when the Kingdom is finally established.” stone? There are certainly some Christians who be- lieve that those who reject God will spend eternity burn- MARK 9:14-32 ing in a fiery hell. Traditionally, however, the Orthodox Church teaches a different understanding of the fire Jesus again confronted a lack of faith among His and torment. followers. His Disciples were unable to exorcise a de- St. John of Damascus writes, “Sinners will be given mon from a young man, and even the boy’s father — over to everlasting fire, which will not be a material fire who brought his son to Jesus — doubted whether Jesus such as we are accustomed to, but a fire such as God had the ability to exorcise the demon. Jesus laments might know.” St. John’s teaching can be better under- their faithlessness (vs. 19), comments that all things are stood by looking at two biblical references to fire and possible to those who believe (vs. 23), and yet again light in relation to God. Holy Scripture describes God’s experienced faithlessness in His Disciples when they still presence as a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29) and refused to accept that Jesus would die and rise again. All an “unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16) that delights of these things point to the need to cry out with the father those who love Him, but causes anguish and pain in of the demonized boy, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” those who do not “love His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). (vs. 24)! Therefore, for those who love God, resurrection from the dead and the presence of God will be paradise. For MARK 9:33-50 those who hate God, however, resurrection from the The Orthodox Study Bible titles the last third of this dead and the presence of God will be hell. chapter “The Way of Discipleship” because in it Jesus described some of the attributes needed in a whole- hearted follower of Christ. Jesus first taught the Disciples that they must avoid because they in no way defile God’s commandments.” pride and greed in their lives. Rather than fulfilling their Jesus next confronted the danger of sectarianism (a calling as disciples so that they could sect is a group that separates itself from all others, often receive status and recognition for viewing itself as good and all others as evil) when His their accomplishments, Chris- Disciples were concerned that individuals who were not tians should be like young directly following Jesus were nonetheless able to exor- children: innocent and un- cise demons in His name (which, ironically, the Disciples concerned with things like themselves had just been unable to do). Jesus simply status (vv. 33-37, 42). The responded, “He who is not against us in on our side” (vs. Shepherd of Hermas ex- 42). plains: “Thy are as veri- Jesus went on to explain that Christians should leave table infants, whose hearts and avoid anything that tempts us to sin (vv. 43-48). He do not invent evil, who did not mean to literally dismember ourselves: instead, hardly know what corrup- he used such shocking imagery to reinforce how thor- tion is, and who have oughly we should refuse to let anything come between remained childlike God and us. He already said that Christians should not forever. People such value their lives more than Him (see 8:35-36); later in as these, therefore, this Gospel He will similarly warn that we should not love undoubtedly dwell in our possessions (10:21), or even our family (10:28), more the kingdom of God, than we love God.

WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT FOLLOWING JESUS?

l St. Luke adds a detail regarding Jesus’ activity when the Transfiguration occurred. Do I follow His example? l Do I pray the same thing as the father in verse 24: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief?” What do I believe, and where do I need to grow? l Am I concerned with status and power, or is my relationship with God like the children He praised in vv. 33-37? l Are there things in my life that I need to “amputate” to draw closer to God?