2 And after six days Jesus takes with [him] Peter and James and John, and takes them up on a high mountain by themselves apart. And he was transfigured before them: 3 and his garments became shining, exceeding white [as snow], such as fuller on earth could not whiten [them]. 4 And there appeared to them Elias with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answering says to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we should be here; and let us make three tabernacles, for thee one, and for Moses one, and for Elias one. 6 For he knew not what he should say, for they were filled with fear. 7 And there came a cloud overshadowing them, and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 8 And suddenly having looked around, they no longer saw any one, but Jesus alone with themselves. 9 And as they descended from the mountain, he charged them that they should relate to no one what they had seen, unless when the Son of man should be risen from among [the] dead. 10 And they kept that saying, questioning among themselves, what rising from among [the] dead was. 11 And they asked him saying, Why do the scribes say that Elias must first have come? 12 And he answering said to them, Elias indeed, having first come, restores all things; and how is it written of the Son of man that he must suffer much, and be set at nought: 13 but I say unto you that Elias also is come, and they have done to him whatever they would, as it is written of him.
14 And when he came to the disciples he saw a great crowd around them, and scribes disputing against them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 9:2-14
Commentary on Mark 9:1-13
(Read Mark 9:1-13)
Here is a prediction of the near approach Christ's kingdom. A glimpse of that kingdom was given in the transfiguration of Christ. It is good to be away from the world, and alone with Christ: and how good to be with Christ glorified in heaven with all the saints! But when it is well with us, we are apt not to care for others, and in the fulness of our enjoyments, we forget the many wants of our brethren. God owns Jesus, and accepts him as his beloved Son, and is ready to accept us in him. Therefore we must own and accept him as our beloved Saviour, and must give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Christ does not leave the soul, when joys and comforts leave it. Jesus explained to the disciples the prophecy about Elias. This was very suitable to the ill usage of John Baptist.
Commentary on Mark 9:14-29
(Read Mark 9:14-29)
The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help them against it, and his grace will be sufficient for them. Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. But Satan is unwilling to be driven from those that have been long his slaves, and, when he cannot deceive or destroy the sinner, he will cause him all the terror that he can. The disciples must not think to do their work always with the same ease; some services call for more than ordinary pains.