Mark 9:2-8

² Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

³ His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

⁴ And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—

⁶ because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

⁷ And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

Also found in Matthew 17:1-8 and Luke 9:28-36.

It was “after six days” according to [Matthew and Mark]. Luke reckons the broken portions of the first day and the last, and makes it “about eight days after these sayings.” A week has passed since the solemn announcement that their Lord was journeying to a cruel death. — Chadwick, page 229.

transfigured (v.2) = gave outward expression of one’s inner character, that outward expression coming from and being truly representative of that inner character.

The usual outward expression of our Lord in His humiliation was that of the Man Christ Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, the One acquainted with grief. He, to the world, was the travel-stained itinerant preacher, the claimant to the Jewish Messiahship. What the world saw was a peasant from Galilee, clad in homespun, the son of the carpenter of Nazareth, But now, that outward expression was changed. Out from within the inmost being of the Son of God, there shone that dazzling glory of the essence of Deity which He possesses co-eternally with God the Father and the Spirit. It shone right through the clay walls of His humanity and through the clothing He wore. It was that same dazzling radiance which the angels saw in His preincarnate state (Philippians 2:6), but given through a physical medium, not a spiritual one as in the case of the angels. And as a result, Mark says, “His raiment become shining, exceeding what as snow, so as no fuller on earth can white them;” and Matthew adds “His face did shine.” Here was no borrowed radiance, even from the skies, which might shine on the Lord Jesus. This effulgence of glory came from within and was an inherent possession of the Lord of Glory. The word “shining” is a participle, indicating that the shining was active. The word is used of a flashing sword and of sunshine on shields. This is what is meant by the transfiguration f the Lord Jesus. This is a picture of what He will be like in the Millennium. — Wuest, pages 174-175.

talking (v.4) — tense indicates that the conversation was a lengthy one

Peter answered (v.5) — The record does not indicate that Peter was addressed during this visit of Moses and Elijah. Here is impetuous, unpredictable Peter, intruding himself into the conversation. The Greek word for “answered” … means “to form a judgment.” The compound verb means “to give off from one’s self a judgment.” … It is not necessary to suppose that a question had been asked Peter here. … Peter had been listening to the conversation and offered his judgment as to what ought to be done. — Wuest, pages 175-176.

Rabbi (v.4) = My great one, my honorable sir

good (v.4) = anything which is handsome, useful, excellent, suitable, commendable, excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends. Goodness as seen from without, not intrinsic goodness.

tabernacles (v.5) = tents

afraid (v.6) = terribly frightened

Peter didn’t know what to say, but there was no reason for him to say anything. He should have remained silent.

cloud (v.7) = one with a definite form and limited size — not general cloudiness, but an individual cloud. The Shekinah Glory Cloud that led Israel from Egypt and which appeared above the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle

overshadowed them (v.7) — cast them all into shadows

My beloved Son (v.7) — The Greek has it, “This is my Son, the Beloved One,” emphasis being placed equally upon the two facts, that the Messiah is God’s Son, and that He is the Beloved One. — Wuest, page 177

beloved (v.7) = agape love

Hear Him! (v.7) — tense indicated continuous action, “Be constantly hearing Him.”Hearing and obeying.

Suddenly (v.8) — Moses and Elijah disappeared instantly