The Gospel writer, Mark, tells us that just prior to the event the Church calls the Transfiguration Jesus tells a group of people, including His disciples, that some of those standing there would “not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power”(Mark 1:1). Nine verses later, as Jesus, Peter, James and John are coming down the mountain He gave the three men “orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead” (Mark 1:9).

The story of the transfiguration in the Gospel of Mark is sandwiched between two thoughts about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have to believe that in His resurrection “the kingdom of God” is revealed to have “come with power.” But prior to the resurrection none of what he was doing would really make sense. So, the word from Jesus was “don’t tell anybody about what happened on the mountain until I have risen from the dead.”

The resurrection is the clarifying reality concerning the life of Jesus. On the Mount of Transfiguration three men experienced the reality of the wonder that is God revealed in Jesus, but they weren’t ready to talk about it. Jesus still had work to do, drawing people to Himself. In time, the reality of it would explode out of a tomb, but not yet.

Today we live in light of the resurrection. The kingdom of God has come in power. The authority that raised Jesus from the dead is with us and the Father’s Word to us is, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him” (Mark 9:7). And, we do well to do so.