Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 9:8
And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
8. when they had looked round about ] At first (1) they fell prostrate on their faces (Mat 17:6; comp. Exo 3:6; 1Ki 19:13), then (2) recovering from the shock of the Voice from heaven (Mat 17:6; comp. Exo 20:19; Hab 3:2; Hab 3:16; Heb 12:19), they (3) suddenly gazed all around them, and saw no man, save Jesus only. “Hinc constat, hunc esse Filium, audiendum, non Mosen, non Eliam.” Bengel. “Qu ex Verbo cperunt, in Verbo desinunt.” S. Ambrose.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mar 9:8
Save Jesus only.
Jesus only
I. When the workman is tempted to waste his employers substance, or the time which is his property, and says to himself, There is nobody to see; nobody will know, he would be checked if he remembered and realized that in absolute fact he owes his duty to no man, save to Jesus only, Jesus who for thirty years shared the workmans lot, and put dignity forever upon honest handiwork.
II. But not alone for this worlds business and behaviour, and temperament, is this thought true: in the matter of the souls salvation blessed are they who see no man save Jesus only.
1. There is danger for the young in letting their religion be based on mere love or regard for a minister or a religious friend.
2. Others there are who allow their religion to be unduly influenced by particular places and circumstances.
3. In the days when we feel burdened with a sense of our sin, may we then look to no man, save to Jesus only.
4. In the hour of death you will have the one Friend to go with you, when all others must leave you. (Canon Erskine Clarke.)
Jesus only in death
When Bishop Beveredge was on his death bed, his memory so failed that he did not know even his nearest relative. His chaplain said, Do you know me? Who are you? was the answer. His own wife asked him, Do you know me? Who are you? was the only answer. On being told that it was his wife he said that he did not know her. Then one standing by said, Do you know Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ, he replied, reviving as if the name acted on him like a cordial, yes, I have known Him these forty years: He is my only hope. Brethren, when our time cometh to depart to the place of peace, may we in like manner see no man, save Jesus only. But if the presence of Jesus is to abide with us when flesh and heart and mind are failing, it must be cherished in the days of health and strength and vigour.
None missed if Jesus be present
Love brings to the Saviour a flaming heart; obedience comes on willing feet; patience bows down to receive its load: while faith stretches out an empty hand, to be filled with His free gifts. A faithful Sunday school teacher lay dying. The light of heaven was in his eye, and seraphic smiles played upon his thin lids, as he thought of his mighty Redeemer. Just before he sank away, he turned to his daughter, who was trying to anticipate his every wish by her loving care, and said, Bring-. More he could not say, for strength was too far gone. What shall I bring, dear father? asked the anxious child. Bring-. Dear, precious father, do tell me what to bring! The dying man rallied for a last effort, and feebly murmured-
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!
If, in the closing hour of life, the Saviour is as near to us, we cannot complain of the lack of other comforters. We shall be sure to awake at last to His likeness, and shall shine forth as the sun, in our Fathers kingdom. (J. H. Norton.)
Mans abiding Friend
Whoever and whatever vanishes, Jesus remains with His disciples.
I. Though physical health departs, He abides. When heart and flesh fail, He is present to succour and strengthen the soul, and to bear it to one of the many mansions He has prepared.
II. Though worldly possessions disappear, He remains. Secular wealth, rightly used, is an incalculable blessing; it not only serves to relieve from all worldly anxieties, and minister to bodily comfort and intellectual enjoyment, but also gives us power to help our fellowmen both temporally and spiritually. But how often do riches take wings and fly away! But Christ is the true riches: He is of more value than untold gold; and nothing can deprive us of Him.
III. Though dearest friends depart, He abides. Good men are constantly losing from their social sphere those who have charmed them with their presence, and inspired them with their talk. When listening to them either in the sanctuary, the club, or on the domestic hearth, they have felt it good to be there. But one by one they vanish; the time comes when the best is gone, and all is social desolation; and like the disciples, they look around, and see no man any more, save Jesus only, with themselves. He is the abiding Friend, and having Him we have all. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
Jesus only with themselves
I. It was a symbolical intimation that when He that is perfect and eternal had come, all that was imperfect and preparatory should vanish away. And that this latter was the character both of the Law and the Prophets is obvious. Moses had Christ constantly in view, and the entire scheme of Levitical worship which he was inspired to draw up, looked forward to Him. So, too, the prophets in various ways predicted an age of surpassing glory, which should culminate at the Messiahs coming.
II. Not only was all prophecy fulfilled in Christ, but the prophetic character also received its perfect development in Him. He not only announced, He was, the Word of God. The lesson of this mysterious scene was this: that Moses and Elias and Christ were three no longer, no more separated, but made one by God. Legislator and prophet both were summoned to the scene of the transfiguration, and both symbolically (by vanishing away, leaving Jesus only with the disciples) consigned their finished work into Christs hands, knowing that henceforth there was but one dispensation, one tabernacle, one gospel. (H. M. Luckock, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
And suddenly, when they had looked round about,…. Upon hearing the voice, to see if they could observe any other object, by whom it was pronounced, and whether the same they had seen continued:
they saw no man any more; neither Moses, nor Elias, not at that time, nor ever after;
save Jesus only with themselves: the voice only regarded him, and being directed to them; [See comments on Mt 17:8].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Suddenly looking round about ( ). Mt 17:8 has it “lifting up their eyes.” Mark is more graphic. The sudden glance around on the mountain side when the cloud with Moses and Elijah was gone.
Jesus only with themselves (‘ ). Mark shows their surprise at the situation. They were sore afraid (Mt 17:6) before Jesus touched them.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Suddenly [] . The Greek word only here in the New Testament.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) ”And suddenly,” (kai eksapina) “And instantly or suddenly,” at once.
2) ”When they had looked round about,” (periblepsamenoi) “When they had looked around,” in a circular peripheral manner, in a circumspect way, Eph 5:15.
3) ”They saw no man any more,” (oukeu oudena eidon) ”They no longer saw anyone,” at all, as Moses and Elijah were gone, Joh 1:29; Col 3:17.
4) “Save Jesus only with themselves.” (ei me ton lesoun monon meth’ heauton) “Except Jesus only with themselves,” whom they were to heed alone, not Moses or Elijah, as these were last, as service agents and persons, only till Jesus came, Mat 5:17-18; Luk 16:16; Gal 3:19-25.
JESUS ONLY IN DEATH
When Bishop Beveredge was on his death-bed, his memory so failed that he did not know even his nearest relative. His chaplain said, “Do you know me?” ”Who are you?” was the answer. His own wife asked him, “Do you know me?” “Who are you?” was the only answer. On being told that it was his wife he said that he did not know her. Then one standing by said, ”Do you know Jesus, Christ?” “Jesus Christ,” he replied, reviving as if the name acted on him like a cordial, “Yes, I have known Him these forty years: He is my only hope.” Brethren, when our time comes to depart to the place of peace, may we in like manner see no man, save Jesus only. But if the presence of Jesus is to abide with us when flesh and heart and mind are failing, it must be cherished in the days of health and strength and vigor.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘And suddenly looking round about they saw no one any more except Jesus only with themselves.’
Then suddenly the cloud lifted and it was all over. All was back to normal. There were just themselves with Jesus only. And they now knew that with Jesus here Moses and Elijah were superfluous. But they had been there in order to testify to Jesus as heavenly witnesses, and that was important. The three would never see Jesus in quite the same way again.
Yet it is a testimony to the self-seeking of the human heart that one result of this experience would be for James and John to seek the highest place for themselves in their expectation of the coming kingdom (Mar 10:35-37). We can see their thinking. Now that Elijah and Moses had come and gone it was between them and Peter, and they wanted the place that Moses and Elijah had enjoyed for themselves. That was the lesson that they had learned from the transfiguration. They had still not grasped the idea that they were called to be servants and to serve. It would take the cross for them to realise that.
‘Except Jesus only.’ In Him they now knew they had everything for He was now unmistakably revealed as the glorious Messiah and the unique Son of God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The end of the transfiguration:
v. 8. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
v. 9. And as they came down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen till the Son of Man were risen from the dead.
v. 10. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. Just as quickly as the miraculous appearance had begun, it also ended. The disciples, still half dazed, felt that the pall was lifted, and, looking about them, saw no one but Jesus alone with them. Moses and Elijah had been returned to the place of eternal happiness in the same wonderful manner as they had been brought down to the mountain. Jesus, their Master, now was with them again in His usual form and dress, with no evidence of the glory which had just shone through Him. His reassuring words and touch brought them back fully to their senses. While they were then descending from the mountain together, He gave them the earnest charge to transmit the account of what they had seen to no one until after the resurrection of the Son of Man. The people had an altogether wrong idea as to the work and mission of the Messiah, and the news of this miraculous appearance would only have strengthened this false conception. But at that time, when His. death would have removed and disproved all wrong beliefs and hopes in an earthly Messiah, with an earthly kingdom, and especially after He would have risen from the dead, then this revelation should be part of their preaching, they should not hesitate about proclaiming the full truth about the transfiguration. The three disciples accepted this charge in the proper spirit of meekness and obedience; they kept their secret until the time that Jesus had indicated, even from the other disciples. In the meantime, however, they discussed the question among themselves, how that was to be understood concerning the rising from the dead. Not that they did not know that there would be a resurrection of the dead on the last day. This doctrine was known and believed by all the Jews, the only ones dissenting being the sect of the Sadducees. The difficulty for them lay in this, both when He should arise from the dead, as some manuscripts have it, and how this would be done. Christ’s one announcement concerning His Passion, death, and resurrection had not yet entered into their heart and understanding. What express and particular resurrection of the dead the Lord was referring to for Himself was a mystery to them. Thus earnest Christians will find many points in Scriptures and in the sayings of Jesus that are a mystery to them; they do not understand in what sense they are to be understood and applied in individual instances; but careful searching of the Word will open the eyes, under the guidance of the Spirit.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
Ver. 8. See Trapp on “ Mat 17:8 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
8. ] none of those who appeared, but ( sondern , ‘ nay, on the contrary ’) Jesus alone.
Mar 9:8 . , suddenly, a form belonging to late Greek = = : here only in N. T.; several times in Sept [72] Kypke cites examples from the Psalms of Solomon and Jamblichus. The word here qualifies not , but the change in the state of things which they discovered ( ) on looking around. , etc.; no longer any one except ( = after a negative). , etc.: Jesus alone with themselves: the whole celestial vision gone as quickly as it came.
[72]Septuagint.
Mark
THE TRANSFIGURATION
JESUS ONLY!
Mar 9:8 The Transfiguration was the solemn inauguration of Jesus for His sufferings and death.
Moses, the founder, and Elijah, the restorer, of the Jewish polity, the great Lawgiver and the great Prophet, were present. The former had died and been mysteriously buried, the latter had been translated without ‘seeing death.’ So both are visitors from the unseen world, appearing to own that Jesus is the Lord of that dim land, and that there they draw their life from Him. The conversation is about Christ’s ‘decease,’ the wonderful event which was to constitute Him Lord of the living and of the dead. The divine voice of command, ‘Hear Him!’ gives the meaning of their disappearance. At that voice they depart and Jesus is left alone. The scene is typical of the ultimate issue of the world’s history. The King’s name only will at last be found inscribed on the pyramid. Typical, too, is it not, of a Christian’s blessed death? When the ‘cloud’ is past no man is seen any more but ‘Jesus only.’
I. The solitary Saviour.
1. He is alone in His nature. ‘Son of God.’
2. He is alone in the sinlessness of His manhood. ‘My Beloved Son!’
3. He is alone as God’s Voice to men. ‘Hear Him!’
The solitary Saviour, because sufficient. ‘Thou, O Christ, art all I want.’
Sufficient, too, for ever.
His life is eternal.
His love is eternal.
The power of His Cross Is eternal.
II. The vanishing witnesses.
2. The thought may be widened into that of the relation of all teachers and guides to Jesus Christ.
3. The two witness to the relation of the unseen world to Jesus Christ.
a Its inhabitants are undying.
b Are subject to the sway of Jesus.
c Are expectantly waiting a glorious future.
4. They witness to the central point of Christ’s work-’His decease.’ This great event is the key to the world’s history.
III. The waiting disciples.
a Seeing Him in all things.
b Constant communion. ‘Abide in Me.’
c Using everything as helps to Him.
2. What Christian death may become.
suddenly. Greek. exapina. Occurs only here in N.T.
with = in company with. Greek. meta. App-104.
8. ] none of those who appeared, but (sondern, nay, on the contrary) Jesus alone.
Mar 9:8. ) This is an adverb often found in the LXX.- , with themselves) because He was still about to suffer.
Luk 9:36, Luk 24:31, Act 8:39, Act 8:40, Act 10:16
Reciprocal: Mat 17:8 – they saw Luk 9:34 – there
CHRIST ALL IN ALL
Jesus only with themselves.
Mar 9:8
It is clear that this is one of the most solemn and suggestive passages in the whole Scriptures. Let us take a view of the Transfiguration as a whole, so that we may understand this concluding lesson of it.
I. Historical meaning of the Transfiguration.We shall see that it was a very real event in our Lords history. It is recorded in detail by three Evangelists and with absolute independence. We must lay hold of the fact that our Lord was transfigured visibly, physically, so that the brightness of His Transfiguration passed through His raiment. We must lay hold of the reality of the Transfiguration. Of what value is the reality of the Transfiguration? It is first of all valuable as history.
II. Doctrinal significance of the Transfiguration.The Transfiguration is also important doctrinally. St. Peter said, in answer to our Lord, Let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias. But then came the Divine voice which peremptorily forbade the making of the tabernacles. This, said the Fathers voice, is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him, and you will observe that whenever St. Peter refers to the Transfiguration he makes no reference to Moses and Elijah. He did not want to learn the lesson twice. This is My beloved Son: hear ye Him. Now you see the meaning of the text, They saw no man, save Jesus only with themselves.
III. Personal application.Jesus only with themselves. Christ must be all in all to each one of us. That is the lesson of the Transfiguration. Our Lord Jesus Christ must be the chief among ten thousand. It seems as if St. Peter was thinking of the Transfiguration when he said, There is none other name under Heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved. Jesus Christ must take first place before everything else. We must remember that Jesus Christ alone can save us. I think that is why the whole of the Evangelists wrote the text like this in order that they might put down their testimony to what the great voice of the Father meant.
Rev. H. J. R. Marston.
Illustration
The words Jesus only with themselves, conclude Marks narrative of our Lord being transfigured upon the Holy Mount. Lukes words, concluding the same narrative, are very closely like those of Mark, Jesus was found alone. Matthews words contain this same striking expression: They saw no man, save Jesus only, but omits with themselves, which Mark uses to show how Jesus was found, identified by the three chosen Apostles, who were participators in that mysterious and glorious scene: St. Peter, St. James, and John. Of the three, St. James was not permitted to contribute to the New Testament, for he fell by the sword of Herod. St. Peter refers in his Second Epistle in explicit terms to the Transfiguration; John in a passage in the opening of his Gospel speaks of the same event. This is a very striking and magnificent part of the Scriptures, and the event itself was a very striking and magnificent event in the Lords life on earth, and the narratives of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are very striking and beautiful. The more we consider them the more do we see the import of of the closing sentence. Evidently the three Evangelists were guided by the Holy Spirit to put particular emphasis upon that little sentence, Jesus only. It cannot be by accident, it cannot be a mere coincidence, and it cannot beas it might have been if it had been mentioned by only one of the Evangelistsonly a subordinate phase of the Transfiguration.
8
The purpose of the visit of the special guests was accomplished, and when the apostles rallied from their amazement they noted the absence of Moses and Elias.
Mar 9:8. And suddenly, etc. Mark omits some details here. The withdrawal itself was not necessarily sudden, but their perception of it was.
Save Jesus only. His authority suffices; His love redeems; His glory is the great end.
With themselves. Peculiar to Mark; it hints at the self-consciousness of an eye-witness, and suggests that our Lord was near them as they looked. Matthew tells that they looked up after He touched them.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Expositions Of Holy Scripture by Alexander MacLaren
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament