Jesus has just introduced his disciples to the shocking truth that he must suffer and die before rising to life again (Mark 8:31). But more than that, he calls on his disciples to follow him in the same radical pattern: ‘whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.’ (Mark 8:35) Why would anyone listen to such teaching? Because God tells us in no uncertain terms that we should ‘listen to him!’. The transfiguration - immediately following Jesus’ challenging teaching - is God’s extraordinary divine stamp of approval on his son and everything he has said.
Speaker: Micky Mantle