A Children’s Sermon on Mark 9:2-9 — The Transfiguration

Johann Georg Trautmann: The Transfiguration (1757), Städel Museum, public domain

Preface for Pastors and Parents

This Sunday is the Feast of the Transfiguration, the last Sunday before Lent, so I bring you a children’s sermon on Mark 9:2-9. 

I find this an extremely rich text (as you can see in my Monday meditation on it from three years ago). But the fun continues when one compares Mark’s version of the events with Matthew and Luke. One detail that emerges as distinctive to Mark: the disciples’ fear.

Luke’s version has more of a theological explanation of the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. It’s in one crucial detail of the Greek text: Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were discussing Jesus’ upcoming “exodus” in Jerusalem. Two great old Testament figures who parted waters to cross on dry land refer to Jesus passion and resurrection as his very own “exodus.” 

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The original Exodus, out of Egypt via the Red Sea, was the paradigm of salvation for the Jews. Now we know that what Jesus is going to in Holy Week will be the new Exodus. He will take his followers on the journey of true salvation, even if he will only figuratively part the waters

But that’s not in Mark’s version. I just think it’s cool, and it should be more widely known, so I’m telling you. 

There is so much great stuff going on on Mark’s version that I can’t deal with all of it in one children’s sermon. Usually I’d choose by finding the most kid-friendly or kid-interesting detail. Today, in my children’s sermon on Mark 9:2-9, I think I’ll focus on the detail most unique to Mark.

A Children’s Sermon on Mark 9:2-9

Good morning kids! I’m so glad to see you here in worship this morning. You know, I’m always glad to see you, wherever we are. But it’s especially great that you are here on Sunday to worship God. 

Today is the very last Sunday before the season of Lent. Lent is the 40 days we spend getting ready for the biggest events of the Christian year: Good Friday when Jesus went to die on the cross, and Easter Sunday when Jesus rose up, alive again. 

Every year, on the last Sunday before Lent, we tell the story called “the Transfiguration.” We heard Matthew’s version last year. We’ll hear Luke’s version next year. But this year, we’ll hear Mark’s version. Each writer included a detail or two that the others left out. So today I’ll tell you Mark’s version.

Up the Mountain

One day Jesus gathered his very good friends, Peter, James, and John. He said “Hey guys, I’m going on a hike. I want you three to come with me.”

Peter said, “Okay, that sounds fun. But shouldn’t we get the others?”

James said, “Yeah, Andrew, and Nathaniel, and Thomas, and—you know. All the guys.”

John added, “And don’t forget Mary and Martha. You don’t want them to feel left out.”

Jesus said, “No, this hike is just for us. Just me and the three of you. I love all my other friends too. I’ll do other special things with them. But not today. Let’s go.”

So down the trail they went, towards a mountain.

Then Jesus led them up the side of the mountain. 

Up and up they went, till they were high up on the mountain.

Jesus stopped at a level place and Peter, James, and John sat down to rest.

The Transfiguration

While they were sitting there, Jesus said “Hey guys! Watch this!”

And suddenly Jesus looked totally different. His face and hands and feet shone with light, like Jesus had sunshine inside him. And his clothes turned the brightest white you can imagine—whiter than any clothes you’ve ever seen. 

Jesus was so bright Peter, James, and John had to close their eyes. In fact they put their heads down and covered their heads with their arms. They were pretty scared.

“What’s going on?” John whimpered. 

“I’m so scared!” James squeaked.

“Make it stop!” Peter moaned.

“Oh, sorry guys!” Jesus said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted you three to get a look at my glory!”

“You’re what?” Peter asked, lifting his face to take a peek.

“My glory!” Jesus said joyfully. “This is a little bit of what I look like when I’m with my Father and the Spirit. I usually sort of keep it hidden. But I wanted you to see. Now give me a minute. I need to talk to some friends.”

Moses and Elijah

Then, as James and John looked up, suddenly there were two other people talking to Jesus.

“Aaah!” squeaked Peter. “Where did they come from?”

“Oh no!” said James, “I’m so scared.” 

“Who are they?” asked John, trembling like the others. 

”That’s a good question,” said Jesus. “Let me introduce two people you’ve read about in the Bible: this is Moses, and this is Elijah!”

“Aaaah!” screeched James. “Ghosts!”

But Moses and Elijah turned back to Jesus and the three of them talked quietly together.

What to Do?

Peter, James, and John started whispering to each other.

“What should we do?” asked John. 

“I think we should keep hiding our heads,” said James. “This is just too scary!”’

“Maybe we should say something,” said Peter.

“But what if we say the wrong thing?” said James.

“Yeah,” said John. “If we say something dumb, they might laugh at us!”

“I’m gonna say something,” said Peter. “I don’t care if they laugh. Maybe we’ll find out something. Maybe Jesus will tell us what to do. Won’t that be better then just being afraid?” 

So Peter gathered his courage and stood up. He sort of coughed to get everyone’s attention. “Excuse me? Jesus? Mr. Moses? Mr. Elijah? I was just wondering if we could build you some little houses up here. Or maybe just tents. Or booths. Anyway, one for each of you. What do you think?”

James and John started tugging on Peter’s clothes.

“Get down!” said John. 

“Be quiet!” said James. “That was the dumbest thing ever. Why would we build houses for them?”

But Jesus just looked at Peter and smiled.

Then a voice came from the sky! “Peter! James! John!” said the voice. “Pay attention to Jesus! He’s my very own Son! I love him so much! I want you to listen to what he says.”

But when they looked around, it was just Jesus standing there, looking normal. Moses and Elijah were gone.

Wondering

I wonder if you’ve ever seen something that made you afraid, even though it was something good?

I wonder what Peter, James, and John thought about having seen Jesus’ glory? 

I wonder if hearing the voice from the sky made them feel differently about what Jesus said when he taught?

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