Mark 9:1:
9:1And he used-to-say to them, "With-certainty I say to you that there are some, of the (people) having stood2 here, the-people-who may never taste death until ever they may see the kingdom of God having come2 in ability."
Continuing from Mark chapter 8, during that past time Jesus also said to his learning-disciples and the crowd with them...
Jesus was prophesying about the time when God by means of Jesus after his resurrection would give the gift of holy spirit to mankind, which occurred on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2.
[Reference: Matthew 16:28; Luke 9:27.]
Verses 2-8:
.2And after six days Jesus takes-beside (himself) Peter and James and John, and brings them only up into a high mountain privately, and he was transformed in-front-of them, .3and his outer-garments became shining very white, of-the-kind a fuller on the earth is not able thus to whiten. .4And there was seen by them Elijah together with Moses and they used-to-be uttering-forth-together with Jesus. .5And having answered Peter says to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is beautiful (for) us to be here; let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah...." - .6for he had not known what he may answer for they became extremely-fearful. .7And there became a cloud shadowing-on them and there became a sound out-from the cloud, "This is My son, the loved1 (son), you must hear him." .8And suddenly having observed-around they no-longer saw not-one-person but Jesus only with themselves.
After six days following what is recorded in verse 1 above, Jesus takes (receives) Peter and James (Jacob) and John beside himself, and brings them only up into a high mountain privately (into Mount Hermon only, on their own without anyone else). It is interesting to note that the verb translated “brings up” can also be translated as: carried-upwards, bore-up, or offered-up (refer to Luke 24:51; Hebrews 7:27, 9:28, 13:15; James 2:21; I Peter 2:5 and 24).
And Jesus was transformed in-front-of them (he was caused to have his form changed, all of his being, his whole form, metamorphosis, not only the outward-appearance, he was transformed before them), and his outer-garments became shining very white (his clothes came to pass to be gleaming or glistening extremely radiant, emitting light, effulgent, brilliant and bright), of the kind/sort that a fuller on the earth (a person whose work is to wash, prepare, and dress material or cloth ready for use) is not able (capable, does not have the ability) in this manner to whiten (make them white to symbolize being pure from sin and its effects, consequences, etc, and being holy).
And there was seen by them Elijah together with Moses and during that past time they were uttering-forth-together with Jesus (Elijah and Moses were speaking in conjunction with Jesus). This seen-object was caused to be seen by Peter, James and John. It was presented to be perceived with their eyes and known by them. This is how God chose to communicate this extremely significant event to them.
Both of these great prophets, Moses (representing Jesus to complete the law – including Jesus’ sacrificial death) and Elijah (representing Jesus to fulfill prophecy – including Jesus’ resurrection and glorious life), could not have actually been there at that time because they had died long before this event occurred.
With the exception of Jesus the Christ and excluding those who receive the gift of holy spirit between Acts 2:1-4 and Christ’s coming to gather holy-people/Christians (refer to I Thessalonians 4:13-17), all other dead-people will not be resurrected until Christ will resurrect dead-people at a still-future time, as recorded in the Book of Revelation chapter 20.
Both Moses and Elijah are still dead. They were types/patterns of the Christ. The thing that Jesus and the three learning-disciples with him saw was a “seen-object” – that is, something that was presented to their eyes so that they could see and perceive and know it.
Peter answered (he replied to what he saw by saying something, he gave his judicial sentence by speaking in response to what he saw) by saying to Jesus...
The purpose of making these 3 tents (sometimes translated ‘tabernacles’) would be for Jesus, Elijah and Moses to have their own covered places to come and meet with God at whatever time they would like to do so from that day forward. However, the reason for Peter saying such a thing was that he had not known and continued not to know (he had not perceived) what he should answer concerning this occurrence, for they became extremely-fearful (Peter and James and John came to pass to be outwardly evidencing much fear, outright fright or terror, very afraid at the consequences of the performance of any wrong behavior; they exhibited the awe and respect that ought to be shown towards God regarding this situation).
There became a cloud (a particular cloud, not an indefinite cloudy mass that we see sometimes in the sky, but a specific cloud) shadowing-on them (putting its shadow on them, overshadowing them – this is referring to their being covered-by and enveloped-within the consistency of the cloud) and there became a sound/voice out-from the cloud...
God had just given His son Jesus detailed information about his exodus (departure) from where he was at that time and into his future glory after his resurrection, via the seen-object of Elijah and Moses talking with him. Elijah and Moses were not there but this is how God chose to communicate the totality of what He gave Jesus to believe at this time.
Then God declared His thoughts regarding the one who would accomplish God's plan of redemption and salvation once and for all. Jesus was to be the one speaking to God on behalf of the people, making intercession, offering the correct sacrifice for reconciliation, which in this case was himself, the lamb of God. God told Jesus about His acceptance of this sacrifice by resurrection and future glory.
God also instructed Peter and James and John what they must do relative to Jesus – you must hear him. Jesus was also a prophet receiving information from God to speak to one or more of God’s people regarding and during many different circumstances and situations at that time.
And suddenly (unexpectedly, without any warning), after Peter and James and John observed-around (looked and mentally envisioned concerning or about themselves, being mentally-aware of and contemplating their surroundings), they no-longer saw not-one-person (there is a double negative in this phrase to emphasize the fact that they did not perceive anyone, no-one, nobody, any longer), but contrary to what they had seen previously they saw Jesus alone in company and association with themselves.
[Reference: Exodus chapters 12 and 13, 24:13-16, 25:8 and 22, 28:1-3, 33:7-11, 34:29-35, 40:34-38; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Joshua 1:2; I Kings chapter 19; II Kings 2:1-18; Malachi 4:4-6; Matthew 17:1-8; Luke 9:28-36, 24:26 and 27; Hebrews 2:9-18, 3:1, 5:5-10, 11:22; II Peter 1:16-18. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
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