| 2. After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5. Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6. (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7. Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Here we have a scene that’s been referred to down through the ages as “The Transfiguration Of Christ”. It had to have been a spectacular event for the three disciples that Jesus chose to share it with, an event that humbled, excited, and motivated them. For many, both in the world and in the church, Jesus is merely a historical figure who came on a mission, lived his life, and fulfilled his purpose. With all the historical information, both biblical and secular, concerning him, it’s difficult to deny that he was here. Most of the worlds religions recognize him historically as a great teacher. But what do we do with this historical Christ when he becomes more to us than just another historical figure in the scheme of world religions. What do we do with him once our inner eye sees him as the three disciples saw him that day when his glory and divinity shone before their eyes? What do we do with him when all our senses of perception perceive him as the Living Son of God who came seeking those whom he loved with an eternal love, a love so great that he would go willingly to a brutal death to prove the quantity and quality his love? It had to have been a mind blowing experience for the disciples to see Jesus radiating with divinity and glory while he was being visited by Moses and Elijah, both significant members of an older Hebrew society and representatives of God. Peter’s idea wasn’t far fetched. He wanted to do something to honor Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Jesus didn’t chastise him. Neither did the voice of the Father that spoke from heaven. They heard the voice of God! And God said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" The New Testament contains 27 short books which account for the life and mission of Christ as well as the growth and development of the early church. The closing book, Revelation, discloses information concerning life in the Kingdom of God, the close of the church age, and the second coming of Christ. There’s a lot of meaningful direction in these 27 short books that are the product of God working through chosen men and women who listened to Jesus and did what he told them to do. It’s not always popular to follow Jesus. His way is not the way of the world. But his way is the best way. Eternally speaking, his way is the only way despite what the world may say and despite the way he may be misrepresented by those who profess to follow him. What of doing what he tells us to do? What of the directive that we have to “preach the gospel”, to go into all the world and proclaim his Lordship? Yes. We do have this calling and it doesn’t take a PhD to see that it’s getting more difficult than ever to “preach” the world to Christ. So what’s the answer? How do we convince the world of Christ’s Lordship? It’s important that we have an earnest desire to “build” some “shelters” for him. In a real, tangible way churches are shelters of sorts. Ministries are shelters of sorts. These are shelters where souls can find refuge, direction, and meaning. Our lives are shelters of sorts - host temples for the presence of the Holy Spirit - shelters that are “transfigured” by the one who becomes resident within us. Our own personal tranfiguring, the radiant evidence of God in us, is of much more importance than any material structure that can be raised and it is this personal transfiguration that validates our spoken testimony concerning Jesus and the Scriptures. |
 |
| "Transfigured Followers" Mark 9:2-7 |
©David Kralik Ministries, Inc. 2003 Email: matthewfivesix@hotmail.com |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|