Through the Bible - Numbers 13-15, Mark 6:30-56
Good morning,
I enjoy being up in the mountains, the fresh air, the panoramic view give something other than your everyday perspective of the world around you. One of my most vivid hunting experiences was up on a mountain in Colorado. Our camp was at about 9500 feet and I was hunting even higher. While up there clouds moved in and I was enveloped by them. All of a sudden there was a thunder clasp, it was if it was all around me. Fear came over me when I realized that I was carrying a rifle, a lightning rod as it were. I quickly and literally ran down the mountain for fear of being struck.
For today's verse we go to a mountaintop experience described in the book of Mark.
In this passage Peter, James, and John went up to a mountain with Jesus. Here, Elijah and Moses appeared to them. Wouldn't you be excited to meet them, or perhaps a great evangelist such as Billy Graham or D.L. Moody? They were ready to set up "tabernacles" for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.
Here is what happened next.
Mark 9:7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. NKJV
The voice must hae thundered as if it were all around them. It definitely got their attention, they must have cowered in fear, covered their heads and eyes. What did the voice tell them? When they looked up Moses and Elijah were no longer there. God was telling them to hear, to listen to Jesus only.
Jesus was elevated in position in their eyes. Jesus was seen, thought of by many to be a prophet like Moses or Elijah, Mark tells us that many popularly thought that Jesus was a reincarnation of Elijah (6:15). "According to Luke ihis sermon in the Nazareth synagogue referred to the miracles of Elijah and Elisha and the widow's son at Nain (yesterday) was closely similar to the miracle performed by Elijah in nearby Shunem. All Christians agree that Jesus shared the spiritual splendor of Moses and Elijah as courageous and vastly influential witnesses to the power and holiness of the one true God.... In Lystra another healing miracle made the people shout: "The gods have come down to us in human form!" (Acts 14:11) - David Edwards.
What God is saying here about His Son, is that Jesus is above, set apart from the other prophets. They were pointing to Him. Jesus is above all other "gods" or people that we'd like to make as gods. Jesus is the One, we are to listen to and follow Him. This thinking will transfigure, will change us, if we realize who Jesus really is, and live like we believe it.
There are so many things in this passage that we can't even begin to deal with in a devotional. But take some time today to read it and consider what it means to us today.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Mark 9:1-14
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
The Transfiguration of Christ(Matt 16:28-17:13; Luke 9:27-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18)
9 And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."
2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" — 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
12 Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."
NKJV
The Transfiguration of Christ(Matt 16:28-17:13; Luke 9:27-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18)
9 And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."
2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" — 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
12 Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."
NKJV
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