“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.” ~Mark 9:2
Today’s scripture tells us about the Transfiguration of Jesus. I was going to try to paraphrase the story but I felt it would be best to give you the actual words from Mark. “And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” 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. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 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.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.” ~Mark 9:1-13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%209:1-13&version=NIV
I can only imagine what this experience was like and what it meant to Peter, James and John. They had just witnessed a great miracle and Jesus tells them not to speak of it to anyone until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. This has been referred to as a “mountain top moment.” Have you ever had a “mountain top moment” in your life. The author of the pamphlet I am using talks about the passions she had in high school, she loved being artistic, always performing in plays, musicals, and speech contests and her “mountain top moments” were the actual performances, the few glorifying moments on the stage. I absolutely can relate to similar emotions. When I was a teenager I “loved” playing softball. I could play it every single day. I was really good at it and I liked that feeling of being a “clutch” player and being in the spotlight, definitely my “mountain top moments.” As I’ve grown and aged, sports have lessened and “mountain top moments” are fewer. I think mountain top moments are good and healthy for all of us, we all have special gifts and we should share them with others and encourage one another. We are not all great singers, or artists, or musicians, or story tellers, or writers…and that’s ok; maybe your gift is friendship, or positive optimism, or lightheartedness and laughter…whatever it is, share it and live into it every single day. Using our gifts and sharing our faith is “who” we are and we are the children of the Living God, who is the Light of the World. We are not here for a single performance, we are here to daily live out our faith and to spread the love of Jesus to everyone. Do you realize your actions and words might be the only “Jesus” experience some people might ever see? You might be asking, what does that even mean…I am not saying you need to learn to be a public speaker or a minister, elder or deacon… just be you, would people recognize you as a person of faith and a follower of Jesus by your actions and your words(?). Are you ever tempted to “perform” your faith instead of living it every day?
Breath Prayer: Jesus, speak to me and help me follow you every day. ~Amen.
~Blessings and Peace~
HOPE SEEKER 