The Transfiguration, Part II

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Title: The Transfiguration, Part II ------------------- Date: 5/16/2003
Keywords: "quiet" "listen" "transfiguration"
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Passage: Mark 9:1-13*

1. 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."

Questions

1. Why was Peter's idea in verse 5 a poor one?

 

2. When was the last time you blurted out something your regretted? What did you learn from that experience?

 

Practical help

Have you ever said to yourself something like this? "If I only try harder, I'm sure I can overcome this porn problem." It sounds right, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's not a surface problem in need of a surface answer. Good intentions sometimes just are not enough.

There comes a time when we need to stop thinking our own solutions and quietly listen. That was Peter's problem. He thought he had a good idea. "This is great! We've got some really big players here! I know what let's do. Why don't we build some booths and have a holiday? Then everyone will know that we have just seen the coolest thing here with Jesus, Moses and Elijah…"

Unfortunately, he and his buddies were the three least qualified ones there to make recommendations as to what should happen next. When it comes to life's most difficult problems, it is better to listen to the One who made us rather than to ourselves.

… and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"

Good advice. I'll be quiet now…

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*Scripture taken from the New King James Version (NKJV), © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.