Transfigured

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. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.  Mark 9:2-3

Laundry detergent sellers to this day advertise their product's whitening ability, but why take just three of the twelve disciples? Jesus became something like they had never seen before, but was there something special about the three disciples? Many similar questions may lead us back to a 'bee in the bonnet' as the old folks used to say. Jesus does something out of this world amazing, and we are stuck wondering over something else and missing the point. Perhaps our earthly mind of the flesh wants to take refuge in a criticism when a miracle appears before it. The Pharisees did this sort of thing all the time during our Lord's ministry. He would heal a blind man, and they would say, "Show us a sign!" We laugh and point at those Pharisees, but we had better be careful not to do the same thing. Jesus showed Himself in His spectacular glory for just a brief time. Praise God!

Bucky

Standing Here

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.” Mark 9:1

Jesus had a habit of presenting the disciples and all readers of the word with extraordinary statements such as this one in our reading today. In Mark, this statement comes just before, okay, six days before the transfiguration on the mountain. So, was that it? Statement fulfilled and all is done with it? Or, did Jesus mean the rushing mighty wind of Pentecost that would fill the disciples with power of the Word of God? Those two words, standing here, mean that this is one of the few statements of Jesus that does limit it to those who were there to hear Him at that time. We do not have to wonder at a future fulfilment to watch for or if we missed something in our walk with Jesus. But there is that other word just before that, some standing here.

Whoa, for those standing there, they would be left with a lingering, am I one of the some or not? We know from the story that Judas Iscariot would not be one to stay around to see the presentation. If we go back a few verses, we also find out that Jesus had called not just the disciples to Him, but the people also (Mark 8:34). Once again this leads us to Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Not so fast though, what about the Resurrection? Well yes, that's certainly a presentation of power from our Lord!

Praise God for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the king of the kingdom of God!

Bucky

Losing A Saving Desire

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. Mark 8:35

Does this verse mean that everyone who believes in Jesus must die a martyr? I can think of many saints who have died of old age in bed. Did they lose their eternal life with Jesus for a peaceful death? No, I think this verse is about that desire to control the outcome by our worldly means. Many people in this world want to live forever, and they have an idea of how to do it. A news show once ran a story of a man who ate nothing but pills. I would imagine his dinner parties might be a bit dull in the food department.

Science fiction writers have told tales of planets where the natives live forever or beings of pure energy who were supposedly better than us (kind of a low bar to set) dwelt, and many others. These tales have a tendency to leave out the One who offered us eternal life because, well, the control thing. No one, it seems, in our first birth wants to cede control in order to gain that life we seek.

So, along comes Jesus who died to save us from our desire for control of the first life to gain that eternal life we really want.

Peace and life to you in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Bucky

End The Debate

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  Mark 8:34

Oh, no, the 'take up my cross' thing. This one will bring out the debaters every time it is preached. Does that mean to pound two huge boards together and start dragging that around? One guy did that through the nations of the world, but that was his cross. (Look up the story of Arthur Blessitt to learn more.) We tend to get hung up on that in this verse, but there is so much more for us to do. First there must be a desire to come after Jesus, and that is not a default mode for us by any means. Then that desiring person must deny the self. Whoa, that self is a noisy, needy one. How does one go about shutting that racket down? Then, we get to the cross-taking bit. And by the way, follow Jesus after all of that. Whew! That's a lot to figure out. 

Maybe we do not need to debate with each other what taking up our cross means, but instead come in repentant prayer to the One who can lead us down this path He has laid out for us. 

The Lord will guide us,

Bucky

Not The Best Response?

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. Mark 8:31-32

Teachers, have you ever taught a lesson that seemed to bounce off your students? Did one of them take you aside to give you a butt chewing because he/she didn't believe you? Jesus had that experience here in our scripture for today. We know from our studies in the Word that what Jesus taught would come to pass exactly as He foretold. Peter wasn't having any of that defeatist talk though, and he took the Son of God aside to the rebuking room.

When the pastor reminds us, "response required," this one may not be among the top ten best responses to the word of the Lord. Especially when giving that required response to the Lord's own face. Well, the Lord can respond too, and His rebuke of Peter in the following verse reminds us that Jesus can be firm in His love when required.

But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (v33)

Ow!

Bucky

You Are The Christ

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.
  -- Mark 8:29-30

One of Peter's shining moments arrives in our verses for today. He gets to confess what Israel cannot see yet. And then Peter will go on to show that he does not quite get who the Christ will be. But for today, let us celebrate with Peter the given knowledge that Jesus is the Christ. Which could be a problem since Peter and the other disciples were strictly warned to tell no one. So, one has to wonder how we came to know? Timing belongs to Jesus our Lord of course! And a time would come when not only was this warning lifted, but the disciples were given a commission to take the good news of Jesus into all the world. That we believe in Jesus shows that they carried out that commission.

Have a great new week in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

A Little Adjustment

And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”
Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.  Mark 8:24-26

Bethsaida, and another blind man brought to Him. Jesus leads the man out of town and then spits on him. Yes, no mud or clay this time, just spat right in his face. And, hold the wonder, the first attempt does not get it quite right. A little adjustment is needed. 

If a person does not want to believe in Jesus, then this incident at Bethsaida gives plenty of opportunity for doubting Him. The full restoration of sight was a multi-step process this time. Why? And then, this man was another of those commanded to tell no one of his miraculous healing. But wouldn't they ask? Of course they would, or at least they would have if Jesus hadn't told the man to leave town. This man's needs were clearly different from the blind beggar in John 9, though the methods had a spitting similarity. 

Will we ever understand Jesus fully? Maybe, maybe not.

Bucky