Thursday, June 29, 2006
Pitching a Tent
Jesus took Simon, James & John up into a high mountain away from the other disciples. If they were still retreating in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus likely took them to Mount Herman.
The Bible doesn't explain why Jesus took three disciples and left the other nine. Maybe the story serves as a prophetic picture. Maybe these three needed to see what was about to happen for some unknown reason. One thing is certain - what these men were about to see would change their lives forever.
But they almost missed out on the moment because they fell asleep. Jesus went away to pray and took these three disciples with Him. But Simon, James & John were overcome with exhaustion and fell asleep.
As Jesus prayed, He was transformed. His appearance changed. He radiated like the sun, and His clothes became the whitest white possible. It is noteworthy that Jesus changed to reveal His true glory in prayer. This shows the power in prayer. It can be the key to help unlook God's purposes and glory in our lives. Prayer changes things because it changes those who engage in it. Jesus models that truth out to us because He regularly took time alone to pray.
How often do we struggle to pray and interceed? I find it hard to critcize the discples who slept during this intercession opportunity. I have found myself doing the same thing. In the past, I have literally fallen asleep during worship and prayer times.
The important thing is that they awoke to see Jesus radiating His true glory. Some people talk a lot about the Transfiguration as one of the greatest examples of God's power and glory in the New Testament. But I often wonder if the greater miracle is that Jesus hid His glory not the unveiling of it. Jesus was not becoming something new. No, He was simply revealing His true self.
Imagine what the disciples must have felt as they awoke to see the remarkable site of Jesus brightly glowing as He talked with Elijah and Moses. The men were afraid. They may have wondered if they were dreaming. Why was this happening and what did it mean?
Simon did what seemed best at the time. He said unto Jesus, "Lord, it is god for us to here. If you will let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Simon did not get out another world before being interrupted by something even greater than what he saw.
As if the above scene wasn't enough, a bright cloud enveloped the men. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him."
When the disciples heard the voice of God they fell down on their faces in fear. I have often wonder if this is the episode that the apostle John was referring to when he wrote about the witness of God for His Son (I John 5:9-10).
The disciples did not simply bow in the presence of God. They fell on their faces, not daring to look. These men were prostrate on the ground in complete reverence and awe. Jesus responded by comforting the disciples. He told them to get up and not be afraid. When they lifted up their eyes, they saw neither Elijah nor Moses. Jesus stood there looking like He always had.
Jesus warned the disciples not to mention what they saw until after "the Son of man had risen from the dead."
You can imagine the disciples trying to figure out what had happened and why the scene vanished so quickly. As they came down the mountain, the disciples asked questions trying to figure out what they had just seen. They asked about the prophecy concerning Elijah. Many Jewish scribes claimed that Elijah would come again and precede the Messiah. Maybe they were trying to connect the vision on the mountain with the prophecy. Jesus said that Elijah had already come again but the religous leaders rejected him. The disciples could tell by what Jesus said that he spoke of John the Baptist as the Elijah figure mentioned in the Hebrew prophets.
Let's look at the Transfiguration with an indepth eye to what happened. There are some important discipleship lessons if you look closely at what took place.
The vision on the mountain was one of those moments that rolled back the veil to reveal the spiritual reality not visible to the physical world. This did not happen all the time because God wants people to love him by faith and choice not out of fear or the visible reality of God's glory. The disicples have already cast their lot with Jesus, and this spectacular moment simply gave them more proof for their beliefs.
As a disciple of Jesus, we will have to trust him even when His glory is covered, even when the evil world system appears to be winning. Then, He will give us glimpses of His greatness. He will supply what we need to fuel our faith and devotion to His kingdom. What these disciples saw was not only meant for them. It was meant to help everyone who would come after them, including you and me.
Some of our greatest God moments will come when we least expect it. That is exactly what happened to Simon, James and John.
Simon responded the best he knew how. He returned to his religous way of thinking. Many scholars have debated why he suggested that the disciples erect tabernacles for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Maybe he thought this was a historic event that should be commemorated by developing a shrine in honor of the three prophetic leaders. Maybe he thought this was holy ground that should be revered by building a tabernacle for God's presence.
Or maybe Simon was feerful and wanted to develop booths as a way to create proper separation between himself and this incredible manifestation of God's glory and kingdom. Sometimes we see things that are too great for us and we want to hide. Or at the very least we fall down as unworthy of the moment. Simon could have thought about all of these things. Or his suggestion could simply be a religous reaction to a miraculous event. Religous people do that today. We frequently construct buildings when we don't know what else to do. If there is a ministry that needs to start, we will frequently focus on the building project first.
Luke 9:33 indicated that Simon made his suggestion as Moses and Elijah appeared to be leaving. Maybe Simon was trying to perserve the moment and keep everything just as it was.
According to Mark 9:6, Simon was extremely affraid. Building tabernacles was probably the first thing that popped into his head. We don't know for sure why Simon suggested tabernacles. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the tabernacle were built to house the presence of God as it moved with the Israelites. Also, Jews have built tabernacles as part of their celebration of Sukkot, a harvesst feast and one of the most important times in the Jewish religion. The festival of Sukkot is instituted in Leviticus 23:33.
When we don't know what to do, sometimes religousDidn't know what to do, let's build a building. WE still have that attitude today.
Right as Simon finished his tabernacle suggestion, a bright cloud came and covered them. God provided the tabernacle for the moment. The voice of God said, "This is my beloved Son: hear Him." Psalm 25 describes the voice of God as a mighty sound that breaks the mighty cedar trees. A loud sound like thunder drove the men to their faces as they prostrated themselves in reverent awe.
The disciples were likely overcome by the sheer power of God's voice. But equally important are the words God spoke. He proclaimed the deity of Jesus and the importance of listening to His words. This is the second time where God confirmed His relationship with His beloved Son.
The confirmation of who we are and our power as God's children can only come from God. These three disciples see this played out as God verbally confirms His relationship with Jesus. The three disciples could never look at Jesus the same. We get our identity and family name from our Father. These men would need to remember this as they see Jesus die, and as they themselves learn what it means to be like Christ. Jesus showed the way to sonship. He modeled out what it means to be a son of God. And in reality, He is the big brother of every Christian. These men would becomes sones of God themselves as God power came upon them.
Jesus came and touched the disciples. He let them know that they would be alright. The same thing happened to the Apostle John when he sees a vision of Jesus in Revelation 1. Who would have ever believed that three simple fishermen were given the opportunity to see such an incredible sight. God reveals some of His greatest mysteries in front of the simplest people.
Why did Jesus charge the disciples not to share what happened on the mountain until after he rose from the dead? The answer seems obvious when you stop to consider what Simon asked. He asked about the prophecy concerning Elijah. The average Jew might have interpreted the Transfiguration and the coming of Moses and Elijah as a sign that Jesus was the Messiah. They would have likely tried to capture Jesus and forced Him to become king. The Jews were looking for a political and military leader not a sacrifie for their sins. Had news of the event got out, Jesus' whole mission could have been jeopardized.
Can you imagine seeing something like this and not being able to share it with others? These men had a secret that would change everything. They were intrusted with it even while most of the rest of the world was not ready for it. God's people are frequently intrusted with truth that others are not ready to receive. Disciples learn how to only say what will bring about God's objectives. This secret helped teach these men that important lesson.
Jesus also spoke of his death and resurrection, a topic that had already caused problems for Simon. Until the cross, Jesus kept on giving sublte reminders of what lay ahead. A good teacher will always prepare his students for the future even if they don't want to hear the warning. Jesus was never afraid to say what had to be said. This boldness and sense of purpose would later become a hallmark of Simon's ministry.
The Bible doesn't explain why Jesus took three disciples and left the other nine. Maybe the story serves as a prophetic picture. Maybe these three needed to see what was about to happen for some unknown reason. One thing is certain - what these men were about to see would change their lives forever.
But they almost missed out on the moment because they fell asleep. Jesus went away to pray and took these three disciples with Him. But Simon, James & John were overcome with exhaustion and fell asleep.
As Jesus prayed, He was transformed. His appearance changed. He radiated like the sun, and His clothes became the whitest white possible. It is noteworthy that Jesus changed to reveal His true glory in prayer. This shows the power in prayer. It can be the key to help unlook God's purposes and glory in our lives. Prayer changes things because it changes those who engage in it. Jesus models that truth out to us because He regularly took time alone to pray.
How often do we struggle to pray and interceed? I find it hard to critcize the discples who slept during this intercession opportunity. I have found myself doing the same thing. In the past, I have literally fallen asleep during worship and prayer times.
The important thing is that they awoke to see Jesus radiating His true glory. Some people talk a lot about the Transfiguration as one of the greatest examples of God's power and glory in the New Testament. But I often wonder if the greater miracle is that Jesus hid His glory not the unveiling of it. Jesus was not becoming something new. No, He was simply revealing His true self.
Imagine what the disciples must have felt as they awoke to see the remarkable site of Jesus brightly glowing as He talked with Elijah and Moses. The men were afraid. They may have wondered if they were dreaming. Why was this happening and what did it mean?
Simon did what seemed best at the time. He said unto Jesus, "Lord, it is god for us to here. If you will let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Simon did not get out another world before being interrupted by something even greater than what he saw.
As if the above scene wasn't enough, a bright cloud enveloped the men. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him."
When the disciples heard the voice of God they fell down on their faces in fear. I have often wonder if this is the episode that the apostle John was referring to when he wrote about the witness of God for His Son (I John 5:9-10).
The disciples did not simply bow in the presence of God. They fell on their faces, not daring to look. These men were prostrate on the ground in complete reverence and awe. Jesus responded by comforting the disciples. He told them to get up and not be afraid. When they lifted up their eyes, they saw neither Elijah nor Moses. Jesus stood there looking like He always had.
Jesus warned the disciples not to mention what they saw until after "the Son of man had risen from the dead."
You can imagine the disciples trying to figure out what had happened and why the scene vanished so quickly. As they came down the mountain, the disciples asked questions trying to figure out what they had just seen. They asked about the prophecy concerning Elijah. Many Jewish scribes claimed that Elijah would come again and precede the Messiah. Maybe they were trying to connect the vision on the mountain with the prophecy. Jesus said that Elijah had already come again but the religous leaders rejected him. The disciples could tell by what Jesus said that he spoke of John the Baptist as the Elijah figure mentioned in the Hebrew prophets.
Let's look at the Transfiguration with an indepth eye to what happened. There are some important discipleship lessons if you look closely at what took place.
The vision on the mountain was one of those moments that rolled back the veil to reveal the spiritual reality not visible to the physical world. This did not happen all the time because God wants people to love him by faith and choice not out of fear or the visible reality of God's glory. The disicples have already cast their lot with Jesus, and this spectacular moment simply gave them more proof for their beliefs.
As a disciple of Jesus, we will have to trust him even when His glory is covered, even when the evil world system appears to be winning. Then, He will give us glimpses of His greatness. He will supply what we need to fuel our faith and devotion to His kingdom. What these disciples saw was not only meant for them. It was meant to help everyone who would come after them, including you and me.
Some of our greatest God moments will come when we least expect it. That is exactly what happened to Simon, James and John.
Simon responded the best he knew how. He returned to his religous way of thinking. Many scholars have debated why he suggested that the disciples erect tabernacles for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Maybe he thought this was a historic event that should be commemorated by developing a shrine in honor of the three prophetic leaders. Maybe he thought this was holy ground that should be revered by building a tabernacle for God's presence.
Or maybe Simon was feerful and wanted to develop booths as a way to create proper separation between himself and this incredible manifestation of God's glory and kingdom. Sometimes we see things that are too great for us and we want to hide. Or at the very least we fall down as unworthy of the moment. Simon could have thought about all of these things. Or his suggestion could simply be a religous reaction to a miraculous event. Religous people do that today. We frequently construct buildings when we don't know what else to do. If there is a ministry that needs to start, we will frequently focus on the building project first.
Luke 9:33 indicated that Simon made his suggestion as Moses and Elijah appeared to be leaving. Maybe Simon was trying to perserve the moment and keep everything just as it was.
According to Mark 9:6, Simon was extremely affraid. Building tabernacles was probably the first thing that popped into his head. We don't know for sure why Simon suggested tabernacles. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the tabernacle were built to house the presence of God as it moved with the Israelites. Also, Jews have built tabernacles as part of their celebration of Sukkot, a harvesst feast and one of the most important times in the Jewish religion. The festival of Sukkot is instituted in Leviticus 23:33.
When we don't know what to do, sometimes religousDidn't know what to do, let's build a building. WE still have that attitude today.
Right as Simon finished his tabernacle suggestion, a bright cloud came and covered them. God provided the tabernacle for the moment. The voice of God said, "This is my beloved Son: hear Him." Psalm 25 describes the voice of God as a mighty sound that breaks the mighty cedar trees. A loud sound like thunder drove the men to their faces as they prostrated themselves in reverent awe.
The disciples were likely overcome by the sheer power of God's voice. But equally important are the words God spoke. He proclaimed the deity of Jesus and the importance of listening to His words. This is the second time where God confirmed His relationship with His beloved Son.
The confirmation of who we are and our power as God's children can only come from God. These three disciples see this played out as God verbally confirms His relationship with Jesus. The three disciples could never look at Jesus the same. We get our identity and family name from our Father. These men would need to remember this as they see Jesus die, and as they themselves learn what it means to be like Christ. Jesus showed the way to sonship. He modeled out what it means to be a son of God. And in reality, He is the big brother of every Christian. These men would becomes sones of God themselves as God power came upon them.
Jesus came and touched the disciples. He let them know that they would be alright. The same thing happened to the Apostle John when he sees a vision of Jesus in Revelation 1. Who would have ever believed that three simple fishermen were given the opportunity to see such an incredible sight. God reveals some of His greatest mysteries in front of the simplest people.
Why did Jesus charge the disciples not to share what happened on the mountain until after he rose from the dead? The answer seems obvious when you stop to consider what Simon asked. He asked about the prophecy concerning Elijah. The average Jew might have interpreted the Transfiguration and the coming of Moses and Elijah as a sign that Jesus was the Messiah. They would have likely tried to capture Jesus and forced Him to become king. The Jews were looking for a political and military leader not a sacrifie for their sins. Had news of the event got out, Jesus' whole mission could have been jeopardized.
Can you imagine seeing something like this and not being able to share it with others? These men had a secret that would change everything. They were intrusted with it even while most of the rest of the world was not ready for it. God's people are frequently intrusted with truth that others are not ready to receive. Disciples learn how to only say what will bring about God's objectives. This secret helped teach these men that important lesson.
Jesus also spoke of his death and resurrection, a topic that had already caused problems for Simon. Until the cross, Jesus kept on giving sublte reminders of what lay ahead. A good teacher will always prepare his students for the future even if they don't want to hear the warning. Jesus was never afraid to say what had to be said. This boldness and sense of purpose would later become a hallmark of Simon's ministry.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Doooop!
There are just some things that should never be said. Some words just don't go together. "No, Lord" is one of those phrases. But Simon was never afraid to challenge Jesus if he felt something was said that went too far or missed the mark. Simon vocalized what many of the others were thinking. At least, he had the courage to say what was really on his mind. Rebuking the master is never a good idea. That is especially true when the master is Jesus, the Son of God.
Just after Jesus had told the disciples about His kingdom and that the gates of Hades would not prevail against them, He turned the conversation to the cross. This proved to be a stumbling block for the disciples. They could not understand how the death of Jesus would do anything other than disrupt the plans they had.
The disciples could not see how the cross would lead to glory or the establishment of God's kingdom on earth. The cross is a terrible instrument of death. Being crucified is a humiliating way to die. It is agony on a stick. Many Jews had been crucified by the Romans as they conquered Palestine. The cross was a reminder of Roman rule and cruelty. How could it have anything to do with God or love?
As Jesus began to tell His disciples what would happen to Him. You can understand how they would have been confused. They likely wondered why Jesus was saying these things. Could Jesus be depressed? Was the great teacher overcome by fear? Were demons telling Him lies that He believed? Who knows exactly what the disciples thought. But they could not have easily accepted the words Jesus spoke. It just didn't make sense.
According to Matthew 16:22, Simon took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." Without being deterred from his mission for even one second, Jesus responded to Simon. His words must have seemed sharp. But Simon did not understand the real purpose of Jesus' life. He did not understand the spiritual battle going on in the background.
Simon was only speaking out of His love for Jesus and desire to see Him stay around and help make Israel a mighty nation once again. What could be wrong with that? The answer - everything.
God had a different plan because He understood the greater issue. Simon was only thinking about the current situation. Jesus looked through time at the seemingly eternal struggle of the ages. Simon fell into the trap of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He allowed his reason to overtake him. He allowed his mind to help him process the reality of God's redemptive plan through the cross. His intellect would never be able to understand such a deep spiritual truth.
Jesus said to Simon, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
Why did Jesus fortell His sufferings? If this was a shock to the disciples to hear what would happen, can you imagine how much bigger of a shock it must have been to their faith to see it? Jesus told His disciples to prepare them for what would come. He told them to help them see that the kingdom of God is established in ways different from how men go about conquering nations. Those who follow Jesus should not necessarily expect a lot in this world. Their kingdom is of another world.
Why did Jesus rebuke Simon so harshly? Or did He? Maybe this is merely an act of tough love because Simon had strayed far from the heart of God even though he did not know it. Jesus spoke those hard words out of love for Simon and all those He came to save through His death.
Sometimes the words of a friend can be a vehicle that Satan will use to keep us from God's way. People unknowingly become a tool for the enemy. And that is what happened to Simon. Bolstered by Jesus' recent commendations, Simon dared to correct his leader. Simon's statements seemed so right. But they were so wrong. Our enemy will use all means at his disposal to distract us from God's call. This includes our best friends and closest confidants. Christians must not be ignorant of Satan's devices. He will hide himself as an angel of light. We must not focus on who speaks but what is spoken. This is what we see Jesus doing here. His spirit immediately helps him discern that the thoughts behind Simon's words are not from God.
Jesus speaks as He spoke to Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness. He immediately replied to shake off the temptation brought through one of His disciples. Jesus models that He is not afraid to be real with those He disciples. He will step on their feelings to save their soul.
Remember that if Jesus had followed Simon's advice, neither Simon nor any of us would have ever found salvation from sin and entry into God's best life. This interaction shows us the resolute attitude of Christ to His mission. He understood it well even when everyone around Him did not. Jesus preferred our salvation over His own safety.
It is as if Jesus shook off the serpent trying to coil around Him. He would give no place to demonic words or thoughts. He publicly rejected Simon's words so that none of the other disciples would fall into a similar trap. Jesus said that Simon had been carried away by human ideas.
Just to make sure that nobody missed the point, Jesus called His followers close to Himself. He then spoke some of the hardest words in the Gospels. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Jesus was destroying all of their notions about a temporal kingdom. He was calling them to a victory that would come at a great price. Simon quickly moved from a moment of great spiritual insight to a resounding slap in the face all in the same day. He had one of those "Doooop!" moments. The good news is that Jesus loved him enough to say the truth even when it hurt.
Just after Jesus had told the disciples about His kingdom and that the gates of Hades would not prevail against them, He turned the conversation to the cross. This proved to be a stumbling block for the disciples. They could not understand how the death of Jesus would do anything other than disrupt the plans they had.
The disciples could not see how the cross would lead to glory or the establishment of God's kingdom on earth. The cross is a terrible instrument of death. Being crucified is a humiliating way to die. It is agony on a stick. Many Jews had been crucified by the Romans as they conquered Palestine. The cross was a reminder of Roman rule and cruelty. How could it have anything to do with God or love?
As Jesus began to tell His disciples what would happen to Him. You can understand how they would have been confused. They likely wondered why Jesus was saying these things. Could Jesus be depressed? Was the great teacher overcome by fear? Were demons telling Him lies that He believed? Who knows exactly what the disciples thought. But they could not have easily accepted the words Jesus spoke. It just didn't make sense.
According to Matthew 16:22, Simon took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." Without being deterred from his mission for even one second, Jesus responded to Simon. His words must have seemed sharp. But Simon did not understand the real purpose of Jesus' life. He did not understand the spiritual battle going on in the background.
Simon was only speaking out of His love for Jesus and desire to see Him stay around and help make Israel a mighty nation once again. What could be wrong with that? The answer - everything.
God had a different plan because He understood the greater issue. Simon was only thinking about the current situation. Jesus looked through time at the seemingly eternal struggle of the ages. Simon fell into the trap of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He allowed his reason to overtake him. He allowed his mind to help him process the reality of God's redemptive plan through the cross. His intellect would never be able to understand such a deep spiritual truth.
Jesus said to Simon, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
Why did Jesus fortell His sufferings? If this was a shock to the disciples to hear what would happen, can you imagine how much bigger of a shock it must have been to their faith to see it? Jesus told His disciples to prepare them for what would come. He told them to help them see that the kingdom of God is established in ways different from how men go about conquering nations. Those who follow Jesus should not necessarily expect a lot in this world. Their kingdom is of another world.
Why did Jesus rebuke Simon so harshly? Or did He? Maybe this is merely an act of tough love because Simon had strayed far from the heart of God even though he did not know it. Jesus spoke those hard words out of love for Simon and all those He came to save through His death.
Sometimes the words of a friend can be a vehicle that Satan will use to keep us from God's way. People unknowingly become a tool for the enemy. And that is what happened to Simon. Bolstered by Jesus' recent commendations, Simon dared to correct his leader. Simon's statements seemed so right. But they were so wrong. Our enemy will use all means at his disposal to distract us from God's call. This includes our best friends and closest confidants. Christians must not be ignorant of Satan's devices. He will hide himself as an angel of light. We must not focus on who speaks but what is spoken. This is what we see Jesus doing here. His spirit immediately helps him discern that the thoughts behind Simon's words are not from God.
Jesus speaks as He spoke to Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness. He immediately replied to shake off the temptation brought through one of His disciples. Jesus models that He is not afraid to be real with those He disciples. He will step on their feelings to save their soul.
Remember that if Jesus had followed Simon's advice, neither Simon nor any of us would have ever found salvation from sin and entry into God's best life. This interaction shows us the resolute attitude of Christ to His mission. He understood it well even when everyone around Him did not. Jesus preferred our salvation over His own safety.
It is as if Jesus shook off the serpent trying to coil around Him. He would give no place to demonic words or thoughts. He publicly rejected Simon's words so that none of the other disciples would fall into a similar trap. Jesus said that Simon had been carried away by human ideas.
Just to make sure that nobody missed the point, Jesus called His followers close to Himself. He then spoke some of the hardest words in the Gospels. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Jesus was destroying all of their notions about a temporal kingdom. He was calling them to a victory that would come at a great price. Simon quickly moved from a moment of great spiritual insight to a resounding slap in the face all in the same day. He had one of those "Doooop!" moments. The good news is that Jesus loved him enough to say the truth even when it hurt.
