Sunday, March 14, 2010

Following Jesus to the mountain

Today we continued in our Lenten teaching series preparing for Resurrection Sunday on April 4, 2010.

We are explored the truths found in Luke Chapter 9. In today’s passage we saw how Jesus took his inner circle of disciples to a mountain top experience. In many bibles this account is referred to as the transfiguration. This same scene is also recorded in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2. In today’s account Luke does not use the word “transfiguration” but a word that means “a change in appearance that comes from within,” and gives us the word metamorphosis. This is the only occasion during Christ’s earthly ministry when He revealed the glory of His person.

There is a practical spiritual lesson here, for we can have a spiritual “transfiguration” experience each day as we walk with the Lord.

In read in Romans 12:2: " We are not to be conformed to this world – but - Transformed (same word as noted above) by the renewing of our minds." (As we become more and more like Jesus)


Our friends are to see us as were really are – from the inside out.

How do we demonstrate the glory of God in our life?

An insight about comes from another passage:

God decided to let his people know this rich and glorious secret which he has for all people. This secret is Christ himself, who is in you. He is our only hope for glory.” Colossians 1:27

Here is an insight about that passage:





I tried to explain the passage about Jesus and his "inner circle" on the Mountain Top. There are a number of important lessons to draw from this event. An important lesson is to remember that we cannot stay on the Mountain Top. We face the realities of life every day. However, our time on the mountain top should make a difference in our life. A mountain top experience can be a moment - or a day. It is a time when we experience the presence of God in our life. It can be as simple as an answered prayer or has significant as an intervention of God in a miracle or unusual work of God in our life. It is important to take the experience of a mountain top experience with God with us to give us a new perspective of daily life.
My closing illustration was the following:

One of my “heroes” from the past is Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. A Baptist pastor who become involved in the struggles in his local community. He is remembered for his I Have A Dream speech presented in 1963. In 1964 he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2000, the second most admired person of the 20th century. On April 3, 1968 he spoke at a rally in Memphis, TN.

Listen to these closing words from that night:



The next day – April 4, 1968 he asked the pianist for the rally that evening to play the song: Take my hand precious Lord. These were his last words. He stepped out on the balcony of his hotel room and was assassinated by a single gun shot.

• What do you see from the mountain that sustains you in the valley?

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