The mountain top with Jesus down to reality...
Sunday's (Feb. 28) 90 day NT challenge reading was Mark 9 - 11. Today's 90 day NT challenge reading is Mark 12 - 14.
Mark 9: 2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified
Mark 9: 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead
Mark 9: 14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute...
From the mountain top with Jesus to the reality of life. Jesus took Peter, James and John onto the mountain top, with Him, to witness and experience a very special moment of glory. At the moment Jesus' true glory shone forth Peter requested to make tents, as if another human attempt to capture the moment and not let it slip away. It was a glorious unforgettable moment in Jesus presence! But it was only momentary and they had to go back down the mountain. We cannot live in these mountain moments because we are called to live among the people. When they came down the mountain from having just experience the glory of God the first thing they encountered was a bunch of people arguing. Now doesn't that sound like real life. Right after a beautiful church service or devotional you have to walk outside and face the challenges of the day or you get a phone call with an emergency... or something. There is always something to throw water on the fire that was just rekindled in the presence of the Lord. So they key is to go back often enough to get the fire burning and the intimacy fresh. The mountain tops are to equip us for the valleys. "Though I walk through the valley......." Jesus is with us on the mountain and He is with us in the valley as He is walking through daily life. Do not let any challenges you face today discourage you from pressing forward! PJ