OzThoughts Monday 23rd February 2009

OzThoughts Monday 23rd February 2009

[ In preparation for Easter read a Christian book during Lent.
Lent will start this Wednesday, 25th of February, and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 11th of April. ]

Yesterday many Churches would have read the reading from Mark, which I have chosen for today. However, as The Salvation Army does not follow the Common Lectionary readings, many Salvationists would not have read the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration.

Sometimes we get hung up on the trivial. When I read the story of the Transfiguration, I cannot help remembering a fellow Cadet at the Officer Training College who challenged our Old Testament Bible Teacher when she said Moses never entered the Promised Land. He maintained his Bible said Moses did enter the Promised Land. When asked for proof, he turned to this account where Moses (and Elijah) appeared with Jesus.

It is probably not trivial but have you considered if Peter had his way, we could have had Three Tabernacles as the symbol of our religion. With three tabernacles, Jesus would have stood as one of three leaders or even three prophets.

It was God who lifted Jesus way above the suggestions of man. The voice in the cloud proclaimed "This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him."

Jesus was not only a leader, not only a prophet, but a loved Son. Jesus looked ahead beyond the three tabernacles, beyond the mountain experience and told his Disciples it would all be plain to when he rose from the dead. Already the shadow of the cross which would become an eternal memorial and marker of our faith was falling on Jesus. Jesus knew they need the whole experience before they could understand the reality that confronted him and them.

[Listen: Brass Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_962.mp3

OR

Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2611.mp3 ]

When Jesus looked o'er Galilee,
So blue and calm and fair,
Upon her bosom, could he see
A cross reflected there?

When sunrise dyed the lovely deeps,
And sparkled in his hair,
O did the light rays seem to say:
A crown of thorns he'll wear?

When in the hush of eventide,
Cool waters touched his feet,
Was it a hymn of Calvary's road
He heard the waves repeat?

But when the winds triumphantly
Swept from the open plain,
The Master surely heard the song:
The Lord shall live again!
Author: Catherine Baird (1895-1984)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 103

Mark 9:2-9 (The Message)
2-4Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.
5-6Peter interrupted, "Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let's build three memorials— one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah." He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.
7Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: "This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him."
8The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.
9-10Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. "Don't tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you're free to talk." They puzzled over that, wondering what on earth "rising from the dead" meant.


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