A holy God has come for you? Mark 9:2-9

God is holy. If ever 3 peopled knew that first hand it was Peter, James, and John. There's a story in 3 of the gospels, sometimes called the Transfiguration, about a day when these 3 went walking up a mountain with Jesus.

Up to that moment they knew that Jesus had power like nobody else—but on this mountaintop they saw Jesus' majesty and glory. They knew Jesus was a great teacher and healer; but what they knew of him up to that moment was blown away by what they saw and heard when God's glory was revealed. Their rabbi, Jesus, was front and center as it all happened. Jesus was glowing. 2 men of great significance in the history of Israel, Moses and Elijah, met with Jesus on that mountain top.

Peter, not knowing what he was doing, said something to Jesus about building a space for Jesus and the two great heroes of ancient Israel. And then a voice called out from a cloud. “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” And just like that everything turned back to normal.

At the start of the day Peter, James, and John knew there was just something holy and awesome about Jesus. On the mountain top they experienced God's glory and power like never before. Just as fast everything was normal again, and Jesus told them on the way down to say nothing about what they'd witnessed.

This story of Transfiguration makes God's holiness so clear. But it also reveals who we are as people. We are not holy and here is good news: a holy God has come for us. Jesus, holy and awesome God, came to save us. Jesus came so that we could be freed by his cross and resurrection from sin, death, and evil. He came not so we could work harder to become holy too. He came so that unholy and imperfect people like us might be free.

As church our mission is to share the story of a holy God who loves the world. Our mission is not to tell people to work harder to be more like God--no its to tell of a glorious God who would step into our world and our story. Our mission is to tell the world of new life and freedom for all who believe.
Peace, and thanks of reading, John