Can you see the glory? Transfiguration and Mark 9

Mark tells this great story in Mark 9:1-9,

Jesus and three friends went up on top of a mountain. Four men walked up to this mountain top. And on the mountain time Jesus was different. His clothes, his appearance, everything changed. His three friends were still the same; but now they were surrounded by the glory of God. 

Two heroes of the people, Elijah and Moses, showed up on that mountain top as well.

Jesus friend Peter wanted to do something. He was going to set up a booth for each of the three a place to sit. And then a voice called out from heaven, “this is my Son, the Beloved, listened to him!”

Just as fast as Jesus had been transformed, as Moses and Elijah had showed up, the glory was gone.  Yes God's voice was heard--yes Jesus glory was witnessed--and Jesus told the 3 people standing next to him not to say a word about it to anyone.

This story of Jesus revelation makes sense after Jesus’ death and resurrection.  This story makes sense in the light of the cross and the empty tomb. But I can't help but think in more at what it must have been like for Peter James and John on that mountain top with their friend.

Jesus has a way of surprising us.  He always has.  I sometimes think that it's the very nature of God in flesh that surprises us.  People looked at Jesus and all they see is the man. But there's never a moment when the power and the glory of God are fully present in Jesus. 

There's good news here for us. This world needs Jesus. This world needs God's glory to be revealed in all the broken places in all the lives where pain is known. And we are surprised to find out that Jesus shows up in the ordinary.  God’s glory was always there when Jesus walked on earth.  And today we are surprised to find God’s glory in the ordinary parts of our lives—in the word, in the bread and the wine, in the water of baptism, and in the love that people have for one another.

Peace and blessings

John

Following Jesus started friendship with Jesus. Thoughts on John 1:43-51

How do you imagine Jesus and his first followers?

As a kid I read picture story books in which it was easy to tell Jesus and his followers apart from everybody else.  In so many of these book Jesus had a halo over his head—and sometimes his followers the disciples did too.  Jesus portrayed on these pages absolutely glowed.  

In some churches I went to as a kid there were pictures of Jesus first followers in the ceilings of the church.  They were surrounded by gold and obviously must have been very special.  But just read the Gospels and it seems like the drawings in the picture books and the mosaics in the churches might not have been accurate.  Read John 1:43-51 and see that Jesus was human and very approachable.  He had long conversations and he just got to know people.  His first followers were fishermen—hard-working good hearted people.  They didn’t have halos—they had calloused hands and big hearts.  And Jesus built relationship with his followers.

It’s good to remember the humanity of Jesus and his first followers as we start this new year.  Right now our humanity and our fragility is clearer than ever before.  We need to know that Jesus fully knows us and our stories—this year 2021 is the year we need to know Jesus completely understands the human condition.  Martin Luther described Jesus,

He did not behave in an unusual manner; but He was unpretentious, mingled congenially with the people, and associated freely with all. Thus one after the other gradually came to Him and rallied about Him, today one, tomorrow another.^[1]

Jesus was friendly.  Right from the first moment he met someone he already had deep understanding about that unique person.  We need to know that the one who worked miracles knew what it was like to be totally human.  When he started gathering disciples he started relationships with them.  They were becoming friends as he invited into the job of being followers.    

John wrote about the first disciples getting to know Jesus as he called them to come and follow him.   They were building friendship and trust.  They were starting to know Jesus as they travelled with him.  But Jesus already knew them.  There’s a danger in forgetting the love that Jesus and his followers had for eachother.   Martin Luther wrote about John’s Gospel,

John’s theme is not the calling of the apostles into office; it is their congenial association with Christ. He wishes to tell us that they joined Him because of His friendly attitude toward the people.^[2]

People really liked Jesus and the truth is Jesus liked people.  And as he traveled more and more people came along with him.  We need to know the humanity of Jesus right now.  We need to know that Jesus understands us and relates to us. 

Peace and thanks for reading,

John

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^[1]Luther, M. (1999, c1957). Vol. 22: Luther's works, vol. 22 : Sermons on the Gospel of St. John: Chapters 1-4 (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (Jn 1:45). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House. Page 182.

^[2]Ibid