Revelation!
Opening Prayer
Lord, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will open my eyes so that I might see wonderful things in Your Word.
Read Mark 9:2-13
[2] After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. [3] His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. [4] And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. [5] Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” [6] (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) [7] Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” [8] Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. [9] As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. [10] They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. [11] And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” [12] Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? [13] But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What vital affirmation did the disciples receive on the mountain?Peter receives his second great revelation in a week. This time it is an overwhelming experience of the reality of who Jesus is. Again, Peter can’t quite grasp its significance. Jesus is revealed as he truly was, and is. The one whom they had known as companion and teacher is displayed in all his glory alongside God’s two greatest servants in the Old Testament. Any of us would feel completely dumbstruck by such an experience; at least Peter finds something, however inappropriate, to say. He draws on his previous understanding of God’s appearing to Israel in their wilderness wanderings. Then, Israel had been instructed to make a tabernacle to accommodate God’s presence among them (Exod. ch. 26). This time a voice from heaven simply tells him to be quiet and to listen (7). The voice tells him that Jesus is God’s Son. Once again the disciples ask questions. What does “resurrection” actually entail? And where do Elijah and suffering fit in? Jesus explains and alludes once more to what will happen to him. Recognizing God’s presence and will wasn’t easy for Peter and John and is not always easy for us, either.
Apply
What have you learned about Jesus and who he really is recently? How might you draw closer to him?
Closing prayer
Jesus, You know the questions that I have, but I know who You are and I worship You as my Lord.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.