The Higher Life
Opening Prayer
Show me Your glory, God. I want to know You.
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.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Was it a struggle to read your Bible today? Be happy that God is excited to have your attention.The three disciples were tired and sleepy. They had gone to pray with Jesus probably early in the day and had climbed a high mountain, maybe Mount Hermon (over 9,800 feet). But what a revelation! Here is Jesus fulfilling what he said in verse 1: that some will see the kingdom of God come with power. Jesus wants to share more of himself with us now. But sometimes we have to make an effort: seeking him out in Scripture, prayer, obedience and service to others.
We can have great mountaintop moments of closeness to God but we cannot rest there. Rather we take that reassurance and revelation and come down the mountain with Jesus into the everyday. How do you think this event sustained Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem? Life can be puzzling but God is working out his purpose, as Jesus explains about Elijah and John the Baptist (Matt. 17:11–13).
The disciples were part of the early church that faced great persecution. Three of them could remind the others of this promise of glory. It was not a dream!
Apply
Plan a special space and time to seek a fresh vision of Jesus. It could be a weekend getaway or a few hours alone.
Closing prayer
I praise You, God, for Your dazzling glory! Show me more of Yourself.
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