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by Sandy Shaw
We have been reading the scene and learning something of the significance of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in Mark Chapter, and in verses 9 to 13, we read that Jesus commands His disciples, do not tell anyone until I have risen from the dead.
No one could possibly understand the significance of this incident.
When that experience is all over the disciples have questions. Why does Jesus keep telling people not to tell people who He is?
Is this not what we are supposed to do? What is going on here? The time was not right.
1 - Jesus needed time to be with His disciples – and not the crowds.
2 - The time was not right yet for Jesus to go to the Cross. Jesus knew there was a right time to go to the Cross – the Cross was approaching – and we know it would be at Passover.
3 - They needed to wait until Jesus was risen from the dead. They could not understand the end of the story – not until after the resurrection and meeting with the risen Jesus.
Jesus did not want a message of Transfiguration and Miracles. Jesus wanted a message of death and resurrection – of forgiveness – of salvation – of life, in all its fullness.
They asked Jesus about that Jewish belief that Elijah would come first.
Jesus answered again so clearly.
Jesus points them to the Cross.
Malachi speaks about the coming of Elijah, and Jesus sees the coming of Elijah in John the Baptist.
John was so similar in so many ways as Elijah, and ate the same type of simple food.
If they killed the messenger, they will also kill the Messiah.
John came and did what John had to do – and he was killed.
God does things in a way nobody expects them to be done!
The disciples are focussed on an Old Testament prophet – Jesus draws their attention to Him and the Cross – and suffering!
Focus on the cross and focus on the resurrection. The New Testament preachers certainly did that – the cross and the resurrection.
It is written that the Son of Man must suffer.
Just as Elijah’s coming was a herald of the Lord’s coming – Elijah’s execution by beheading is a herald of the Lord’s execution.
Jesus goes on to speak about this in the next few Chapters.
Jesus came down from the mountain.
Jesus had been baptised in water at the beginning of His ministry and anointed with the Holy Spirit – now the Father has enveloped Him in the Shekinah glory – and has spoken a reassuring word – for what lay ahead.
Jesus could have avoided the cross. It was physically possible.
He went on to complete what He came to do – to save us from our sins – not just from the political rulers and religious regulations.
Jesus came to save us from our sins.
These men never forgot this experience – remember – evidence is not enough – we need an experience of Jesus Christ – an experience of God.
John Chapter 20 – Thomas had evidence from all the disciples that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead – but that was not enough.
Thomas had to have an experience of the risen Lord Jesus Christ – and so do we.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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