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Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Day 293: The transfiguration

So that’s who he is!
Peter’s declaration
Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21
Jesus speaks of his suffering and death
Matthew 16:21-23, Mark 8:31-33, Luke 9:22
Jesus speaks about self-denial
Matthew 16: 24-28, Mark 8:34-9:1, Luke 9:23-27
The transfiguration
Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36
Question about Elijah
Matthew 17:9-13, Mark 9:9-13
Jesus ministry of healing and deliverance
Matthew 17:14-21

As soon as the disciples have worked out for themselves who Jesus really is, he begins to tell them that his ministry is not what they think. They think he’s come for glory and victory and ultimate triumph for God’s people, actually he’s come for suffering, sacrifice and death. Not surprisingly, they can’t accept this.
It probably became clear pretty quickly to Jesus that words alone wouldn’t convince them, not even harsh words, so he tries something else. He decides to let the veil between heaven and earth slip a bit, so they can see something of his heavenly nature. Luke tells us that while he was talking to Moses and Elijah on the mountain tip, the discussed his “departure.” His Exodus, literally. Jesus wanted the disciples to know that they were in the midst of events every bit as momentous as the Exodus, all those years ago.
Peter’s not doing so well, today. First he earns a stinging rebuke when he tries to persuade Jesus not to suffer and die, then he starts babbling a load of nonsense on the mountain top. If I was one of the other disciples and I felt like teasing Peter, I’d remind him of his words, and then duck or run away very quickly.

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