Saturday, February 12, 2011

Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 13, 2011: Jesus Is God’s Son (Mark 9:2-13)

Genesis 1:3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

John 1:1
[ The Word Became Flesh ] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.



This took a little time. I apologize. Bear with me. Let me start with a brief historical reference and fact: Scholars believe that the Mount of Transfiguration was actually Mount Tabor. It was customary for the Jews to light beacons from Mount Tabor to inform the northern villages of Israel of the coming of the Holy Days. In that light :) , lets follow Jesus as he leads Peter, James and John to 'a high mountain'. You see, the Bible says He 'led' them there. He had a reason, a purpose. So what happens? When they are alone, Jesus is tranfigured: He becomes dazzlingly brilliant in apperance. A light unlike any other. A beacon to the world, that a most Holy event is on the horizon.
Appearing beside Him are Moses and Elijah. Many have pointed out that their appearance represents the Law and the Prophets, both of which point to Jesus. Or how about the 'Logos' and the 'Rhema'. The Logos representing the Word that establishes, the Word upon which the very pillars of creation rest, and the Rhema: the Word that reveals the very heart and nature of God. In the Logos, He is power, In the Rhema, He is love. In the Logos He is goodness, in the Rhema He is mercy. And in Jesus stands the very enbodiement of the Logos and the Rhema, The Law and the Prophets, Goodness (Justice) and Mercy, Grace and Truth.
Here's that Holy Intersection we've talked about before, where Heavan and Earth are manifest in the same place and time: an interdimensional moment that defies all that we understand. Peter and the others fall to their faces in fear. What's happening and Why? Peter says, " Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three temples." Then, the Father shows up, a Voice from Heaven, "This is my Beloved Son. Hear ye Him!". The Book is closed... or it's about to be. And God does not want the disciples looking back. To these men, God reveals (rhema) Jesus in all His Glory, then declares (logos) Him as the one and only answer to man's problem. The Christ. The Son fo God who came out of God. The Messiah.
In this moment, we need to see Jesus in all of His power and compassion. So great is the depth of our sin. It required the sacrifice of the One who was the very Son of God. Only He could pay the price. He loves us that much. Then, only He could throw off the chains of death, then release us as well. He is the Ressurection. God wanted us to see it through the eyes of His witnesses: Peter, James and John. In the mouth of two or three witnesses, the truth is established. Whatever it is you've been through, what ever it is you're going through, whatever lies in wait before you, Hope has a Name. A Name grater than every other. Jesus. If you need Him, cry out. If you have Him, He has you. Be comforted. He loves you and He cares for you.. like no one else can...

Blessings,

.wb

Luke 4:16-20

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Yours should be as well!! :)

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