Jesus Alone - Mark 9:1-8

Mark 9:1-8 NASB 

 And Jesus was saying to them, “ Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

 Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter *said to Jesus, “ Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “ This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

Peter, John, and James did get to see the kingdom of heaven before their very eyes as they witnessed the transfiguration of The Lord. 

The reference to six days may point us back to the sixth day of creation when man was created. A new man is in the world. 

Jesus took the form of heavenly attributes that will become our inheritance. For a moment we are given a glimpse of the new creature we have become. We breathe the breath of life that is the the Spirit of God. That life was breathed into the nostrils of mankind when Jesus became one of us. We are being transformed and transfigured as we believe. We no longer walk solely on the earth, but our feet carry us in the kingdom of heaven. 

Elijah and Moses appear before Jesus in the sky while the disciples give witness  from the earth. God speaks to announce His Son. 

We see a transition of sorts between the Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles as the Father confirms the Son and commands we listen. We may be reminded He is the word of God. 

The prophets disappear, and Jesus remains. Their work is done, but the salvation of man continues. Jesus alone is the answer. 

Knowledge Of God - Hosea 6:6-7

Hosea 6:6-7 NIV 

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,

and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

 As at Adam, they have broken the covenant;

they were unfaithful to me there.

Another way to translate the word translated here as acknowledgement is knowledge.  Having knowledge of God implies a relationship which is implied and informed by marriage. It is a knowing that goes beyond knowing. It is more than being able to speak someone's name.  It is the coming together mind, body, and soul, of an ongoing and intimate relationship. 

It is dying to self, dying to Christ. If this is not done, you might face Christ on that last day and hear Him say, "I never knew you".  Doing things in His name does not replace or compensate for a relationship that does not exist. 

Obedience to God reflects the relationship He seeks. The seed of His word and the sealing of the Holy Spirit enable the one who is born from above. Just as the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, He hovers over the water of our earth, and within us is born a new creature in the image of Christ. Darkness fades as morning star rises in our hearts. 

Glory to God in the Highest...

דעת daath; from 3045; knowledge:--

concern (1), know (3), knowledge (81), 

Hosea 2:20

I will betroth you in faithfulness,

and you will acknowledge the Lord.

Jeremiah 7:22-25

For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets.

1 Samuel 15:22-24

But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice,

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

he has rejected you as king.”

 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord ’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.

Hosea 4:6

my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

“Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also reject you as my priests;

because you have ignored the law of your God,

I also will ignore your children.

Will Bring Them Back - Jeremiah 32:36-38

Jeremiah 32:36-38 ESV 

 “Now therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’: Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Jeremiah speaks of God's wrath as signified by sword, famine, and pestilence. 

This judgement is directed toward the city of Jerusalem.  It is a prophesy which connects long ago with what is to come. The same imagery is used of three horseman in Revelation. 

As surely as He drove them from the land, He will bring them back. Despite the pursuit of the woman in Genesis by the dragon, when the day of The Lord is accomplished, they will live in the land in peace. The dragon will be no more. No longer will the nations be deceived. 

God will be their God and our God for He is God. 

He Explained Everything - Mark 4:33-34

Mark 4:33-34 NIV 

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

We are not always ready for a word, a teaching, or even the truth. We may be holding on to tradition or the common sense of the world, or holding on to something that we find pleasing.  

We have been given the Holy Spirit Who will lead us into all truth of God, but we must follow His lead. It is a journey begun when we call on His name. It is a journey of many steps that leads to the glory of The Lord. 

John 16:12-15

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

1 Corinthians 3:2

I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

Until - Matthew 11:11-14

Matthew 11:11-14 ESV 

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Jesus tells us John has no peer among those born of woman, yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  That is because anyone who walks in the kingdom is born from above. 

The kingdom of heaven seems to have suffered violence at the hands of the violent prior to appearance of Jesus.  Jesus came and overcame death and destruction.  He freed the captives and led them home.  Until then the strong man's house remained dark and the people were chained by sin. The peace of Christ has begun to reign.

Jesus goes on to give another reason he is the greatest of the prophets.  Prior to John, prophets prophesied of the one to come.  John announces the arrival of the Messiah. 

The coming of Jesus changed everything. 

Romans 3:21-22

 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

Those Who Are Well - Mark 2:17

Mark 2:17 ESV 

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but  those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

If we were called, we were sinners. It is only by knowing we are sinners that we can reach out to God to be cleansed. 

Those who do not know or think they are sick have no need for a physician, and likewise, those who can't see sin have no need for Jesus. 

We are called everyday. Everyday His mercy is renewed. The living water flows without interruption and our daily bread is given without measure. 

As Jesus said to the woman at the well, "If you knew you would ask".

Jesus is at the well. He is the well. 

We can be well.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Why I Came - Mark 1:35-39

Mark 1:35-39 ESV 

 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

There is much said here that underlies the plain words of this passage. 

He came into our wilderness, in the darkness of our ignorance, and there He prayed for those who would come. He is the morning star which has risen to cast light on the world. 

He was still praying and giving thanks when He was found by His disciples with the message that everyone was looking for Him. That is true. Everyone is looking for Him whether they know it or not. 

Jesus answers and confirms His mission that He be found for all that seek Him. That is why He came. 

Isaiah 61:1

 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;