The Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ is recorded in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). Jesus took Peter, James and John to pray on the mountain…. where his face was transfigured and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Then the two OT Heroes Moses and Elijah appeared, and were talking with Jesus.
It is interesting to note here that Moses and Elijah were talking about JESUS’ DEPARTURE ( His death and resurrection).
To cut the story short, A VOICE came and said, ” This is my Son … HEAR HIM… (v 7b).
✅ Both Moses and Elijah were gone but only Jesus was there (v 8)

Let us reason together:
🌈 God the Father did not say “LISTEN TO MOSES” (Law Giver).
🌈 God the Father did not say “LISTEN TO ELIJAH” (Prophecy – Law Restorer)
🌈 But God the Father said “LISTEN TO JESUS CHRIST 🙌
📌 It is not wise to keep Jesus equal to Moses and Elijah (for they wanted to build three shelters for each one of them. v 5)

Let us explore Matthew’s and Luke’s account with special reference to the Mountain Top Experience by Peter, John and James:
1️⃣ The Transfiguration account in Matthew ends with GIVING OF TEMPLE TAX (Matthew 17:24–27). Giving of two-drachama tax is an annual temple tax required for every male to pay according to the law (Exodus 30:13). Peter was quick to forget about the mountain top experience by clinging into the law… Jesus was kind enough to arrange the coins for the temple tax .
2️⃣ Dr Luke ends the account with Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem via Samaria (Luke 9:51–55). The Samaritans did not welcome Jesus, and this made James and John furious to call fire down from heaven to destroy them (as Elijah did 🔥 2Kings 1: 9–16) . Both the brothers — the sons of thunder failed to understand the mountain top experience by imitating Elijah.. Jesus rebuked them .

Let us explore the ministry of Moses and Elijah:
1️⃣ Numbers 20: 1-12
Israelites had quarreled with Moses for water. God told him to speak to the rock but Moses strike the rock twice.. and he was told that he will not enter into the promised land.
📌 MOSES FAILED .

2️⃣ 1KINGS 19:1–18
Elijah slaughtered 450 prophets of Baal, and now Jezebel was after Elijah to take the revenge. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.
📌 ELIJAH WAS DISCOURAGED.

📝 In Isaiah 42:1, 4
God introduced his servant (Jesus) and said that He will not FALTER nor DISCOURAGED..
📌 Moses failed ..
📌 Elijah also failed
📌 But Jesus will never fail, and indeed JESUS NEVER FAIL . He is greater and above Moses and Elijah 🙌

🌈 God the Father said, “This is my beloved Son: HEAR HIM” v 7

WHY HEAR HIM ⁉
~ He is the Great I Am.
~ He is the only Mediator between God and mankind.
~ He redeemed us .
~ He is coming back to take us to New Jerusalem.

💕 Beloved Church, the Bible says, ” Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts ” Hebrews 4: 7b.
Let us HEAR HIM 🙏🏼

Glory to God 🙌
✍🏾 MARK BOJE
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳

Mark 9:35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

When Jesus discovered the disciples arguing about which among them was the greatest, He said them straight:
The greatest is the least; the last is the first; the leader is the servant.

It’s another of the paradoxes in the Kingdom of God—the opposite of how the world thinks.

There are two kinds of ambition. There is the ambition to be approved and applauded by people, and the ambition to be approved and applauded by God.

We live in a success-oriented society. So many of us think and work hard to achieve good success in life.

Achieving success in God’s Kingdom actually occurs much differently from achieving success in this world.

To demonstrate this principle, Jesus used an object lesson by embracing a child in front of the disciples.

Children were considered unimportant because they had no power or status in society.

The Kingdom of God is characterized as being humble rather than self-importance.

Jesus told them that you achieve success in God’s Kingdom is by serving others – especially the most vulnerable.

So….. dear friends,……..
If we want to achieve success in God’s Kingdom,………..then,……

• instead of trying to be first, be last!
• serve others!
• give importance to others before ourselves!
• humble ourselves and
• be a servant!

Jooley Mathew Z
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