WEEK TWO - EVER INCREASING GLORY
The Mount of Transfiguration
Mark 9:1-4 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” 2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
Today begins the second week of our fast. Let’s move our attention to a different aspect of Glory.
Mountains and Glory seem to go together. Moses had his first encounter with Glory at the burning bush on Mount Horeb. His greatest encounter with Glory happened on Mount Sinai, after he asked God to “Please show me Your Glory”. Moses face shone radiantly for a long time afterward with Glory - the encounter changed him physically!
Jesus first revealed His own Glory to the disciples on Mount Tabor with His transfiguration in Mark 9. The word that describes what happened to Jesus is the same word used in 2 Corinthians 3:18 when Paul described our own transformation from one degree of glory to another - metamorphoo - it means change. The Bible teaches us that our transformation begins with our thinking (Romans 12:1-2), but, where does it stop?
Exposure to Glory mean change. It doesn’t just mean change to our internal heart or to a spiritual change. It also means we can be changed by our encounters with Him so there is a visible, discernible difference in us. More on that later. It also means that Glory can actually physically transform us! More on that later, too.
2 Peter 1:16-18 (Peter’s Testimony) For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
1 John 1:1-4 NLT (John’s Testimony) We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus unveiled His true self. It’s interesting to note that the two Bible heroes who appeared with Jesus on the mountain both had experienced God’s Glory, in their lifetime, in such a way that it changed them physically. Moses showed up, whose face shone with Glory (2 Cor. 3:7-8), and Elijah appeared, who never died, but was taken up physically in a whirlwind to heaven (2 Kings 2:11). There is so much more to know about how Glory works than we currently understand!
Here are some things to think about to help you press into the mystery of Glory: Were Moses and Elijah actually present with Jesus on the mountain or was it only a vision and they weren’t really there? (Peter called it a vision and wanted to build three Tabernacles because he didn’t know what to make of it all) If they were really there, did they come down from heaven to talk to Jesus or did Heaven come down on the mountain and that’s why Jesus looked so different? Or, did both Moses and Elijah, while on earth, each have an encounter in the Glory that lifted them out of their own time and brought to the mountain to meet and talk with Jesus in His time?
Remember, when Jesus said:
John 8:56-58 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it (Before Jesus was born or what?) and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
And again:
Luke 20:38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.
If we want to pursue the Glory we must be willing to consider the Mystery that is Glory. What does it mean? How does it work? How can I interact with His Glory?
READ
Ephesians 3:20-21, Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 12:18-24; Revelations 4:1
ACTIVATION
Meditate on the Mystery of Glory. What are the limits of your imagination when it comes to what is possible in God.(Eph. 3:20 says He will do more than you can ask or think - or imagine) Do your personal opinions and convictions about God and what is available keep you from responding to His invitation to come up the mountain and discover more about Him?
Today begins the second week of our fast. Let’s move our attention to a different aspect of Glory.
Mountains and Glory seem to go together. Moses had his first encounter with Glory at the burning bush on Mount Horeb. His greatest encounter with Glory happened on Mount Sinai, after he asked God to “Please show me Your Glory”. Moses face shone radiantly for a long time afterward with Glory - the encounter changed him physically!
Jesus first revealed His own Glory to the disciples on Mount Tabor with His transfiguration in Mark 9. The word that describes what happened to Jesus is the same word used in 2 Corinthians 3:18 when Paul described our own transformation from one degree of glory to another - metamorphoo - it means change. The Bible teaches us that our transformation begins with our thinking (Romans 12:1-2), but, where does it stop?
Exposure to Glory mean change. It doesn’t just mean change to our internal heart or to a spiritual change. It also means we can be changed by our encounters with Him so there is a visible, discernible difference in us. More on that later. It also means that Glory can actually physically transform us! More on that later, too.
2 Peter 1:16-18 (Peter’s Testimony) For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
1 John 1:1-4 NLT (John’s Testimony) We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus unveiled His true self. It’s interesting to note that the two Bible heroes who appeared with Jesus on the mountain both had experienced God’s Glory, in their lifetime, in such a way that it changed them physically. Moses showed up, whose face shone with Glory (2 Cor. 3:7-8), and Elijah appeared, who never died, but was taken up physically in a whirlwind to heaven (2 Kings 2:11). There is so much more to know about how Glory works than we currently understand!
Here are some things to think about to help you press into the mystery of Glory: Were Moses and Elijah actually present with Jesus on the mountain or was it only a vision and they weren’t really there? (Peter called it a vision and wanted to build three Tabernacles because he didn’t know what to make of it all) If they were really there, did they come down from heaven to talk to Jesus or did Heaven come down on the mountain and that’s why Jesus looked so different? Or, did both Moses and Elijah, while on earth, each have an encounter in the Glory that lifted them out of their own time and brought to the mountain to meet and talk with Jesus in His time?
Remember, when Jesus said:
John 8:56-58 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it (Before Jesus was born or what?) and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
And again:
Luke 20:38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.
If we want to pursue the Glory we must be willing to consider the Mystery that is Glory. What does it mean? How does it work? How can I interact with His Glory?
READ
Ephesians 3:20-21, Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 12:18-24; Revelations 4:1
ACTIVATION
Meditate on the Mystery of Glory. What are the limits of your imagination when it comes to what is possible in God.(Eph. 3:20 says He will do more than you can ask or think - or imagine) Do your personal opinions and convictions about God and what is available keep you from responding to His invitation to come up the mountain and discover more about Him?
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
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