Welcome to Day 19 of our 40 Day challenge! Mark 9:2-13

(Catch up with us, with our reading list March, reading list for April,  and Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, Day 15, Day 16, Day 17, Day 18)

Today we are reading Mark 9:2-13:

Mark 9:2-13

The Transfiguration

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white,whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? ¹³ But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

What an incredible thing to witness! Jack explained this as an “outside of time” experience for them. Here, they got to see Jesus, post-crucifixion and post-resurrection, glorified. They couldn’t grasp what was really going on, but still, the three of them were given this incredible experience. Amazing!

They saw Jesus in His glory, and they must have thought this was a beautiful confirmation of what was ahead. It would be up and to the right from then on. They were serving the King! This powerful, glorious King would certainly save them from their oppressors.

They didn’t understand that He is King of all and He was coming to rescue everyone, not just the Jews. There was a greater oppressor than Rome to handle. They were on top of the world! I’m sure this made it that much more devastating when the crucifixion came.

We have the advantage of looking back at all that happened with the perspective of all that will come. We know how this story ends. We will walk through these 40 days, through Holy Week, with hope instead of despair. We know Sunday is coming. But for the disciples, it will be a very long road to get there. ♥

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

We’ll see you next time, for Day 20 and John 7:25-44

♥ Samantha