Day 19 |March 23 | March Mark 8:34 – 9:6
Day 19 |March 23 | March Mark 8:34 – 9:6
By: Lowell Hought
1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
Who was standing there when he said this? And what were they going to see?
Right after saying this, Jesus took three of the disciples (Peter, James, and John) to a high mountain where they witnessed something they did not understand. They saw Jesus in clothing whiter than anyone on earth could make. They saw Elijah and Moses conversing with Jesus. And they heard the voice of God say “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
The words God spoke to the disciples in the presence of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah are echoes of Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42. Psalm 2 is about God establishing his King “on Zion, my holy hill”, likely a reference to the crucifixion of Jesus as the moment of victory over the kings and rulers of the earth. Isaiah 42 is about the chosen one whom God will make a “covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” What was shown to them was confirmation of what Peter had earlier declared: Jesus is the chosen one, who would win the victory over the powers and principalities and in so doing would establish justice on earth.
It could be that Peter, James, and John may have glimpsed what the kingdom of God looks like; humanity and God living together as it was originally in the Garden of Eden. It could also be that those who were with Jesus here in Caesarea Philippi and who later also witnessed the crucifixion where those who saw the moment of victory, the moment the kingdom of God came with power.
Either way, the context for us are the words just before the transfiguration: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Are we willing to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the kingdom of God?
Who was standing there when he said this? And what were they going to see?
Right after saying this, Jesus took three of the disciples (Peter, James, and John) to a high mountain where they witnessed something they did not understand. They saw Jesus in clothing whiter than anyone on earth could make. They saw Elijah and Moses conversing with Jesus. And they heard the voice of God say “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
The words God spoke to the disciples in the presence of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah are echoes of Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42. Psalm 2 is about God establishing his King “on Zion, my holy hill”, likely a reference to the crucifixion of Jesus as the moment of victory over the kings and rulers of the earth. Isaiah 42 is about the chosen one whom God will make a “covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” What was shown to them was confirmation of what Peter had earlier declared: Jesus is the chosen one, who would win the victory over the powers and principalities and in so doing would establish justice on earth.
It could be that Peter, James, and John may have glimpsed what the kingdom of God looks like; humanity and God living together as it was originally in the Garden of Eden. It could also be that those who were with Jesus here in Caesarea Philippi and who later also witnessed the crucifixion where those who saw the moment of victory, the moment the kingdom of God came with power.
Either way, the context for us are the words just before the transfiguration: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Are we willing to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the kingdom of God?
Recent
Archive
2023
February
March
Reveal | Day 8- March 2 | Psalm 115Reveal | Day 9- March 3 | Psalm 138Reveal | Day 10- March 4 | Psalm 145Reveal | Day 11- March 6 | Psalm 14Reveal | Day 12- March 7 | Psalm 24Reveal | Day 13- March 8 | Psalm 27:1-9Reveal | Day 14- March 9 | Psalm 43Reveal | Day 15- March 10 | Psalm 125Reveal | Day 16- March 11 | Psalm 127Reveal | Day 17- March 13 | Psalm 65Reveal | Day 18- March 14 | Psalm 103Reveal | Day 19- March 15 | Psalm 104Reveal | Day 20- March 16 | Psalm 107Reveal | Day 21- March 17 | Psalm 111Reveal | Day 22- March 18 | Psalm 136:1-9, 23-25Reveal | Day 24- March 21 | Psalm 32Reveal | Day 23- March 20 | Psalm 6Reveal | Day 25- March 22 | Psalm 51Reveal | Day 26- March 23 | Psalm 38Reveal | Day 27- March 24 | Psalm 130Reveal | Day 28- March 25 | Psalm 143Reveal | Day 29- March 27 | Psalm 7Reveal | Day 30- March 28 | Psalm 13Reveal | Day 31- March 29 | Psalm 26Reveal | Day 32- March 30 | Psalm 95
2022
January
February
March
Kids Remodel - Update March 1The Garrett Chapel - March 1Day 1 | 40 Days through Mark Day 2 | 40 Days Through MarkDay 3 | 40 Days Through MarkDay 4 | 40 Days Through MarkSunday March 6 | 40 Days Through MarkDay 5 | 40 Days Through MarkDay 6 | 40 Days Through MarkDay 7 | 40 days Through MarkDay 8 | 40 Days Through MarkThe Garrett Chapel - March 10 UpdateKids Remodel - Update March 10Day 9 | 40 Days through MarkDay 10 | 40 Days Through MarkDay 11 | March 14 | Mark 5:35-6:6Day 12 | March 15 | Mark 6:7-29Day 13 | March 16 | Mark 6:30-44Day 14 | March 17 | Mark 6:45-56Day 15 | March 18 | Mark 7:1-23Day 16 | March 19 | Mark 7:24-37 By: Kasey JohnsonDay 17 | March 21 | Mark 8:1-21Day 18 | March 22 | Mark 8:22-33Day 19 |March 23 | March Mark 8:34 – 9:6Day 20 | March 24 | Mark 9:14-29Day 21 | March 25 | Mark 9:30-37. Day 22 | March 26 | Mark 9:38-50Day 23 | March 28Day 24 | March 29Garrett Chapel - finishing touchesKids Space - Main room, classesGymnasium FlooringDay 25 | March 30Day 26 | March 31
April
5 Comments
Jesus invites and challenges us to this life of following him!
Thank you Lowell. Beautiful words for beautiful savior!
“Deny” and “sacrifice”~ Christ’s example for me to follow!
Thank you for reminding me of Jesus' teaching of God's Kingdom and His connections to the Old Testament.
That “deny themselves and follow me” command …. I need reminded every day. Thank you Lowell!