Transfiguration!

For Tuesday, January 30, 2024:

Mark 9:7 NLT, During the transfiguration: “A cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.’”

Jesus led Peter, James and John, the Apostles’ “A Team,” up a high mountain for the purpose of being alone. What they were about to witness would have scared most people, and there’s no telling how a crowd might react. But these Apostles had been traveling with Jesus and had witnessed all his miracles. Dare I say that they had grown accustomed to supernatural occuraces?

But even for Jesus, what was about to happen was extraordinary. Jesus was transfigured! His face shown like the sun, and his clothes were dazzling white! He took on the appearance of a heavenly being, which in fact he was! Suddenly Elijah and Moses appeared and started talking with Jesus. Not knowing what else to say, Peter suggested building shelters for their guests, but they wouldn’t be staying that long.

What happened next reminds me of Jesus’ baptism. A cloud overshadowed them all, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” That event removes all doubt as to Jesus’ identity. He’s the Son of God! God said so!

The trio was not to tell anyone about this event until Jesus rises from the dead, which brings up another question. What’s with this “rise from the dead?” They hadn’t seen that before!

So much to learn, and so little time. The disciples learned about God, Jesus and heaven one event at a time. They were living inside the story. We are blessed to have Bibles, the complete Jesus story, that we can carry in one hand!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Good News after the Resurrection

April 25, 2011 Monday Message:

With Holy Week and Easter behind us, it’s a good time to look at what happened and how it affects us.

First of all, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday fulfilled many prophecies. While Bible scholars can debate the exact number, it’s well over 100. A single prophecy fulfilled is evidence that Jesus is who he says he is. But this sizable number of prophecies fulfilled removes any doubt. Jesus is truly the Son of the living God. Jesus really is the way, the truth and the life.

Next, our Savior took the sins of the world to the grave, and in the Great Exchange, clothed us in His righteousness. Most of us don’t have a good perspective on our sin. It’s either, “I don’t think I’m that bad,” or, “I’m so bad I don’t think I could ever be forgiven.” We either don’t take this seriously, or we’re serious to the point of depression. But the Bible doesn’t ask us to judge ourselves; we don’t need to, and we shouldn’t. We can confess without assigning a degree of wrong vs right. If we simply confess our sins and claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will be forgiven and become children of the living God, adopted into His holy family. That's Good News!

Finally, death has been conquered for all time. It may be challenging to understand some things about God, such as His omnipresence or the fact that He isn’t constrained by our concept of time. But we certainly understand death. Humans die every day. We put them in the ground, and don’t expect to encounter them again. Death appears to be final. But Jesus walked away from death, and about 600 people saw him walking around and heard him speaking. So Jesus proved that death is NOT the end!

It isn’t just Jesus who rises from the dead. You and I will rise from the dead too. Our bodies will rise to be with Jesus when he returns. So get ready, put on your white wedding garment, and prepare for another resurrection — YOURS!

I’m with the guy on the white horse…

Norton Lawellin