Jesus was coming down from the high mountain on which He was transfigured and heard His Father's voice when He saw a commotion. He saw from a distance that a crowd had gathered around some of His disciples, and they were in an argument with some scribes. The scribes had found an opportunity to attack Jesus because his disciples, who had been given Jesus's authority to cast out demons -Mark 3-15-, were not strong enough to cast out this one demon out of a suffering child. They did not know what was going on -9-28-. Fortunately for them Jesus would resolve the issue for them, and He used this opportunity to teach them about the nature and necessity of true faith.

Isn't it amazing that, despite having four biographical portraits of Jesus, we have no real idea what he looked like-- While there is not a word in the Gospels about his appearance, we do know that there was a moment in Jesus's life in which His appearance was dramatically transformed- 'the Transfiguration'. To witness this event was to be -eyewitnesses to His majesty- -2 Peter 1-16-, to -have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth- -John 1-14-. Witnessing this amazing moment would have been the most amazing spiritual experience confirming what Jesus said about himself. Such confirmation of Jesus's identity will help us to listen to Jesus.

When we begin to reflect upon the incarnation, we start out realizing who became a man- the Son of God. The how of it all is mind-blowing, but John's Prologue -John 1-1-18- does not stop wondering at the fact of the incarnation alone. It is amazing that the King of the Universe left being worshipped and adored to be mocked and rejected, but why go through all the misery-- Isaiah describes the desperate condition of the people of God's Kingdom as being -thrust into deep darkness- -Is. 8-22-, and God promised to send to them -great light- -9-2-, a child who would be called -Mighty God- -9-6-. The reason for celebrating the incarnation is not simply to be amazed that God took on human frailty and weakness, but to celebrate why He did it- Jesus came to save sinners.

The Christmas season provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the incarnation, and that is exactly what we are going to do- All the gospels have different starting places- Mark begins with the start of his public ministry. Matthew begins with Abraham. Luke begins with the parents of John the Baptist. John begins his Gospel by taking us back to eternity, back to the very first words of the Hebrew Bible, and back to 'the beginning' of time, space, and history itself. John gives us insight into who Jesus was before He became a man- the eternal Son of God-

When Peter finally confessed that Jesus is the Christ, for the first time the light came on for him as a result of the Father's revelation -Matt 16-17-. But once the lights came on he did not like what he saw- the King of Kings would suffer many things, be rejected by the Jews, and be murdered. This was so shocking to Peter that he seems to have missed the supernatural prediction that -after three days -Jesus will- rise again- -Mark 8-31-. Peter's reaction is completely natural. He does not want his friend to suffer, so he tries to talk some sense into Jesus. At this moment, Jesus's response to this is not to explain why He must suffer but to show why everyone who would follow after him is called to suffer. The time will come when He will explain the uniqueness of His call to suffer, but Jesus first corrects the disdain and shows the value of such a call.

When Peter finally confessed that Jesus is the Christ, for the first time the light came on for him as a result of the Father's revelation -Matt 16-17-. But once the lights came on he did not like what he saw- the King of Kings would suffer many things, be rejected by the Jews, and be murdered. This was so shocking to Peter that he seems to have missed the supernatural prediction that -after three days -Jesus will- rise again- -Mark 8-31-. Peter's reaction is completely natural. He does not want his friend to suffer, so he tries to talk some sense into Jesus. At this moment, Jesus's response to this is not to explain why He must suffer but to show why everyone who would follow after him is called to suffer. The time will come when He will explain the uniqueness of His call to suffer, but Jesus first corrects the disdain and shows the value of such a call.

We are starting to see a pattern developing: Jesus predicts that as the Son of Man he will be handed over and killed but will rise again (8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34), the disciples do not understand what this means (8:32-33; 9:32; 10:38), and then they receive a lesson in discipleship (8:34; 9:35; 10:42-45). Jesus's first lesson is that every follower of Christ must live a life of self-denial (8:34). Jesus's second lesson shows what a life of self-denial looks like: a willingness to become the servant of all (9:35). This defines what true greatness looks like in God's eyes. This is the sort of greatness that we pursue in the Christian life. And no one will ever be greater than Jesus (Philippians 2:7)!

Jesus was coming down from the high mountain on which He was transfigured and heard His Father's voice when He saw a commotion. He saw from a distance that a crowd had gathered around some of His disciples, and they were in an argument with some scribes. The scribes had found an opportunity to attack Jesus because his disciples, who had been given Jesus's authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:15), were not strong enough to cast out this one demon out of a suffering child. They did not know what was going on (9:28). Fortunately for them Jesus would resolve the issue for them, and He used this opportunity to teach them about the nature and necessity of true faith.

Isn't it amazing that, despite having four biographical portraits of Jesus, we have no real idea what he looked like? While there is not a word in the Gospels about his appearance, we do know that there was a moment in Jesus's life in which His appearance was dramatically transformed: 'the Transfiguration'. To witness this event was to be "eyewitnesses to His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16), to "have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Witnessing this amazing moment would have been the most amazing spiritual experience confirming what Jesus said about himself. Such confirmation of Jesus's identity will help us to listen to Jesus.