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October 21st

The bible reading today is in Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9:28-62.

Yesterday, we read these words of Jesus...“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:23‬

I like David Guzik’s comments...“When the Romans crucified a criminal, they didn't just hang the criminal on a cross, they hung a cross on him. And carrying that cross always led to death on a cross. No one carried a cross for sport. If someone took up a cross, they never came back. It was a one-way journey to death.”

That’s what Jesus was walking toward in real-time. He said that if any man would follow him, let him take up his cross daily and follow him. Not the physical cross, that would be impossible...but the spiritual one.

The cross was not about self-promotion or self-affirmation. People who took up the cross knew they couldn't save themselves, but in Christ, self was destined to die and Jesus and others were to become central in our daily lives.

And Jesus continued to speak...“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Whoever will seek to save his life and not die to it in Christ, he will actually lose his life forever.

Continuing to listen...“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:24-25‬

Believe Christ and gain true eternal life, or seek to gain the world and lose everything in hell forever.

“Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah...who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:28-31‬ ‭

We call this the great Transfiguration. Jesus shone in glory. Moses and Elijah shone in glory.

Together, they talked about Jesus’ departure from earth to heaven that was about to take place in Jerusalem.

Obviously, Peter James, and John were so amazed they could hardly look at them. What happened was the continuation of God’s glorious presence among those who believed Him.

That transfigured radiance of Jesus was God showing the disciples one more time that Jesus was king over all God’s kingdom...to the glory of God!

This would certainly give a measure of confidence to Christ’s friends as they accompanied their rabbi to Jerusalem. “This man...Jesus...knows what he is doing. He has promised that he would suffer, die, and rise again...and he is still King of Glory.

Jesus was showing his cross-bearers that the cross is not the end...“cross-bearers will be glory receivers”.

The end is the glory, the power, and the forever gracious presence of God.

I can't help but wonder about the conversation between Jesus and Moses and Elijah.

Moses to Jesus...”Are you really going to do this? I offered to be judged in place of the people, but God wouldn’t have it. I was persecuted by Ahab and Jezebel terribly. My body and spirit gave way to pain and depression. Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

Jesus to Moses...”Yes, I was born for this...without this, you would be lost and judged for your sins forever. Not my will but His will be done....”

Yes...you and me Moses...still trusting in Jesus...the perfect sacrifice for our souls. Halleluiah!

Have a great day