04/07/2023
This morning I was reading about Jesus before He experienced the passion, and how He allowed Peter, James, and John to see Him speak with Elijah and Moses on the mountain. In this scene He was transfigured right before their eyes. Even His clothing glowed... yet He commanded them not to tell anyone of this until He had risen from the dead... why the silence, and is this an unusual request?
“And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.”
Mark 9:3-4, 9 KJV
Throughout my career in Information Technology, I have had to teach those around me new software or technologies. In this process, there were some who I could immediately teach, and others who needed some remedial instruction before they would be ready to understand the more complex material I would eventually teach them. There is a natural progression to learning, and if it is not followed, there is a danger that students will go off on a tangent when something exciting is presented to them, and they will miss the real lesson.
Jesus ran into this all the time. He could very easily have taken all of his disciples up on the mountain with Him, but He chose these three men... His star pupils if you will. He took with Him Peter who would become the rock on which He would build His church, James who would later be known as the Bishop of Jerusalem or James the Just, and John who would be entrusted with the care of His mother Mary, and receive the Revelation.
In our own spiritual lives we are gifted with glimpses into the deeper subjects of faith as God finds us ready to receive them. How many times have we read a scripture, that we had read many times before, and suddenly received a new insight into its meaning? God did not initially hide these things from us... they were there all along... we just weren't ready to see them yet. In my devotional reading, Oswald Chambers wrote of this in wonderful fashion when He penned these words:
"When you get to the right state on the inside, the word which Jesus has spoken is so plain that you are amazed you did not see it before. You could not understand it before, you were not in the place in disposition where it could be borne." - Oswald Chambers
The brief preview these three disciples received of Christ's transfiguration was not the lesson... the lesson was dying, rising from the dead, and defeating sin. As for His transfiguration, Jesus could have been transfigured the moment He was born, but what would that have left us with? Nothing but a nice story about an amazing baby. No... the real lesson was far beyond glowing and speaking with a couple of bible heroes. Interestingly, even though Peter was deemed to be mature in his faith, and chosen to view this amazing scene, he almost missed the big picture. He was ready to rush off and build tabernacles to Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.
“And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”
Mark 9:5 KJV
How often do we miss the wonders of what God would like to give us because we are not mature enough in our faith? Or, how many times have we taken a little revelation and built a huge tabernacle to it... missing all that would follow? Do we even realize this has occurred and that we are missing the boat?
Never resting in contentment during our spiritual journey will ensure we will continue to grow and receive the wonders of scripture and faith. And, always realizing that around the next bend there will be another miracle or amazing sight, greater than the last, will keep us from becoming bogged down in building monuments for every incredible spiritual experience we have. Many times we just need to be quiet and learn the real lesson.
We are on an awesome journey, and it goes on unto our death... and beyond. To stop, or to be sidetracked by an attraction along the way delays us from receiving many more gifts that are awaiting us just ahead. The Word of God is our map and Jesus is our guide... and we are not to slow our pace, or encumber the trek of others as we go. Do we trust in our Holy Father enough? Is our faith complete in Jesus? Can we speak boldly when it is right to do so, and remain silent when asked to "tell no one?" Jesus didn’t just instruct that these three apostles remain silent about His transfiguration, no, He gave this same instruction often. Is our obedience such that we can remain silent when told to do so?
“And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."”
Matthew 8:3-4 ESV
And He said again …
“And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.”
Mark 7:34-36 ESV
Can we remain silent when told to do so?
Prayer:
Father, give me an ever increasing maturity of faith, so that I can receive more of your wonder with every passing day. Bring me to the fullness of one day with you so that the next one will be fresh and new every morning and I will find myself marveling in awe of you again. Teach me Lord to be patient and wait for the heart of your lessons. Don't let me jump to a premature conclusion as Peter nearly did, but instead, encourage me to wait for the glory that is to come. Jesus, lead me on and teach me the truth that awaits as I walk in the paths of righteousness. Encourage me in my silence as I learn to be still and love all the more. Let no lesson pass me by, and none cause me to tarry along the way; to delay me from the next miraculous moment of faith. Open my eyes Jesus to the progression of my faithfulness, my knowledge of you, and the realization of God's will for me. I pray that you will continue to bless me in my silence, and hear my thanksgiving as it rises up; sometimes in shouts of joy, sometimes in the small still voice of my worship, and occasionally in my obedient silence. So, let me shout your praise in my excitement, but remain silent when there is more yet to come. Help me to obey your commandment when you say "tell no one."
Rich Forbes