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#DailyDevotion Living At The Bottom Of The Mountain

#DailyDevotion Living At The Bottom Of The Mountain

Mark 98Suddenly, as they looked around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus with them. 9On their way down the mountain Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Yesterday we heard from Peter’s second epistle chapter 2, 2”18We heard that voice speak to Him from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19And we have, as something more sure, the prophetic Word. Please look to it as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts.” Mark, which is Peter’s gospel, tells us after the vision there was no one there anymore but Jesus. Experiences and the like are fun, can be uplifting at times and reassuring at other times. The LORD knows when we need them. We should be chasing after them. Instead, we should be focused on Jesus and his Word. Jesus is the Word of God as John tells us. When you hear the word of God from the Bible you are experiencing Jesus in a way that is more certain and sure than being on the mount of Transfiguration, seeing Jesus transfigured talking with Moses and Elijah and hearing the voice of the Father. It is certain and sure because it is there always for us in this form.

As Jesus went down the mountain he told the disciples to not tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Every fact is to be established upon the witness of two or three witnesses. Peter, James and John would be his witnesses of what happened there on the mountaintop, but not yet. Why not yet? Because like the crowd who would try to make Jesus king after he fed them, his disciples may perhaps try to keep Jesus from fulfilling his mission to go to the cross. Indeed, Peter who had witnessed this not even a chapter later will be rebuking Jesus when Jesus tells him he must be betrayed, killed by the Gentiles and rise again. While Jesus is God he is also still human also. He did not want to deal with all his disciples trying to keep him from his purpose of why he came. He would be their King and their God soon enough but first he must accomplish their salvation.

Which brings us to the last phrase, “until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Now this is pretty strange for Jesus to say. We know from Daniel chapter 7, 13“In the visions during the night I saw One coming with the clouds of the heavens like the Son of Man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14And He was given glory, power to rule, and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and those of every language should serve Him. His authority is everlasting and will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” How can the Son of Man rise from the dead? If he rises then that means he dies. How can he die? His death, Jesus’ death is the means by which the world, you, are reconciled to God the Father. His death is your atonement and propitiation for you sins. But death cannot hold him. Jesus is innocent and holy. He has overcome death and indeed has risen from the dead. He has ascended to the right hand of the Father from whence he will indeed come again as Daniel has foreseen in his vision. His kingdom will have no end. As his people, you inherit the kingdom with him and rule with him eternally when he comes again in glory. You can be sure and certain of it. His Word is sure and certain.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ into the world to reconcile us to you so we may be your people. Grant us faith always in your Word and Jesus Christ so we may indeed be heirs of your kingdom and co-heirs with Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Rev. Guillaume J. S. Williams, Sr.

The Reverend Guillaume Williams is the Pastor of Hope Lutheran Chapel of Osage Beach, Missouri. His pastoral ministry with Hope began in 2005 where he preaches the Christ crucified.

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