Mountain Glory & Valley Failure

Prelude

Why was there glory on a mountaintop and failure in a valley? Let’s look at the transfiguration in Luke 9:28-42.

1. Prayer

“Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.” (Luke 9:28-29 NKJV)

When Jesus prayed it was a rendezvous with God, not just a ritual. In sacred places, like the Garden, the burning bush, the tabernacle and here we experience God. As we pray, our eventual transformation into glory is also foreshadowed. We see the hope of our future glory in this epiphany.

2. Moses and Elijah

“And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:30-31 NKJV)

On the mount of transfiguration Jesus’ true glory was revealed. Death is the last enemy and an exodus from this sinful world. Moses and Elijah spoke of Jesus’ “exodus.” They too had experienced an "exodus" from this life.

Moses and Elijah picture the law and the prophets, the two major divisions of the OT. In death we leave the wilderness and cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land of eternal life.

The Old Testament leaves Moses in the grave. This vision is a transfigured Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Soul sleepers believe that the spirit is “asleep.” Yet, they spoke of Jesus’ future death, not past tense from a future resurrection. This is a glimpse of Moses and Elijah awake after death now.

3. Sleepy Disciples

“But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.” (Luke 9:32 NKJV)

Are we sometimes asleep and almost miss God’s glory?

4. Peter’s Interruption

“Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said.” (Luke 9:33 NKJV)

Do we have a tendency to interrupt God, telling him how we think things ought to be run, rather than just listening to him? Does God sometimes ignore us because we need to be silent and listen?

Jesus said that some would see the kingdom of God before they die. The disciples had fear and joy. Moses, Elijah and Jesus represent the history of salvation from the Exodus to the end.

5. Fear or Ear

“While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’ When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.” (Luke 9:34-36 NKJV)

God spoke so that others could hear only a few times in Jesus' life, at His baptism and here. Moses and Elijah were “heard” every week in the synagogue. This was a new instruction.

Special manifestations strengthen faith before great challenges. Any such encouragement is only temporary. The Holy Spirit is patiently transforming us too. Eventually, the entire creation will be transfigured in the new heavens and new earth.

This affirms the importance of listening to Jesus.[1] As we see our past and future in Moses and Elijah, and focus on Jesus.

[1] Nolland, J. Vol. 35B: Word Biblical Commentary : Luke 9:21-18:34. 2002. Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 497.

6. Failure in the Valley

“Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, ‘Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’” (Luke 9:37-40 NKJV)

Why is it that immediately after the mountain-top experience the disciples failed in the valley? They could not heal a demon possessed boy. Sheep climb mountains to escape predators, but descend to the valley for food. It’s where we live. God is also with us in the valley.

7. Jesus Heals

“Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.” (Luke 9:41-42 NKJV)

We will all fail many times. Jesus is disappointed, but does not give up on us. Stern lessons are opportunities, not a reason to quit. Mountain tops do not remove the valleys, but help us see beyond.

Postlude

After a glimpse of our future, all else becomes insignificant. We no longer want to impose our will on God or His Word, but say to God, not my will but yours be done. We have a change of heart and mind and we believe the Good News about God and His reign. We no longer fear death, but see it as leaving this wilderness of pain and suffering, and crossing over Jordan into that promised eternal land of rest. You decide!

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Why Love Our Enemies

Prelude

Christians are to love their enemies. Purpose: What does that mean? Plan: Let’s examine what Jesus says in Luke 6:27-38.

Do Good, Bless, Pray

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” (Luke 6:27-28 NKJV)

Jesus mentions three ways to love an enemy: do good, bless and pray. What about personal vengeance?

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men… Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17, 19-21 NKJV)

We are not to take personal vengeance, but must leave that to God’s judgment. He may not think the person did wrong, but that WE were wrong, so leave it to His judgment. The opposite of vengeance is giving food and drink to a needy enemy.

In the Hebrew Scriptures we read:

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.” (Exodus 23:4 NKJV)

“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21 NKJV).

How do we pray for those who mistreat us? On the cross, Jesus prayed for His murderers.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34b NKJV)

Do we pray for bad drivers on the road, illegal immigrants, scam callers, difficult family members and corrupt politicians?

The Other Cheek, Shirt, Give

“To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.” (Luke 6:29-30 NKJV)

We are to offer the other cheek, the shirt off our back, to give and not demand back. Is this hyperbolic? How literally did Jesus offer the other cheek? Was He passive? He asked a rather pointed question.

“If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” (John 18:22-23 NKJV)

How did Paul respond in similar circumstances? He was rather blunt.

“Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?’ ” (Acts 23:3 NKJV)

The point is that Jesus emphasized suffering over vengeance, because a vengeful spirit only destroys us.

By saying, “Give to everyone who asks of you” Jesus emphasizes giving over stinginess. Jesus said, give to everyONE, not give everyTHING. Giving everyTHING will often only perpetuate the curse of dependency, and the most important giving may be encouragement to stand on one’s own feet.

Do Unto Others

“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6:31-32 NKJV)

God mercifully provides rain even for sinners.

[W. Robertson Nicoll. The Expositor's Greek Testament. D. D. Mead and Co. 1897.]

Be Like God

“And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” (Luke 6:33 NKJV)

Macedonian Bishop Theophylact asked, “If you only love them that love you, you are only like the sinners and heathen; but if you love those who do evil to you, you are like to God; which therefore will you choose, to be like sinners or like God?” [Joseph Benson. Benson's Commentary - The New Testament. New-York: T. Mason & G. Lane. 1839.]

Kindness

“And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” (Luke 6:34-35 NKJV)

Ancient Israel was required to lend to nationals without interest. They could, however, ask for interest from foreigners. Here Jesus goes beyond lending with interest or usury, to lending without even expecting the principle to be returned. How? Because we lend mercifully, fully prepared that circumstances may prevent a return.

Mercy

“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:36-37 NKJV)

How we mete out mercy, judgment, condemnation and pardon is how we’ll be judged by God.

Give

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 NKJV)

How will Jesus judge those who do not forgive?

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:35 NKJV)

How are we to pray for those who sin against us?

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12 NKJV)

Imprecatory Passages

How do imprecatory passages, pronouncing a curse on the enemies of God, square with loving our enemies? At the beginning of this Sermon on the Plain, we see Jesus proclaiming woes to the rich, well fed, mirthful and popular. He pronounces even more harsh words upon the religious elite (Matthew 23). Curses or imprecations upon God's enemies are found in the Psalms and the New Testament. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, and the imprecatory passages of the Bible teach us to love justice. The balance lies in not seeking personal vengeance, but patiently waiting upon God’s justice, which provides forgiveness when our enemies repent, and hell if they don’t.

Postlude

Why should Christians love their enemies? Because God loved us when we were still enemies. What does love for an enemy mean? It may not mean liking them in their sins, but it does mean doing good to them, because God does good by providing for sinners every day.

W. Robertson Nicoll. The Expositor's Greek Testament. D. D. Mead and Co. 1897.

Joseph Benson. Benson's Commentary - The New Testament. New-York: T. Mason & G. Lane. 1839.

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sermon on the Plain

Prelude

Have you noticed that Jesus often contradicts popular ideas, because He taught us to worship God also with our minds? Perhaps He gave the Sermon on the Plain after the Sermon on the Mount. It contains some contrasting thoughts. Let’s look at Luke 6:17-26.

A Level Plain

“And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.” (Luke 6:17-19 NKJV)

This seems to be a different time to the Sermon on the Mount, perhaps the next morning. A preacher who speaks in multiple locations, adapts to each congregation.

This Sermon on the Plain included a multitude that was very mixed, disciples, Jews and perhaps Gentiles from the coast. They had come to receive healing from Jesus. And Jesus did so indiscriminately with an abundant display of His miraculous power.

Blessed are the Poor

“Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: ‘Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.’ “ (Luke 6:20 NKJV)

Contrasted with “blessed are the poor in spirit,” here Jesus says, “blessed are the [destitute].” In Greek society, the rich were the so-called “blessed.” As usual, Jesus says the opposite. Why are they blessed? The poor realize their lack, and are ready to hear God.

The phrase “Kingdom of God” can be awkward among those that find opulent worldly monarchs offensive. It can be rendered as “reign of God.” It describes the rule of Christ in the lives of the faithful, who obey His reign now.

Blessed are You Who Hunger

“Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled.” (Luke 6:21a NKJV)

Hunger is fewer words than “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Perhaps fewer words also say more. Like riches tend to dull the desire for higher things of God, so does a full stomach dull the hunger of the soul.

Blessed are You who Weep

“Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.” (Luke 6:21b NKJV)

Blessed are you who weep. Mourning is part of life and also the Christian experience. We mourn because of our own sins and the world. Sin brings tears. Here is the only place in the entire New Testament where laughter refers to joy. Laughter can also be associated with sin.

Blessed are You Hated

“Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” Luke 6:22-23 NKJV)

The first Christians were excommunicated from the synagogue. Later in history some were kicked out of churches because they dared to follow Jesus instead of vain traditions. Jesus often has more questions than answers. He wants us to think. When we are hated for Jesus’ sake, not our sins, we are blessed.

Woe to the Rich

“But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.” (Luke 6:24 NKJV)

Woe means pain. Why the rich? They already have all they are going to get. They usually do not store up treasures in heaven by generosity to the poor.

Woe to the Full

“Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger.” (Luke 6:25a NKJV)

Why the fed? They will hunger. Physical food does not feed the soul.

Woe to the Laughing

“Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.” (Luke 6:25b NKJV)

Why the laughing? They will mourn and weep. Laughter is often in selfish acts and relishing sin.

Woe to the Popular

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26 NKJV)

Why will the popular experience pain? They are in danger of being false prophets.

Postlude

Have you noticed that Jesus often says the exact opposite of popular ideas? Jesus did not establish a Church where people just check their brains at the entry door and blindly follow men. We worship God also with our minds. Jesus challenges us to observe the world and think.

Bible E-Course 1c

Thinking about God

Does the existence of a God also mean that He knows how we, His creatures best function? Does that mean that He loves us? Does it mean that we can get to know Him personally? Jesus gave a simple two step process that one should think about when confronted with the truth of the Gospel.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15 NKJV)

Repent literally means to change our mind or heart. We are slaves to weak and pitiful ideas that are like idols, worshipped but not real. When we discover the truth we change our minds and are set free from the propaganda that enslaves our world.

“Before you knew God, you were slaves of gods that are not real. But now you know God, or better still, God knows you. How can you turn back and become the slaves of those weak and pitiful powers?” (Galatians 4:8-9 CEV)

What should we do?

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1 NKJV)

One of the purposes of God is to set us free, free from corruption and death. That is good news.

Here are some examples of meditating on the world around us and wondering. Who designed it all? What vast intelligence could even conceive of such an incredible creation?

Grass

God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass” (Genesis 1:11 NKJV) Natural grass feeds animals and provides many benefits on lawns, athletic fields, parks, and playgrounds. It also generates oxygen for improved air quality, reduces noise and air pollution, provides excellent soil erosion control, protects groundwater, controls flooding, absorbs carbon dioxide, and brings substantial temperature moderation. Is grass just an accident or design?

Seed

The Bible says that God created “every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit.” (Genesis 1:11 NLT) Seeds contain all the genetic code needed for a plant to grow and reproduce its own kind. Some seeds can remain dormant for centuries. Swelling seeds can even break rock. Are seeds just an accident or design?

Ants

An old wise saying tells us, “Go to the ant, you lazy one, Observe its ways and be wise" (Proverbs 6:6 NASB) Ant colonies act with mystifying intelligence. A small number of workers collecting food know the precise types and amounts of food to harvest for ever-changing seasonal needs of the whole colony. How could this have evolved by random chance without a designer?

Dinosaurs

Job described Behemoth and its habitat (Job 40:15–24). Did dinosaurs really die out 65 million years ago? Why are there legends of dragons all over the world? Ancient societies were filled with dragon stories. Is dragon simply an ancient word for a dinosaur? In 2005 scientists discovered soft tissue in a dinosaur bone. Now dozens of discoveries reveal intact blood vessels and blood cells putting weak human theories in a quandary. Is there a better explanation? Is there a God after all?

Trees

Did God really create “every tree that has fruit with seed in it.” (Genesis 1:29 NIV) Scientists have recently discovered that trees communicate with each other through fungus on their roots, sharing elements back and forth as seasonal needs change. This is called mutualistic symbiosis. Trees provide oxygen, conserve water, prevent soil erosion and picture salvation. Is this just a quirk of chance or marvelous design?

Eyes

What about our eyes? “Ears to hear and eyes to see— the Lord made them both.” (Proverbs 20:12 CEB) Our eyes remain the same size from birth. We blink over 4 million times a year to irrigate the eye. The vestibulo-ocular reflex is like a miraculous steadicam for the eyes. The retina is among the most complex tissues in the body, too complex for current computers to analyze. Was this designed or a cosmic accident?

Ears

The ear contains three interconnected bones, the hammer, the anvil, and the stapes, amplifying the sound about 30 dB, perfectly overcoming the sound energy lost by refraction. The cochlea has ducts that twist around in the shape of a snail, filled with fluid. Movement of the fluid in the ducts moves specialized hair-like projections, causing an electrical gradient sending signals to the brain. The ear is irreducibly complex, meaning the absence of any part would lead to cessation of function. Is this an accident or evidence of an intelligent designer?

Resources

There are basically two points of view among believers, young earth and old earth perspectives. Here are some wonderful resources available for further study. Two excellent young earth resources are available. The Institute for Creation Research (icr.org) is a team of scientists, engineers, geneticists, geologists, microbiologists, and forensic scientists who are dedicated to exploring God’s handiwork in the world around us. Answers in Genesis (answersingenesis.org) is a defender of the Christian faith, focusing on the most attacked book of the Bible, Genesis. Those who lean more towards an old earth perspective, may find the team of scientists and theologians at Reasons to Believe (reasons.org) helpful. Examine the strengths and weaknesses on both sides, and decide which way you lean, leaving room for God to reveal the truth to you in His own time.

Some of the best defenders of the Christian faith in recent times have been Norm Geisler (normangeisler.com), Lee Strobel (leestrobel.com), Josh McDowell (josh.org), C. S. Lewis (cslewis.org), and Gary Habermas (garyhabermas.com). Their material is excellent.

Will you have a change of heart and mind and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!

A Catch Jesus Provides

Prelude

Do we experience Jesus while we’re working? Are we ready for church growth? Do we see daily miracles? Let’s find out in Luke 5:1-11.

Fishermen

“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.” (Luke 5:1-2 NKJV)

Lake of Gennesaret was named after the town of Gennesaret on the lake’s northwest corner. It is also called the Sea of Galilee and Lake Tiberias. Today it is the largest body of freshwater in Israel and is the world’s lowest body of freshwater at 200 m (700 ft) below sea level. At the time of Jesus’ ministry it was a wealthy fishing area filled with boats. Today there are few boats to be seen.

Taught the Crowd

“Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’” (Luke 5:3-4 NKJV)

Notice Jesus sat down to preach, the customary teaching position for Rabbis at the time. This miracle is repeated, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and as a reminder to the disciples at the end. After teaching on this weekday, Jesus encouraged Peter to get back to work, even telling him where.

Perhaps the immediacy indicates Jesus’ disappointment in the response from the crowd. Humbly, Peter the expert fisherman, follows the Rabbi’s instructions. Would we be so humble as to follow directions from someone not of our profession? Jesus now wants to bless Peter’s work, as He wants to bless our weekday work.

 
Great Catch

“But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” (Luke 5:5-6 NKJV)

The word Peter used for master was overseer, superintendent, or in our slang “boss.” Is Jesus asking us to let down our nets? What are fishnets for? How is evangelism like letting down our nets? We provide the nets and the effort, but it is God who fills the nets.

The nets were so full that they almost ruptured. This can happen to churches too, during a sudden growth spurt. It can threaten to rupture the fabric of the local church. Most churches would probably prefer slow growth, so that newcomers can assimilate, but God doesn’t always work that way.

Depart from Me

“So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’” (Luke 5:7-8 NKJV)

Was the hand-signal not to frighten the fish, or not shout in front of Jesus? Sometimes when God performs a miracle, there’s no time for thinking, just time for work.

Peter immediately recognized the source of the miraculous blessing. Blunt and truthful, Peter realized his own unworthiness to be in Jesus’ presence. When God blesses us, are we also grateful and embarrassed by our sinfulness?

Catch Men

“For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’” (Luke 5:9-10 NKJV)

Slowly, after the work was done, it dawned on them how amazing this blessing was. Do we meditate on God’s amazing creation from the smallest DNA, to the enormity of the Universe? Does God’s design amaze us?

As fish are borne out of water, so are we from the waters of baptism. Anciently, Christians used the symbol of a fish to identify a safe house in the midst of persecution.

They Forsook All

“So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” (Luke 5:11 NKJV)

They forsook all for Jesus, but then for a moment after the crucifixion, returned to their fishing. After His resurrection, Jesus used a similar miracle to remind them who He is. Do we hold something in reserve, or have we left ALL our sinful life behind to follow Jesus?

Postlude

As with the crowd, the best subject matter is what Jesus taught. As with the fish, so with church growth, Jesus provides the catch. Jesus provides even as we work. We should not fear our sinfulness. As with Peter, Jesus provides unexpectedly despite our sinfulness. Are we ready for our church to almost break at the seams as we cast our nets?

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.