At different times in my life I’ve tried to explain to Christians that in following Jesus they are following the course the Jews would’ve taken if they had accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Some realized that I was making sense but others just couldn’t accept the thought that they were Jews. The confusion comes from the trouble many Jews have in separating their nationality from their religion. One can either be born under the covenant or if you are a follower of Jesus you are following Judaism and therefore you’ve been adopted into the covenant that God made with Abraham. This doesn’t make you an Israelite, but it does make you a Jew. You are following Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten Son of God, who is the God that made the covenant with Abraham.
The scriptures that follow tie everything together for us. I would like to explain what I believe to you not as an authority but in the attitude sharing. Mark, chapter 9, verse I says, “ Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power”. At this time He is speaking with His disciples. I’d like to paraphrase the next verses, 2-6 and then quote from verse 7. In these next verses we are told of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain and the meeting that Jesus has with Moses and Elias which is witnessed by Peter, James and John. Next Peter tells Jesus that he wants to construct a separate booth for each of them, meaning Moses, Elias and Jesus. The final event occurs when a cloud forms over the three of them and then in verse 7 they hear the voice of God say, “ This is my beloved Son; listen to him”.
In the first verse I believe Jesus is saying that Peter, James and John will see the kingdom of God come in power when they are with Him on the mountain and He is Transfigured. The Transfiguration is when Jesus assumes all the power and glory that is His in the kingdom of God. His garments turn a brighter white. I would believe his countenance would reveal His exaltation. This last statement is purely conjecture on my part. It’s interesting to note that even at this special time Jesus is still approachable by His followers.
The next thing that occurs is the appearance of Moses and Elias on the mountain and their conversation with Jesus. This is significant because it shows that all of teachings are relevant to their worship. Moses gave the Law, Elias was a prophet, and Jesus gave the gospel. We must remember that Jesus didn’t come to change the Law but to fulfill it. Something else to be aware of is the fact that in Jesus there is a new covenant because men no longer have to satisfy the Law to gain salvation, they receive salvation by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
Remember the scripture that tells us that Peter wanted to build three separate booths? The scripture says that Peter said this because he was afraid and didn’t know what else to say. No further mention is made of this suggestion, however a cloud forms over Moses, Elias and Jesus. This cloud covers all three to show that they all can live in the same house. They are no longer to be thought of as separate entities but as part of the whole religion. I don’t like the word religion because what we are addressing is so much more spiritual than just a religion. It’s the very essence of the path that we are supposed to embrace and follow.
Finally they hear the voice of God verifying that Jesus is the Messiah, the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is our teacher and our advocate, we should receive His teachings into our heart to be lived and to be shared. There are so many who are in need of an understanding of what it means to make Jesus the center of their life. It’s up to you and I to be the voice of God and spread is word around the world.
