After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 

 

Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. We are all a little bit like Peter.  We have a tendency to overestimate our importance at times.  Jesus doesn’t need us to carry on His work.  He wants to use us because He knows what a blessing and encouragement it is when we are used by God.  When we use our time, talents, and treasures for God’s work we truly receive more than we give.  What an amazing thing the disciples got to witness.  God used that to encourage them, to build them up and ultimately used them to build His church.  I pray that God will bless us by using us to build His church today.

 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave