St Matthew, Chapter 17, verses: 6, The Son of God: The Disciples are affraid.

Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus transfigured) Part 5. 
  
And the voice of God spoke from the bright cloud.  The voice spoke to the disciples telling them to hear Christ.  God spoke to them telling them that Christ was his beloved son and that he was well pleased with him.  They did not know where the voice came from.  They did not know how it spoke to them.  They did not know how they were hearing this voice.  All they knew was that it spoke to them telling them to hear him. 

Did they not hear him before?  Were they not listening to him all this time?  They walked with him everyday.  They talked with him everyday.  They slept with him, eat with him, listened to him preach, saw him work miracles, everyday.  So why did they not hear him?  Why did they not listen to him?  Why did they not know him in their hearts that God the father had to tell them to hear him?  God spoke directly to them, and them only, that they should know the truth of who Christ was.  And they heard the voice of God speak to them.  But it was this voice that made them tremble.  It was this voice that caused them to fear.  It was this voice that brought them to their knees and made them fall to their faces with fear.  And on hearing it the disciples fell on their faces and were exceedingly afraid.

Christ loved his disciples.  He watched over them.  He fed them, made sure that they had food to eat and wine to drink.  He protected them from the evil that sought to destroy them.  And he nurtured them for they would become the future leaders of the church here on earth and would bear witness to his life, death, and resurrection.  But they did not hear him.  They were not listening to him.  They did not understand him with the knowledge and certainty of a truth taken from the world we live in.  It was only after the coming of the Holy Spirit that they knew him with certainty, only after his death and resurrection. 

We know with certainty that the wind blows.  We know with certainty that the seasons change.  It gets cold in the winter and hot in the summer.  We know that there is gravity that will cause us to fall from high places.  These things and more, we know with certainty because we have experienced them with our bodies.  But then there are those things that we do not know with the certainty that we know worldly truths.  We believe that Christ lives.  We believe that we will come to live with him after we die.  We believe that there is a heaven where all God's children will go to, to live for eternity.  We know that there is evil in the world because we see it and experience it everyday in our lives.  Most of us do not know it directly but hear of it and see it on the news and in the media.  We believe that Satan does exist but we do not know it the way we know the things of this world. 

The disciples heard God speak of his son.  The disciples were told to hear him.  The disciples were listening but were not hearing.  Why do we not hear today?  What stops us from knowing?  Can we not know the truth of Christ as we know the things of the world?  Is it not possible for us to have the certainty in our beliefs as we have about worldly things.  You see, we have our inner beliefs and we have our inner counter beliefs.  Evil is in the world and evil influences us from within.  We believe the truths that God has given us through Christ Jesus and then we are given doubts.  We know within ourselves that Christ lives but evil would have us doubt.  Evil would have us disbelieve.  Evil would have us not know with certainty Christ Jesus. 

With the certainty of the spiritual knowledge of Christ and the life that he has given us, we know no doubt.  With the certainty of the truth that comes from the Holy Spirit we know who we are.  But evil will plague us.  Evil will continue to throw darts.  Evil will continue to talk to us and set traps to catch us off guard.  For evil wants us to doubt.  Evil wants us to question.  Evil wants us to ask what if.  Evil wants us to not know with certainty who we are in Christ.  For with certainty comes power.  With certainty comes wisdom.  With certainty the light within us is born and we know who we are without doubt, without uncertainty. 

Christ knew who he was.  Evil knew who he was also and sought to announce to it the world.  But Christ would not have his name proclaimed for fame and fortune.  He was not of this world and sought not the false riches of this realm.  Christ was from the Father and so are we.  Yet we do not know who we are or where we are from.  And evil would not have us know.  God , our father, proclaimed to the disciples to hear his son for they heard so much more.  They heard Christ.  They heard the people.  They heard evil speak to them from within themselves.  Just as we do today, they did then.  Defend yourself!  Stand up to the doubts of evil!  Know with certainty that Christ is within you and you are within him.  Seek the light given to you, for it is the key that opens the door of the certainty of who you are.  Christ told us: "The eye is the lamp of the body and if the eye is sound then the body is full of light."  Find your light within and know the truth of who you are in Christ.  For certainty is the key to the power that Christ has given you in this life. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in!

St Matthew, Chapter 17, verses: 5, The Son of God: God the Father speaks.

Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus transfigured) Part 4.    

And now the Father speaks.  Peter was speaking to Jesus, saying that it was good for them to be there.  He was thinking that they should stay.  He was thinking that they should make tents and stay while Jesus spoke to the leaders of the past, Moses and Elias.  For this was a special moment for him, James, and John, the other two disciples that Christ had chosen to bring with him.  They were witnesses to the his transfiguration.  They were witnesses to the appearance of Moses and Elias.  They were the witnesses to the true nature of Christ as he stood shinning before their eyes in his enlightened state of majesty and glory.

But then, as Peter was speaking, God the Father spoke.  God the Father came.  He came in a cloud that overshadowed them.  He came in a bright light.  He came to give witness to his son.  And he spoke to the dsiciples to let them know for certain that Christ was the chosen one, the Messiah.  As he was still speaking, behold , a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear him."

And this was the seal that was placed upon Christ.  God the Father was well pleased in him.  God the Father was pleased in his actions.  God the Father was pleased in his words.  God the Father was pleased in him.  For the disciples did not know.  The disciples did not fully understand what was planned.  The disciples did not comprehend the full scope of the mission of Christ here on earth.  For he came to save mankind.  He came to be the sacrifice for the propitiation of our sins.  He came to satisfy the penalty that was placed upon mankind as a result of disobedience through the temptation of Satan upon Adam and Eve.  

Man had sinned in the garden.  Man had given up his life through his disobedience and now was dead.  Man lost his life and became dead.  And as time passed death ruled the earth and man was under the rule of death.  Even today man is dead.  There was no life everlasting.  There was no eternity with God in heaven, for man had lost the life within him, man had lost his soul.  But God is merciful.  God is loving.  God is a just God and the penalty had to be paid for our sins.  Who was worthy to pay the penalty?  Who was pure?  Who was without sin?  Who would become the sacrifice?  No one on earth was worthy.  Everyone born to man came under the curse of death.  But then Christ came.  Christ took off his heavenly glory.  Christ gave up his heavenly majesty.  Christ set aside his heavenly crown and became man. 

He who was first conceived, was first.  He who was with him before all were created, was first.  He who was with him before the angels were given life, was first.  He who was with him before the heavens were created, was first.   He who was with him before the earth was created, was first.  He who is the love of God, gave up all to become man, to become the sacrifice, to save us from death.  He who is pleasing to God, gives us eternal life with him in heaven.  This is the gift of God to man.  This is the reason we celebrate the season.  This is the joy in our hearts today, why we sing upon the coming of Easter Sunday. 

We are in morning over the death of Christ.  We are in sorrow over the suffering.  We are heartbroken over the agony and the pain and the disgust of what man did to Christ through the manipulation of the evildoers.  For it was evil that crucified Christ.  It was evil that spat upon him.  It was evil that beat him.  It was evil that crowned him with thorns, mocking his majesty.  It was evil that hung him upon a cross and watched as his precious blood drained from his body.  And it was evil that took his life.  But it was Christ who became the sacrifice.  It was Christ who became the lamb.  It was Christ who gave of himself that we might have life eternal with him in his father's kingdom.

It was the sacrifice that had to be made to pay the penalty.  It was the sacrifice that had to be made to right the wrong.  It was the sacrifice that had to be made to lift the curse of death and restore mankind to life.  For without it, man would know only death.  But with the sacrifice, mankind now has life eternal with Christ in heaven.  Do we believe?  Do we accept?  Do we know the truth of who we are in Christ?  Can we now accept the truth of God and obey his commandments.  For the commandments were given that we would not open the door to sin.  The commandments were passed down that we would not fall to evil.  God gave us the commandments that we would know how to live life here on this earth and not fall to the temptations of Satan.

Come!  Let us celebrate the gift of God.  For Christ has come.  Christ has made the sacrifice.  It is finished.  It is done.  The doors of heaven are open to us.  Let us celebrate the joy of life that is given us, the joy of love that we receive, the protection of the Father that we can know, and the peace of his presence that is ours to have.  The decision is ours.  Be not deceived by the trinkets and passions of this world, for this world, as we see it, is dying before our eyes.  But true life, true peace, true joy is mine and yours for the having, yours for the taking, yours for the knowing, right here and right now.  All you have to do is seek it in Christ.  Search for it in his words.  Know it is there for you to have.  Believe that you can have it.  Ask for it in your prayers and he will give it to you.  I have.  I did.  I know.  And now, I encourage you to do the same.  God loves you.  Christ awaits you and the Holy Spirit seeks your invitation that he may come and live with you. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in!

St Matthew, Chapter 17, verses: 4, The Son of God: The Future Leader speaks to Jesus.

Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus transfigured) Part 3.    

And Peter, seeing the past leaders of the house of Israel speaking to Jesus, did not know what to say.  He had awaken from sleep when he beheld this vision.  He had heard the voices of those that he had not heard before.  He was seeing a vision that no one had seen before.  And so where the other disciples, seeing Moses and Elias, whom they knew were dead speaking to Jesus as though they were still alive.  And they beheld the beatific vision of Christ transformed.  They had spent years at his side.  They had heard him speak on countless occasions.  They saw him day and night speaking, teaching, healing, and comforting the people, but never had they seen him like this.

Jesus  transformed, before their very eyes.  Jesus  was glorified like they had not seen him or known him before.  They were in awe.  They were stunned.  They were surprised.  All this time his true nature was hidden from them and they had no idea.  And then there was Moses and Elias appearing with him, before their very eyes.  One can only imagine their state of mind when this happened.  And then Peter spoke.  He spoke out of awkwardness.  He spoke out of passion.  He spoke out of love.  He spoke out of a need to speak, a desire to affirm to himself what he was witnessing and experiencing.  Then Peter addressed Jesus, saying, "Lord, it is good for us to be here.  If thou wilt, let us set up three tents here, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias."   

What would you do if you had a vision of Christ glorified?  What would you think?  Is it real or is it a dream?  Can you believe what you are seeing?  Can you believe what you are thinking?  We read the Bible and believe its truth.  We seek meaning in its words, the Living Words of God through Christ Jesus.  What do they say?  What do they mean?  What understanding can we gain from what we read?  How does it all apply to our lives today?  Some would say that there is no application.  Some would say that the Bible is a book of history written two thousand years ago, different time, different place, ancient history.  Does the Bible speak to you?

Christ walked, talked, eat, slept, drank with, and loved his disciples.  Yet during all that time they did not know him.  During all that time they did not see him in his true nature.  Can we say the same today?  His words speak to us from a book that has been passed down through ages, written and re-written, translated and reconfigured, different meaning and new meanings added.  Yet, is the message getting through to us that gives us truth, a truth that never changes no matter how it has been changed.  The heart is the key that opens our mind to the possibilities of understanding.  For it is through the heart and with the heart that we are open to the realm of the spiritual life that is within us. 

Not by math, nor science, nor logic, but only by and through the truth hidden for ages through the wisdom of God can we come to know who we are.  Search we must.  Desire is essential.  Repentance is the foundation.  And understanding what the heart knows is the key that opens the door to new life here in this realm.  All things have been given to us by our loving Father.  Yet through our ignorance and deceitful blindness do we seek to have all things to ourselves.  The three disciples saw what they had not seen before during all of their experiences with Christ.  And we, during all our searching through life, may miss the truth of the light within, the truth of the life within us. 

Christ told us, in his words, how to find it.  He told us where to look.  He gave us the key to see and know who we are.  Yet we turn the other way because that is what we have been given in this world.  Seek and ye shall find.  Knock and it shall be opened to you.  Ask and it shall be given you.  What do you seek?  Do you seek money?  Do you seek fame?  Do you seek honor and glory?  Do you seek the worldly possession that this life has to offer?  Continue to seek those things and you will miss the the truth of who you are and the treasure that awaits you.  Life, has been given me.  Light, has brighten my path.  I only point the way.  It is up to you to follow what is before you.  Christ awaits you.  Jesus loves you and so do I.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in!

St Matthew, Chapter 17, verses: 3, The Son of God: The Leaders of the Past appear before Him.

Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus transfigured) Part 2.  

And Jesus went up a high mountain and he took with him Peter, James, and John.  These were the chosen ones who would lead the church in the future.  These were the chosen ones who would have the opportunity to see the Son of God in his true nature.  These were the chosen ones who would have the unique experience of seeing the transformation of Christ.  For they would remember the experience through their entire lives.  They would treasure the experience in their hearts.  They would know for certain that they had seen the true Christ in his full glory.  And they would rejoice in that experience for the rest of their lives.

But then something else happened while they were with Christ.  Something else that they had not seen before happened before their very eyes that would further astound and surprise them, Moses and Elias appeared before Christ and he spoke to them as though he was speaking to the disciples himself.  The great leaders of the past came before Christ.  Moses, the leader who led the Israelites from the captivity of Egypt, appeared before Christ.  And Elias the great prophet appeared also.   And behold, there appears to them Moses and Elias talking together with him. 

They saw their great leaders appearing before Christ and talking with him.  Who will you see?  Who will appear with Christ when you see him?  Will you see your mother?  Will you see your father?  Will you see your grandmother, your grandfather, your sisters or brothers?  Will you see the loved ones from the past that you only know from pictures and stories told to you by your parents?  Will you see the ones who made history that you read about in your history books, John the Baptist, Moses, David, Abe Lincoln, or many others that your heart would leap for joy just to see and know.

Imagine having the time to sit with these loved ones.  Imagine having the time to talk with them, to ask them questions, to know the truth of who they are and how you came to be.  And imagine leaving all this behind that you would not have to worry about what to eat, where you would sleep, what you would wear, how you would look, what money you would have, or how you would survive.  All these things would be in the past and you would not think about the cares and worries of this physical realm.

Imagine a place without day or night.  Imagine a place where there is no need for sleep, a place where there is no worry, no hunger, no anger, no fighting, a place where your dreams and desires are all fulfilled.  For in the presence of God all things are.  And then there is Christ Jesus, our savior and our redeemer.  Just to be with him I would give anything.  For he is all my needs and all my desires.  He is the fulfillment of my heart, of my peace, of my love.  For with him I am complete.  And through Him I am satisfied.  And that is my treasure here on earth, the knowledge that in Him all my desires are met and I am complete. 

No longer do I need the things that this world has to offer.  No longer do I desire the earthly pleasures and comforts of this world.  I know that through and Him and in Him I am complete.  This I have been given and this I know.  So my life here on earth is devoted to the task I have been given, to write the truth of the knowledge that has been given to me that others may know of his love and of his goodness, of his forgiveness and of his patience that everyone who desires to know the truth may have a path to seek him.  Come!  Follow the path before you and seek the truth of who you are in Christ.  Your life will change.  Your love will change.  You will become a new person in Him.   

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in!

St Matthew, Chapter 17, verses:1-2, The Son of God: Jesus is Transfigured.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus transfigured) Part 1.   

And now Jesus had taught them of the soul of man.  He had given them the knowledge of the value of the soul.  What would a man give to save his own soul?  What is more valuable than the soul of man?  And yet we would believe that we are just flesh and blood, skin and bones, and nothing more.  Christ wanted them to know that they were far more than the eye could see.  He wanted the disciples and the people to know that in this flesh there is something more than just the flesh.  So he had to demonstrate to the disciples the true nature of who he was and who they are.

On the seventh day he led three of his disciples up a mountain to show them his true nature.  They did not know Christ.  They did not know his true nature.  They had not seen him before he gave up his majesty and glory to become man.  They did not see him in his true glory.  But on this day they would see before them the true Son of God.  NOW after six days Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves, and was transfigured before them.  And his face shone as the sun, and his garments became as white as snow.

The Blessed Vision and the Transfiguration are reserved for the few.  Only those who are chosen will see.  Only those who are blessed will know.  Only those who can withstand the experience will understand the reason why.  For one's life will be changed.  No more will one look at the world in the same way, in the same light, with the same desires.  Jesus choose only three to witness his transfiguration.  And those three would know, would see, would experience the truth of the nature of Christ.  Would they believe?  Would they know for certain?  Would they hold on to what had been given them? 

His garments were changed.  His face was changed.  His body became like the sun.  Can we behold the sun in its full magnificence?  Can we look into the full radiance of the sun today without turning away?  What must it have been like for those three to behold the full radiance of Christ?  And what magnificence did they take away with them after witnessing this most beautiful sight.  Was it real to them?  Did they know what they beheld?  Were their hearts able to hold the truth of what they experienced?  What would you do today?  What would you say?  What would you believe if you were so privileged to have such a vision?  Would anyone believe you?  Would they think that you had lost it?  How would you rationalize it into your thinking?  

Christ gave the three disciples a glimpse into his true nature.  He allowed them to see him in his glory.  He shone in their presence and they experienced his glory.  Would that have changed them?  Would that have changed you?  Would that make a difference in your life today? Would you be the same person as you were before?  And yet he gives each and everyone of us, today, the opportunity to experience him, as the disciples did then.  Do you believe that you can?  Would you want to have that experience?  Come!  Open the door.  Seek the presence of the risen Lord.  Know the truth of who you are in Christ.  The opportunity awaits you.  Christ awaits you.  And the Holy Spirit greets you as you seek the truth.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in!