Mark 9:2-13

Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.

Read Mark 9:2-13 imagining that you are one of the disciples Jesus takes with him up the mountain.

They had followed Jesus in faith believing that he was the Messiah, and now their faith is confirmed in an undeniable way. The veil of “ordinary” that covers Jesus in humanity is temporarily pulled aside and Peter, James and John see him for who he is. And to make things even more unsettling, two others are allowed to see the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams for the Messiah, except Moses and Elijah have long been buried and gone from the earth. It’s no wonder Peter begins to babble on. He feels compelled to do something!

And then the voice from the cloud: “This is my dearly loved son. Listen to him.”

Take a moment and do just that. Get quiet and center yourself on the presence of Jesus. Take note of any promptings or impressions that come in the silence.

Now read Mark 9:2-13 again noticing the conversation between Jesus and the three disciples as they descend from the mountain.

Why do you think the three disciples were quick to ask about Elijah but didn’t ask Jesus what he meant by “rising from the dead?”

Sit with Jesus question to the disciples: “…why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man [a name Jesus called himself] must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt?”

Considering Jesus had previously addressed the disciples and a crowd of others on the subject of losing one’s life to gain real life in him, what would your answer be to this question?

Take a few moments to imagine Jesus as the three disciples and Moses and Elijah saw him on the mountain. Allow God to draw back the everyday veil of Jesus’ humanity so you can see him for who he really is.

End your time today by expressing your adoration to Jesus. Just finish the sentence, “Jesus, you are…” over and over. Don’t try to use churchy words, just express in your own words how you think and feel about Jesus.

Is there an action you need to take in response to today’s time of reflection? If so, make a plan for following through.

If these meditations are helpful to you, please forward them to couple of friends.

Interested in going deeper? Check out The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide and blog.