You’ve heard of the saying “Let’s get real!”? Wouldn’t it be great if we actually all live in reality. But there’s a problem isn’t there? Why can’t we all get along? The problem of not getting along is because people have all sorts of definition for reality! Even in marriages, expectations rather than accepting reality leads to problems. How do people define reality in today’s culture??
A common colloquial meaning for reality today is "perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes toward reality", as in "My reality is not your reality." People today would say the truth I believe is my reality.
In actuality, reality is the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of reality.
How should Christians learn reality??
God and His truth in the Bible is the source for learning reality! And our passage today in Mark 9 presents for us what is real! As we read Mark 9:2-13, think of biblical truths to apply to our daily lives….
v2-3: Jesus took 3 disciples to a high mountain where He metamorphed!
We read in Matthew 17:2 - And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. What does that indicate that Jesus became as bright as the sun??
Jesus is pure, holy, and powerful; He is God!
Look again at v4… Elijah and Moses were human beings called to be prophets for God who died hundreds of years before Christ was born on earth. What does v4 indicate??
Human beings even though dead can be with God!
Now, we can note in v6 that the disciples were frightened; but what was Peter thinking with his proposal??
Peter was thinking that Jesus and the dead prophets needed protection from the weather!!
v5-6: Peter still had a worldview!
And in v7: We note God the Father speaking from heaven confirming Jesus is God!
And what can we note about the disciples from v8-10??
After all the miraculous signs and God the Father telling them to listen to Jesus, the disciples were still depending on their own wisdom rather than Jesus’!
Now, look again at v11-13….. What is the most significant truth that Jesus stated in v11-13??
Scriptures, the Word of God, is significant, true, and will always be fulfilled!
I am sure we all can think of many applications for our lives from this passage. But as I alluded to at the beginning, we Christians are not of the world and not to have a worldview of reality. What did God reveal in this passage of Mark 9:2-13? God in this “transfiguration” event revealed reality in comparison to the disciples’ worldview!
The specifics of reality with God:
• Jesus Christ is God who lived on earth for a while, died for man’s sin, but rose from the dead.
• Jesus calls people to follow Him.
• God has power over death.
• People will come up with their own reality which are illusions.
• God the Father in heaven tells people to listen to Jesus.
• People need Christ and God’s Word to know reality!
Take a moment to quietly ponder about these truths…..
Jesus Christ is God who lived on earth for a while, died for man’s sin, but rose from the dead.
Jesus calls people to follow Him. Have we answered?
God has power over death. Do we trust God with our lives till death?
People will come up with their own reality which are illusions. How alert are we daily with the reality of God?
God the Father in heaven tells people to listen to Jesus.
People need Christ and God’s Word to know reality! How is our daily learning of the reality of God?
