Theme: The Transfiguration
Text: Mark 9:2-13
Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!
Transfiguration:
The event Transfiguration is a formal announcement on the Death of Jesus Christ. TheTransfiguration has three notable things, such as, Glorious appearance of Jesus, the discussion with Moses and Elijah, and a voice from the cloud.
1. Prayer Time (Mark 9:2, 5, 9)
Our AMC has many prayer events. Starting from the Hour of Prayer on Monday to Friday from 5.30 AM to 6 AM; the Heal the world prayer on every day at 5 PM by a few women; Special day of Prayer on every First Friday from 10.30 AM to 1.30 PM. Prayer with the seekers on every Monday from 6 PM to 7 PM through Prayer station ministries. Fellowship groups gathering spent a considerable time of prayer along with fun and meditations. On every First Saturday at 5 PM for Women, on every Second Saturday at 7.30 AM for MEN, on every Third Saturday at 5 PM for the Elders. The MYF has a considerable time of prayer between 11.15 AM and 1.30 pm on every Sunday, and the MYAF Between 11.30 am and 1 pm on alternate Sundays. Not only that the cell groups on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays give a quality time of prayer and learning. The Bible study is yet another time for prayer.
So, Annanagar Methodist church has several occasions for the members to give time for prayer for every category, for every age group, and for every gender to enjoy the time of Prayer. One simple question, Are you part of any one of these?
After ‘Six Days’ according to Mark, and After ‘Eight Days’ according Luke 9:28, Jesus took his three disciples up a high mountain (Matthew 17:1).
This is one of a few times, Mark gives a specific time. Six days refers to the time after his discourse on the death and resurrection while he was on his way to Caesarea Philippi with his disciples.
According to Constable: The six days spiritually connects and identifies ‘with Moses who was on Mt. Sinai for six days and then God revealed Himself on the seventh’ (Exodus 24:15–16).
Here, the high mount could have been either Mount Tabor or Mount Lebanon.
Brooks remarks, ‘The exact site is unknown and unimportant. A high mountain in the Bible was often the place of revelation’.
On thing to he noted us that they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
So, a definite specification of time for prayer is the time for change of a person, history and events. The prayer changes the attitude, focus, and outlook of a person.
If you don’t have a specific time of prayer, then you are not a Christian. If you are not waking up for prayer between 4 and 5 am you can’t be a servant of God, if you are not waking up for prayer between 5 and 6 am you can’t be a disciple of Christ. Whatever may be your profession, whoever you may be, If you are not able two spent an hour before you beings your daily schedule you can’t be a Christian.
Bible has the recorded of many ordinary people who had spent a quality time in prayer. Moses had a prayer time with God. Samuel had a prayer time, Elijah had a prayer time.
Daniel made it a habit to pray three times daily (Daniel 6:10). King David indicates that he prayed at three specific times each day (Psalm 55:17). In another psalm, David says we should offer a prayer of praise seven times daily (Psalm 119:164).
Jesus had a prayer time of early morning on a daily basis (Mark 1:35). Paul had a habitual prayer time and a palace of prayer (Acts 16:16), so he wrote “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
What a meaningful hymn “Sweet your of prayer, Sweet your of prayer that calls me..”
Now let me move on to talk about the prayer tam.
2. Prayer Team (Mark 9:2-4)
Jesus took Peter, James and John, then we see that the presence of Elijah and Moses. Mark stresses on two great persons of Old Testament, One is its founder and the second one is its restorer, former is the legislator and the latter is the chief of the prophets. Moses and Elijah are commonly accepted as the illustrious representatives of “the law and the prophets,” which bore witness to Jesus.
John Mac Arthur: ‘Elijah and Moses existed as glorified spirits in heaven’ (Hebrews 12:23), awaiting the resurrection of their bodies at the end of the future tribulation (Daniel 12:1–2), yet they appeared in visible, glorious (Luke 9:31) bodies.’ This is evidently proved that God could give permanent glorified bodies.
Peter was the leader of the early church (Acts 2:1f, Acts 10:1f). James was the head of the first great church (Acts 15:13). John was to receive ‘The Revelation’. Peter was nicknamed “the rock” because he confessed that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God (Matthew 16:16). James and John, were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” because of their boldness (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:54), became prominent leaders in the early church. James was the first martyr for Christ (Acts 12:1–2), and John was the last to die for Christ (Revelation 1:9).
These 3 disciples experienced the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37), Gethsemane prayer (Mark 14:33). Warren Wiersbe interprets that Paul longed for these three occasions "That I may know Him [the Transfiguration], and the power of His resurrection [raising the girl], and the fellowship of His sufferings [in the Garden]." (Philippians 3:10).
John Mac Arthur says that the presence of three men was the law’s requirement “on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed” (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28).
David Garland observes in Mark’s Gospel, the greater the revelation, the smaller the number of people who witness it, e.g., the transfiguration, the empty tomb (Mark 16:1–8).
Prayer team plays a vital role. Daniel prayed with his friends, then the Lord revealed his will. Moses went up to the mountain to pray with Hur and Aaron, three was a great victory against Amalek. (Exodus 17:8-12).
Paul has a team to pray with him (Acts 13:1-3). Do you have a team to pray with you?
3. Prayer Theme: (Mark 9:5-13)
Prayer brings God’s revelation to us. It helps us to listen his voice. “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Luke has frequent references to Jesus’ prayer life. He emphasis that the change in the countenance and raiment of Jesus took place ‘as He prayed’ (Luke 9:29). The prayer themes were crystal clear in the life of Jesus, after fasting and Prayer he went about preaching the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:14-15). After whole night prayer (Luke 6:12-16), Jesus Came down and selected the twelve of his followers to be his close disciples and appointed them as apostles. After the prayer at Gethsemane of the mount of Olives (Luke 22:39-46), Jesus surrendered himself to be tried and crucified.
The prayer theme of Abraham was to save Lot and his family(Genesis 18:22-33). The prayer theme of Jacob upon the Jabbok was to have personal blessings, over come his weakness (Genesis 32:26).
‘The power of prayer can replace perplexity with peace, fear with faith, and consternation with confidence and courage, discouragement with dedication and determination, and hopelessness with hope.’ Prayer changes our enemies and changes us, transforms us for the work of God (Rod Mattoon).
The very purpose of this prayer was TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus.
Most of the Jewish people had no realizatdion of the identity of Jesus (Mark 8:28), through disciples had confessed Jesus as Messiah (Mark 8:29–30). The messianic office involves Suffering and death (Mark 8:31–33), true meaning of discipleship also vouched with suffering and sacrifice (Mark 8:34–38).
Transfigured, the word metamorphoo, refers the inward condition that produces an outward expression that proceeds from and is representative of inward character and nature. It is changing into another form, a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
J Vernon McGee: ‘Transfiguration is the goal of humanity. As Lord Jesus Christ transfigured there on the mount, exactly that is going to take place on that day when we are translated. The dead shall be raised, and those who are alive shall be changed. We shall undergo metamorphosis.’
Conclusion:
Dear children of God, Cultivate a Prayer Time (Mark 9:2, 5, 9), have a few disciples of Christ as your supportive Prayer Team (Mark 9:2-4), and let your prayer have a Theme and focus (Mark 9:5-13).
