Jesus Proclaimed The Kingdom Of God

Mark 1:9-15 KJV; 1st Sunday of Lent; The Good News that Jesus proclaimed was the Kingdom of God.

Listen To Him!

Transfiguration Sunday; Mark 9:2-9 KJV; The cloud overshadowed them; yet, in that darkness God spoke:  This is my beloved Son! Listen to Him.

The Baptism Of Jesus

St. Mark is from 1:4-11, KJV; The baptism of Jesus; Anointed by the Holy Spirit. Our baptisms; anointed by the Holy Spirit.

Eyewitnesses

2 Peter 1:16-21 KJV; Transfiguration Sunday; Jesus on the mount with Elijah and Moses. Peter was an eyewitness to who was there and what was said. 

How Did They Know Them?

His Face Did Shine Like The Sun

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 

                                                                                   (Matt 17:1-7 KJV)

How did they know? How did they know that the two talking with Jesus were Moses and Elijah? Scripture does not tell us how they knew. Maybe, it was from the content of the conversation. Maybe, their history and their traditions stirred something in them so that they just felt it and knew it within their own spirits. Maybe, the Holy Spirit moving upon them, inspired and told them. Maybe it was a little of all these things combined.

How can we know anything? We can know by the testimony of two or three witnesses. This testimony, of three, is found in the reading: "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him'” (Matt 17:5)

The same words spoken by the Father at Jesus' baptism were spoken at his transfiguration: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. listen to him!"

The three disciples, in fear and trembling, witnessed the glory of Jesus Christ, our LORD, at his transfiguration. May God prepare our hearts and minds to witness the full glory of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J