Hanging out with Jesus XVII: A Glimpse of Mountain Glory

Hanging out with Jesus XVII: A Glimpse of Mountain Glory

Mark 9.  Key verse  9:23

The disciples had their turn to say who Jesus was in the last Chapter.  Now it was God’s turn. He pulled back the curtains of humanity and time to show who Jesus was in the Glory of his kingdom. His appearance was changed and he was elevated in what is the transfiguration of Christ. In verse 1, Jesus predicted that some who stood before him would not die before seeing his kingdom in its glory. The transfiguration six days later  was a part of the fulfillment of this promise. The outpouring if the Holy Spirit is another.

When God took Peter, John and James up the mountain, they knew Jesus in a way. When he was transfigured, they saw the glory of his kingdom, and knew him better. We all need daily transfigurations of the Jesus we have in our minds to see him gloriously elevated and closer to his true majestic picture as the king of glory. The curtain must be  pulled back so we can see whom we gave as savior and king. For he is  both the lion and the lamb. The disciples caught a glimpse on the mountain but the Holy Spirit came to reveal Jesus on an on going basis.

God revealed Christ's glory on the mountain. He touched the lives of those on the mountain with Jesus.   As you may have expected, Peter had to say something. If it were today, he would have posted it on Face book. Previously he had been rebuked for minding the things of man. The mountain experience helped him see beyond the things of men. He became aware of a whole world more glorious, lasting and vast than the temporary one.   He saw Jesus in a new way. That matters, because how you see him determines how you respond to him.  Peter was inspired for life. Later, in 2 Peter He wrote "we were eyewitnesses of his majesty . . . when he received honor and glory from God the Father."

God affirmed  Jesus on the mountain.   Jesus appeared talking with Moses and Elijah. The three represented the eras of  the law, the prophets and the grace.  They demonstrated that all three are consistent and in unison. Peter answering a question he was not asked put them at par and proposed they build a tabernacle for each. He saw they could coexist. Great effort, on his part, but not enough. Immediately,  God showed up and distinguished Jesus by  making it perfectly clear that Jesus was above the Law and the Prophets. He declared him 'my beloved son, listen to him'. Previously God had spoken in various ways to people but in the last days, he spoke by his son (Hebrews 1- 1-3). He is the current voice and message to humanity.  When you have seen him in his glory, the next step is to hear and believe him. even when he talks about being killed and resurrecting on the third day.

God strengthened Jesus on the mountain. Luke notes that the discussion with Moses and Elijah was about  his impending death. This was a turning point in the narrative of his life. It was his mountain experience before the valley. It prepared him for the journey to Jerusalem and the cross. The mountain was a foretaste but the full test was down the mountain. The mountain had the crown but the valley had the cross.

The mountain posed a dilemma to the disciples.  Do we go or do we stay. The mountain experience was so wonderful that Peter wanted to stay on the mountain.  God however did not want them to settle and build a memorial tabernacle or monument unto Jesus. His intention was to give them  a person not a building, tradition or organization. Often when people think monument he thinks movement. The direction and solutions are in  recognition and obedience of Jesus.

Applying it to your life today, God needs you down the mountain. He wants you to experience mountain glory down the mountain. He wants to manifest the same glory you saw up the mountain but differently. On the mountain, Christ was unveiled. Down the mountain, humanity is involved. The glory shined on the mountain but it is utilized in the valley down the mountain. Jesus did not come down the mountain with shining face and clothes -   people would have run  from Him.  He needed to  identify with people, their needs and aspirations to be relevant. He came down from the mountain where they were enjoying the glory to being among the needy that needed the glory. Glory was unveiled on the mountain but down the mountain, glory tackled human suffering and problems. Glory on the mountain was a glimpse. Glory down the mountain was a life Journey.   On the mountain, there were Moses and Elijah but down the mountain was flesh and blood. Hands are up in worship on the mountain. Down the mountain, hands were 'dirty and bloody' in the battlefield.  You draw strength from the mountain but battle in the valley (Exodus 17:11-13).   On the mountain, you discuss the future and in the valley, you deal with the current reality.  It is so attractive on the mountain you want to stay there but it is onerous in the valley you want to finish well.  A glorious end viewed on the mountain but the journey is travelled in the valley.  Treasure is revealed on the mountain but it is dug and drilled in the valley.    After a glimpse of mountain, glory is a life of expressing that glory.

The good news is that mountain glory also manifests down the mountain. It is possible to experience mountain  glory down the mountain. In Psalm 23:4, the valley of the shadow of death was a place to experience God's presence, strength, mealtime, anointing, overflow,  goodness and mercy.  In Psalm 84:6, the valley of Baca (weeping) became a well and its pools were filled with rain. And in Hosea 2:15, the valley of Achor (trouble) became a  door of hope and place for celebration. 

Mark 9 teaches how to live the glorious life down the mountain where Jesus is unveiled. How to  bring mountain glory to the valley. Three ways:

>> Depend on God (14-29).

When you listen to Jesus, you find yourself among the needy. That's what happened with Peter, John and James.  From the mountain, they walked into a situation  where the other disciples tried to cast out a demon.  They had cast out demons in the past --- but now they were unable to do so. The scribes probably were making fun of their failure. The father was desperate and pleaded with Jesus to do ‘anything’. Jesus who answers  prayer heard his heart and responded ‘if you can believe ... all things are possible.’  The father said he believed but also needed help in his unbelief. Jesus wonderfully set his son free. Mountain glory was in action down the mountain. Paul wrote, ‘I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.’  You also can depend on his strength and seek his kingdom first and all things are possible.

Jesus explained why the disciples failed. They needed to employ prayer and fasting.    Fasting is a form of prayer. So the main point is prayerfulness. They may have prayed or even fasted but until you have believed, you have not prayed. Faith does not mean convincing yourself that you can do something.  It is a fresh and vibrant relationship with God. Always check prayer and eating habits for the cause of spiritual futility.  They focused on the formula of  invoking Jesus' name, instead of focusing on the person and glory of Jesus himself. 

He repeated his prediction of his death and resurrection (v 39-32). Would they trust him? The disciples still did not understand, and this time did not ask him to explain himself better. For the progressive nature of Jesus' prophecies concerning his death, see 8:31, 9:31, and 10:33-34).

>>Serve others (39-40).

The disciples were caught quarreling about who among them was the greatest (33-34). You cannot experience mountain glory down the mountain with negative attitudes towards other people. Attitudes of pride, despising others, bitterness, disharmony and lack of care hinder the glory.  The quality of relationships affects spiritual wellness (Mathew 5:23, 24).

Can you imagine the conversation of the disciples? Perhaps those who went up the mountain thought they were the best and if they had been present, they would have cast the demon out. Maybe Peter was arguing he was the best of the best three  because he was given the keys of the kingdom and was the only one who spoke on the mountain. They also exposed that people are political creatures. Jesus was talking about soon dying. When a leader is about to depart some go into denial mode and are prepared to fight to keep them in power. However because they deny the possibility of his/her departure they are likely as Peter later did, to deny the leader when faced with the reality if their departure. All because  one who departs was not the one they were following. On the other hand, there  are those who see opportunity and jostle for  positions in the  unfolding new dispensation without the leader. The disciples did not only argue about the greatest among them. They also considered themselves as exclusive to preaching the gospel.

Jesus did not rebuke them for wanting to be great but corrected their notion and means to it. He pointed out that it was all right for others to preach for whoever was not against them was for them. Being greatest was not being the exclusive club but having ability to include others in your privilege. Greatness was being able to receive a child. Receiving a child is commitment  to serve selflessly. A child is weak and powerless to reward you. Greatness is humility and meekness. Greatness is a life motivation to please God, and glorify Jesus name. Whatever done for Christ's sake acquires eternal rewards even a seemingly insignificant action like giving a cup of water to someone. If done for Jesus' sake it becomes big and of eternal significance. Whereas, seemingly big things done for selfish reasons are reduced to nothing in eternity. Enjoy mountain glory down the mountain by being at peace with others and serve out of love for Christ the living example, did not come to be served but to serve.

>>Judge yourself (41-50).

Jesus emphasized the need to be gracious and give others benefit of doubt while coming hard on oneself. It is easier to judge others but rather be quick to judge yourself. When you have judged yourself well and honestly, you will not find strength to judge others.  He exhorted that each person should  rein firmly on him/her self. Based on a gain-loss analysis raise the bar of your standards. Do not make it too easy to sin. Raise the stakes because they are high and cannot be higher. The choice is between  obedience and a place of unquenching fire and undying worms. This is such a serious matter that if a bodily organ causes you to stumble, you would rather cut it off.

Jesus picked on the hands, feet and eyes but there are other menacing body parts deserving for many to lose. Jesus mentioned these to metaphorically say cut out whatever leads you to sin. Hand is symbolic of the sinful deeds/works that must be cut off. A foot is the path that leads to sin. Cut off the series of influences, choices or decision path that lands you in sin. The eye is symbolic of looking at things, or viewing them in ways that arouse sinful desires such as lust and greed. You rather live maimed without the troublesome hand, foot and eye than lose mountain glory down the mountain. Pain is to be preferred to sin.  Do not give Satan a foothold. Become effective salt or effective agents for God that flavor the world with good works.

Reflection:

When you are correctly configured (chapter 8), you are tuned in to his frequency.  You will hear the call to the mountain where you will see Jesus transfigured into glory.  From the mountain, you will come down empowered with the mountain glory to face the disfigured marred, corrupted world.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa 

The consequence if seeking his glory

A striking contrast. From the glory in the to the gory in the valley

The Consequence of Glorious living

The Way to Glorious Living

When Jesus came

I'll. sopgo. group casting out demon, got there asked for opp. They let him. Laid hands. And 'I see fire , I am burning etc' whole group came and started to also say go, come out, etc... In end not clear who dud it.  The person went to the groups church.

I'll. shoe makers... One they come back quicker and I make more money. Other - you know, when I make shoes, I keep remembering that I will see a pile of all I made one day . And I want to so make shoes that every shoe I make will pass the judgment of the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ."

Hanging out with Jesus XVI: Tuning to God's Frequency

Hanging out with Jesus XVI: Tuning to God's Frequency

Mark 8 key verse 8:12

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign?  Verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation (Mark 8:12)

He hath done all things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak (Mark 7:37)

God often sighs in frustration in dealing with us people.  He has to bear with the failure and slowness with which we find his wavelength, catch his signal, tune to his frequency and connect  to his channel . Without shared frequency communication between God and us is impossible.  Often people including his disciples would operate with a very different mindset and perspective to his such that they failed to understand his ways, his words and his heart. Often their hearts were prone and accustomed to receiving content streamed from sources strange to God. They just could not sustain seeing  things as he did.  As a result they often were at cross-purpose with him and misaligned to his will.  

When people caught the frequency of Jesus they came to one conclusion.   And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak (Mark 7:37). His name is wonderful. If anything is unwell come to him. Call on him because he makes all things well.  It is well. He does all things well. That is the meaning of holiness, which is his nature. He completes and perfects. When he said ‘It is finished’ it was well done - we were saved to the uttermost.

From Mark 8 we can identify three failures that  obstructed or interfered with God’s signal.

>> Failure  to remember

A multitude of 4000men plus women and children had been with Jesus for three days. Jesus had compassion on them. He was so caring to be thoughtful that some had come from far and were too hungry to be send away hungry.  One would expect the disciples to immediately know the solution since Jesus had multiplied bread before. Instead they were puzzled that Jesus did not want to send them away hungry since there was no means to feed them.  It appears they would have dismissed them. Jesus however blessed the bread and fishes that were available and gave the disciples to distribute. Jesus thus had to demonstrate the second time his ability to multiply bread and fish to feed a multitude. Seven baskets were left over. He is not only sufficient but  all sufficient to cause overflow.

Before long after the multitude was fed, the disciples were on a boat with Jesus. He warned them to be careful of the leaven of the Pharisees.  Yet again, they had  forgotten. When you forget what God can do you begin to worry and become anxious. That is what happened. The disciples worried that they only had a loaf of bread. Jesus knew  their lost frequency and reminded them they were off tune. Why reason ye , because ye have no bread? Perceive ye not yet , neither understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened?  Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?   He had to remind them of the bread and fishes he had multiplied before.

Forgetfulness is a major human pitfall and hazard to faith. In the Old Testament despite the many mighty miracles God performed for the children of Israel  each time they faced the next hurdle or challenge, they would forget  and would resort to complaining and murmuring in fear. As a result of failure to sustain connection to God’s frequency they wondered in the wilderness for forty years. Do whatever you can to remind yourself of what God has done and what the Bible says he can do.  Do the places you frequent, the material you watch and read, websites you visit, and people you associate with remind you of what the Lord has done.

>> Failure to Notice and Acknowledge

God would often use signs (or miracles) in the Bible to authenticate His chosen messengers. The Lord provided Moses with several miraculous signs. Jesus had performed many miracles. He had raised the dead, healed the deaf and blind, multiplied bread, and set many free from demonic possession. But they failed to notice and believe. Rather, they would create empty traditions and follow them stringently.  Jesus was so grieved by their hardness of heart and even wept over the city of Jerusalem (Mark 3:5; Luke 19:41-44).

Many witnessed many signs and wonders that proved Jesus was the Son of God. Despite all these signs  the Pharisees still  asked for a sign.  For their demand for a sign, they got a sigh. Missing his signs brings his sigh of grief in place of relief. Jesus sighed deeply and said the generation that wanted a sign and would not acknowledge it when it was given did not deserve one.  That was the leaven of the Pharisees – demanding what is already there to receive.  A heart bent on seeking a sign will always want another. When the other comes it will ignore it or explain it away  rather than believe. They accused Jesus of doing his work and casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub/Satan.

A symptom of hardness of heart, or blindness or closing of eyes and ears.  With either condition it does not matter what one does it makes no difference. It is unmoved, untouched.   Even if the light shines the closed eye cannot see it. Even if the trumpet sound the shut ear cannot see it. Though the hand of the Lord be present, the hardened heart receives not from it.  Jesus recognized their hardness of heart and instead of a sign he prescribed a correct signal –  tuning to a correct frequency. He would only hope that final sign of his resurrection would convince them.  The sign of Jonah who was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish.  Jesus would be crucified but would rise again on the third day.

>> Failure to Mind the things of God 

When Jesus asked his disciples who he was. They were quick with what people said of him. When asked for their view Peter said he was the Christ.  He was commended for getting the answer right. However, while he got the words correct he missed the spiritual meaning of it. Jesus went on to bring out the implications of what Peter had just said. But Peter could not take it. He instead took Jesus aside and rebuked him so strongly that Jesus had to rebuke the devil. 

But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men (Mark 8:33).

Peter looked to a messiah a saviour to deliver Israel from Roman rule not one to be arrested and killed. He rebelled against the notion that most likely he did not even hear the happy ending of resurrection.   Jesus identified Peter’s problem as the things that dominated his mind and heart  – things of men. Things of this world. Solving problems in this life so to enjoy before dying. Things of the natural realm.  Earthly minded selfish ambition (James 3:13-4:10). The praise of men.  Great influence in this world. Acquiring material wealth - money, houses, cars, fame. 

God wants us to be mindful of his things. When you are not mindful of the things of God - like Peter you will not see the way Jesus sees. You will not receive the work of the messiah. He must die because you deserved to die. You will miss his plan and purpose. You will misunderstand his ways. You will fight instead of cooperating with him.  To Jesus, love of the world replaced love for his Father.    Not only must the messiah die those who choose to follow Him must  also die to self. In losing false life they find true life.

Lets pray that we be mindful of the things of God. That we take them seriously. That we invest effort, time and treasure in them, that we seek the things above (Colossian 3:1-4), that our conduct and love be much different from that of the world, that the kingdom of God be our life priority and that we live with eternity in view.  Tune to God’s frequency through saturating your head and heart with God’s word. Read, listen, sing,  meditate and obey his word. Maintain a fresh and dynamic prayer life. If you had lost signal, like a GPS system recalculate and find your signal again. If you have been at same level for a long time grow towards maturity upgrade to  find the signal that matches your next level and current situation.  Allow God to put correct settings in your heart and antennae. Down load the necessary drivers through prayer and fasting. Make his fascinating and empowering channel your favorite. He watches your channel 24/7 despite it being often boring.  See yourself on his channel and you will be encouraged to know your new identity and position with God.  

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Hanging out with Jesus XV: Bread is also for you

Hanging out with Jesus XV: Bread is also for you

But Jesus said unto her , Let the children first be filled : for it is not meet to take the children’s bread , and to cast it unto the dogs .  But she answered and saith unto him, Yes, Lord; even the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs (Mark 7:27, 28).

Clean hearts

Mark Chapter 7 begins with Jesus tackling a challenge from the Pharisees. This time they complained that he allowed his disciples to eat bread with unwashed hands. One must hasten to point out that the washing of hands was not in the hygienic sense but the ceremonial washing necessary for purity to approach God who is without any defilement (Isaiah 6:5).  They however held on to an Old Testament practice (Leviticus) but lost its essence. They even had added to the practice elements not in the Old Testament law but were just  tradition developed over time. Jesus agreed with the need to get clean but differed on the prescription. He seized the opportunity to redirect their focus from the cleaning of hands to that of hearts. The law was about hearts not hands.

He bluntly called them hypocrites. Acts of worship without the heart are hypocritical worship (Mark 7:6-8). Actions and words that  lack the heart are hypocritical. Sadly,  hearts far from God make his word powerless. The person of such a heart remains just with tradition making void the word of God. Religion empties God's word of its power by focusing on the external things at the expense of the inner things. It holds to a form of religion that denies the transforming power of God. It majors on  surface issues at the expense of the deeper. It makes faith irrelevant to what affects people and society. It makes people feel so holy and so busy with ministry to neglect relationships and responsibilities, so focused about church group to ignore your neighbor and even so careful about morality to forget the cross.

The heart is the fountain and laboratory of all good and bad.   The way you handle eating is governed by the condition if heart. When heart is right, hands and eating will be right.  The heart determines readiness to approach God. ‘For from within , out of the heart of men , proceed evil thoughts , adulteries , fornications , murders ,   Thefts , covetousness , wickedness , deceit , lasciviousness , an evil eye , blasphemy , pride , foolishness’ 

Who qualifies for Bread

From the subject of eating bread without washed hands  the narrative moved to the subject of who qualifies to eat the bread of the children.   A Syrophonician woman tested the beliefs. She fell  at the feet of Jesus and begged that he delivered her daughter from demonic possession. She may have been following him (Mathew 15:26) and knew him as a man who was caring as well as able to help her situation.  Jesus replied with words that would have discouraged many if not make them furious with anger. 

‘But Jesus said unto her , Let the children first be filled : for it is not meet to take the children’s bread , and to cast it unto the dogs (Mark 7:27, 28).

Miracles were children’s bread. In the context, the children were the Jews.  Paul said ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ : for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ; to the Jew first , and also to the Greek .’   The gospel was to the Jew first. But not exclusive – it was also to the Greek. 

At Jesus’ words the woman could have felt rejected and excluded.  She could have said my daughter is also a child. She could have felt so undeserving to stand up and go away. Often we think Jesus should do for us  what we ask. For a Greek to receive help from Jesus was not a right but an act of grace. She approached Jesus unassumingly in her expectations. She was without an entitlement attitude.  She could have felt dishonored by being called a dog. A dog is a dog, whether it is a pampered household pet or a street wild.  A dog is a dog, even if called that softly and tenderly.  She could have felt provoked, insulted and offended. She could have allowed pride to rise up and retort how can this happen to me. How dare he say that.  She could have made up her mind to never ask for help again. 

However she was different. She was not offended like the people of Nazareth and the Pharisees.  Her heart was not defiled.

She answered and saith unto him, Yea, Lord; even the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.  

Jesus commended her response and saw it as enough reason to give her the bread of the children. By her words and attitude she turned offense to something positive. She demonstrated what power can come out of a heart that is right. What came out of her heart brought her in and earned her healing for her daughter. It accomplished what washed hands could not.  What a lesson to the Jews present who may have said big ‘amens’ to his first statement to her. A  lesson to non Jews also, while tradition could exclude even the Jews from God’s life, faith could include even the excluded non Jews.

SHE showed three marks of faith and intercession.

>>Humility

From the beginning she threw herself at his feet. She had nothing to protect if she could save her daughter.  You can also fall at his feet in prayer. Jesus can however be deliberately scandalous – throwing stumbling blocks in people’s way.  No one likes being called hypocrites, an evil generation, whitewashed tombs, or dogs.     But with humility and trust beyond the scandal is salvation. ONE must overcome the scandal to find Jesus' heart.  Sometimes the stumble is a delayed answer, not preferred answer, an answer unlike others got, insufficient detail,  something you do not immediately understand, different view, or his denials.  Faced with a stumbling block, she appealed to his character. She thought I trust your heart and whatever you say is as good as your heart. Do what you want, one thing I know you are compassionate even towards dogs because that’s your nature.

How much can pass through your relationship with Jesus before it breaks. On his side, nothing can do it (Romans 8). How about on your side, refuse to be the weak link in the chain that breaks the chain despite the rest being strong. 

>>Tough Skin

She had wisdom and a tough skin. She showed great character by not being  offended easily. A tough skin can ward off offence. It will not allow arrows of offense to stick or reach the heart. She was not an overly sensitive person. She did  not allow offence to go inside to defile the heart. She was rich in heart. Her heart was tender to allow patience, wisdom, and kindness to come out.  She knew where the solution  was – in Jesus alone. Like the disciples when everyone fled the scandal when Jesus figuratively invited them to eat is flesh and drink his blood (John 6). The disciples said where can we go to - you have the words of life.  The fool says there is help apart from God.  She was humble and wise. She did not fight Jesus but agreed with a ‘yes’ and she was not disrespectful she said Lord. She expanded on the illustration he gave about dogs and children. And reasoned with him that domesticated dogs also ate crumbs under the table. They belonged to the house also. 

>>Desperation

She was also desperate for  the sake of her daughter. She had come to the end of her wits. She had burnt bridges to any other source.  Jesus’ words sounded as cold rejections, but really they turned out to be a precious opportunity to elicit greater faith and dependence from the woman. They made her reach deep to the best quality of faith for the kind of miracle she wanted. She was childlike in her faith.  She did not despise the crumbs under the tables and resultantly was brought to eat with children what was on the table. She must have remembered that Jesus valued crumbs since he collected crumbs when he fed the 5000. She must have got the revelation that the crumbs of God are God sized and good enough.  And all this for another person. What a demonstration of the power of intercession. You can only persuade because you know the character of the person and believe there is chance to win. Her faith qualified her for a seat at the table. You do not belong under the table today you can also join the party if you learn from this woman.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa