February 25, 2005

• Marginal Notes

  
  

  I am thinking I am going to have to get a new Bible as there is little room in my margins for more notes. I like taking notes in my Bible so that when I re-read a passage I am reminded of what I have previously learned. These notes are from several teachers and what struck my Spirit. This afternoon is our Friday Bible study. I am hoping it is Pastor Don. So later you will get a fresh, hot off the press, Bible study. For now, notes on my morning reading. The kids have a two hour delay so I am using the quiet to read and study.

  
  

  Matthew 17: 1-13

  
  

  This is the Transfiguration of Jesus.

  
  

  Jesus had three disciples who he took with him into special situations. Beth Moore explained that Jesus had various circles of disciples, the multitude that followed him, then the 72 (I think it was that number) that got sent out to heal, then the 12, and then the three who were his closest, Peter, James and John. Those three saw more than the 12.

  
  

  Jesus took them into three special situations:

  
  

  Jairus’s daughter – the disciples saw Jesus victorious over death, raising her from the dead.
  Garden of Gethesemene- Where they saw Jesus praying and then submitting to God regarding His death
  and now here- where they saw Jesus glorified

  
  

  Why these three disciples- they all had to have great courage in the face of death.
  James was sawed in half lengthwise, a very slow and painful death (tradition has).
  Peter was the first disciple Jesus informed that following Him would mean sacrifice of thier lives. Peter asked about others and Jesus pretty much told him that it was more important about his relationship with Jesus.
  John they tried to kill (tradition was the boiling in oil), and he got exiled to Padmos where he wrote Revelation. ((Heather’s note, I often wonder how he felt seeing his other friends (the disciples) being martyred, and he was such a sociable person, it must have been so hard on him being the last to die, and then being isolated for so long – but then he did get to see that awesome vision).

  
  

  Transfigured – Greek word metamorphosized (kind of like a catepillar turns to butterfly). Note that I need to check out, is that a caterpillar turns to a gooey mess inside that cacoon, then when completely broken down from caterpillar it is reformed into butterfly. If so, (Heathers thoughts) that is an awesome reminder of needing to be broken to be fully used by God.

  
  

  Verse 4, Peter speaks impulsively, offering to make three booths, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

  
  

  This verse is a good verse to use when people speak about reincarnation. Moses and Elijah had been dead or removed form the scene thousands of years earlier, and here they come in the same form as their earthly lives. They did not come as someone else, and the three disciples recognized them instantly, there is no record of Jesus saying, “Peter, James, John, meet Moses.” etc. And remember there were no graven images so there were no pictures of these men.

  
  

  Now God spoke from Heaven saying, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him.”

  
  

  If you think about what Moses represents – the law, and Elijah represents – the prophets, it is a very potent statement, that you cannot come to God by the law and the prophets, only by Jesus.

  
  

  Peter would mention years later of this transfiguration. Jesus was called the 2nd Adam

  
  

  Now Adam was on the earth and failed temptation, Jesus spent 33 years on earth, and faced every temptation we face, and did not slip into sin. He proved that it was possible to live a sin-free life. Jesus glowed, the divinity within Him shown out through His earthly body. A proof of the teaching that what is in a man will shine forth. If we defile our bodies that shines forth, if we glorify God, that shines forth.

  
  

  Moses also glowed when he went up in Mt. Sinai, and then would wear a veil. In the New Testiment it is said that the glow would fade over time and the veil hid that fact, but with Jesus the glow never failed.

  
  

  Now Jesus does say that Elijah came before him in the form of John the Baptist, but it was the spirit of John the Baptist. Elijah and Moses could be the two witnesses in Revelation, coming before Jesus’ second coming.

  
  

  One other cool thing, this transfiguration takes place near Jerusalem, in the Promised Land. God let Moses into the promised land in spirit, even though he was not allowed to go there in the flesh.

  
  

  ***These are a few notes taken over a few years, any errors are probably in my disciphering the notes.

  
  

  Hope you have a blessed day.

  
  

  Heather

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