Thursday, March 15, 2012

Snapshot Series: "Change of Perspective"

Community Group Questions
1. How do you feel you are bringing glory to Jesus?
2. How often do you talk about the gospel?
3. What in your life is an illustration of the Gospel?
4. How often do you think about heaven?
5. What would our church look like if people focused on heaven?


Snapshot21 Mark 9:1-13 "Change of Perspective"
Mark Chapters 1-8 the question is who is Jesus? chapter 8 is the climax Jesus is the Messiah and chap 9-16 Christ and the cross.

Things change in life...Some changes we love and want to last. We were on vacation last week visiting with my mom. For our family it is great... (talk about the vacation)
On the way to the airport Silah. She loved being away and wanted it last.

Other changes we don't like very much and we don't want them to last like when you lose someone close to you or a relationship ends. Regardless of the change, good or bad it alters our perspective.

In today's passage we are looking at the transfiguration of Jesus which alter Peter, James and John's perspective and should alter ours as well.

Vrs 1 This verse is in reference to what would happen next...the transfiguration.

1st we are going to look at what we learn about God's kingdom from the transfiguration. "the change"
• God's kingdom
Displays Glory
Vrs 2-3 the transfiguration "be changed" Ex 24:15-17 MArk was noting the 6 days because his readers would realize this conectiong of preparation time. He called apart Peter, James and John because Jesus knew that they would face suffering for their spread of the gospel. Jesus gave them a "taste of the kingdom" before they tasted death in order to encourage them that glory would come.

This is the only recorded instance during our Lord’s ministry of His revealing His inner glory for others to see. It was really a confirmation of the kingdom that God has promised to His people Israel

For the Christian we have to come to the conclusion that although this life can be wrought with suffering for the Christian "glory will follow" glorified bodies.

God's kingdom is Cross centered
Vrs 4 Moses represented the Law and Elijah the prophets, both of which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Weirsbe

What was this conversation like?
The cross is the theme of heaven’s conversation and of heaven’s praise. Rev 5 GOSPEL

God's kingdom Is eternal
Vrs 5 Three Tents : The Bible Guide says it this way Peter wants the vision to last. He offers to make shelters by piling branches, as the Jews do for the Feast of Tabernacles. But the moment passes. Moses and Elijah return to heaven — leaving Jesus to resume his road to Jerusalem and the cross.

He said it was good for them to be there, implying that he wished to prolong the glorious experience. BKC

We want paradise now and we want it to last. Think about life it is a constant striving for something better. I don't think I have ever heard a parent say "I want worse for my kid"

But unfortunately we can fall into the trap of sin because we want something better or something to last.
The Philosopher Plato said "pleasure is the bait of sin"

So we work too much and neglect family and the Lord, we are deceitful to get ahead and have more. we are dishonest to get what we want.

To get what I would call a glimpse of what heaven is and then want it to last. In this pursuit we forget what will last... Heaven. So we strive to make good things last and ignore the good thing that will last because we have not made it there yet so we don' live in view of it.

• God's counsel for change God wants our perspective to change
Obedience to Jesus
Vrs 6-8 This entire altercation comes on the heals of Peter blurting out "should we make tents" Interestingly enough Jesus does not answer Peter...the Father does. "Listen to Jesus"

When we listen to Jesus we bring Jesus Glory, when we listen to ourselves we attempt to bring ourselves glory. It does not work, not only do we fail in making ourselves famous but we fail in making Jesus famous and that is what we are supposed to be doing.

Francis de Sales. Bishop of Geneve in the 1500's said Some men become proud because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat or are dressed in a fine suit of clothes. Who does not see the folly of this? If there be any glory in such things, the glory belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor.
The Father is communicating to the disciples and us that the glory that is brought to you comes from Listening to Jesus.
Do you want to make an impact on others? listen to Jesus
Some will be drawn in by your obedience (parents of teens and young adults). Others will be repelled by it. (friends, family and coworkers)
Die to self live to Christ Vrs 9-10 In chapter 8 Jesus spoke to them about self denial. Jesus knew the disciples would want to share their experience with others but he said wait. Listening to Jesus requires dying to self.

That means if Jesus says don't we don't and do we do

When we die to self and live to Christ we display the change Jesus has made in us. We are a new creation the old has gone (died) and the new has come (life) Death to life is a biblical concept.

The salvation plan of God is to redeem us back to Himself and the resurrection proves that. Jesus for the second time now in the Gospel speaks of His resurrection in many senses reminding them of the new life they and we have in Him.

Focus on eternity
Vrs 11-13 Jesus foreshadows His death and tells them about how John the Baptist was the coming of Elijah. His plan is eternal. The answer that Jesus gives is leading them to an eternal focus. The unfolding of the prophecies. As a Christian our focus should be on eternity.

“I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness.” ― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

What would this church be like if we all lived everyday with a focus on eternity? No gossip, no self serving decisions, helping others, reaching out to neighbors, caring for the sick, widow and orphan, giving a cup of cold water.

Living your life by God's counsel in view of God's kingdom will bring about change, not only will your actions change but your perspective on what this life is for will as well.

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