30 Days In The Gospel Of MarkSampel

Thought:

Jesus took only his inner circle (Peter, James, and John) up to the top of the mountain for this special event we call the Transfiguration. To transfigure means to change or transform into a more beautiful or more spiritual form. Jesus was transfigured because He is the Son of God. While in His non-transfigured form on Earth, He chose to hide some of His glory as God. When He was transfigured, some of that glory was revealed. Jesus was so powerful, beautiful, and full of glory that the disciples were terrified. Peter was so scared that he didn’t know what to say and made a somewhat silly suggestion, offering to put up tents for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses. Just like we read on Day 1, God the Father declared that Jesus is His Son, whom He loves. He instructed the disciples to listen to Him. When the whole event was over, Jesus told the disciples they had to keep it secret until He rose from the dead. The disciples were still confused about what Jesus meant about “rising from the dead,” but they did as He asked. 

1. What happened to Jesus when He went up on the mountain? Why?

2. How did the disciples feel when they saw Jesus during the Transfiguration?

3. How would seeing the Transfiguration make you feel if you had just clashed with the powerful religious leaders of the day and had just learned about the cost of discipleship?

4. Why would Jesus ask His disciples not to tell about what had happened until after His death and resurrection?

Engage:

This passage of Mark provides us with further evidence that Jesus really is who He says He is—the Son of God! If Jesus is the Son of God, it is very important we listen to what He says. Part of that is knowing what He says, which you are beginning to learn by completing this 30-day challenge. You’re over halfway through, congratulations! Today, come up with a plan of how you will finish strong. What time of day will you do your readings? Will you take on the Deeper Waters challenges some days?

Deeper Waters:

Read Mark 9:11-13. “Elijah” here refers to John the Baptist. Read Mark 6:14-29 to see how they “did to him whatever they pleased” (Mark 9:13). Do you think John the Baptist (called “Elijah” in Mark 9) had counted the cost of following Jesus? Was it worth it?