Listen to Him!

View of the historical Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, Israel

I learned on my tour of Israel, that once a place is holy it is always holy. The church above was built over the place of the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mt. Tabor. Eight days after Jesus told His disciples about the coming of His suffering and crucifixion, He took Peter, James and John up this mountain. As He prayed, His face and appearance changed. His clothes became as bright as lightning. Moses and Elijah showed up and talked to Jesus about His departure. The Bible says in Luke 9:32, “Peter and his companions were very sleepy.” How could they be sleepy? What did it take to wake them up? They saw three men in glory. When Moses and Elijah began to leave, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here,” and he offered to build shelters for each of the three men. While he was talking, a cloud covered them and the disciples were afraid. A voice spoke from the cloud. “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him” (Luke 9:35).

Peter, James and John were Jesus’ closest friends. They saw Him heal the sick and raise the dead. They were with Him when He preached the Sermon on the Mount and when He fed 5,000 with 5 loaves. Yet, they were human. How can I criticize them? I have the Bible and lots of commentaries to help me understand the Scriptures. The disciples were eyewitnesses. Things happened all around them. Powerful events came and went in a moment. They had to pay attention or miss the miracles. Jesus’ time with them was coming to an end, and they didn’t realize it. The Father said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”

The message is the same for us. It’s important for us to pay attention when we read the Bible, to ask questions, to apply the truth to our lives–truth about God’s amazing love, mercy, forgiveness, blessing, and judgement. Sorry I had to put that last word in there, but judgement is coming. It will come in the twinkling of an eye like a thief in the night. Will you be ready? Turn your eyes upon Jesus, say His name, experience His love. Abundant life awaits you–life now and forever.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your word. We can read it over and over and learn something new every time we read it. Help us to pay attention and listen to what you have to say to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Church that Lost its First Love

EPHESUS, TURKEY – APRIL 26, 2018: Ruins of the library of Cicero in Ephesus.

Paul met with a clash of deities when he took the Gospel of Christ to Ephesus. Ephesus was a center for black magic, the occult and idolatry. It is the home of the great temple of Artemis, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Artemis was the goddess of the hunt and fertility. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto; the twin sister of Apollo. Her worship involved temple prostitution and wild orgies. Demetrius, the silversmith who created statues and shrines of Artemis, instigated a riot against Paul when he preached against man-made gods.

Located on the east coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea, Ephesus was the home of a great library (the ruins are pictured above) and a huge amphitheater that seated 24,000. Timothy led the first century church there and the Apostle John lived and died there after he fulfilled his sentence at Patmos. Ephesus was one of the seven churches John wrote to in the book of Revelation. This is what he said: “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:2-5).

How did the Ephesians fall so far from their first love? I believe it was because of the city with its many attractions, both commercial and religious. Everyone seemed to worship the gods of the times. They probably enjoyed the wild parties inside the temple. It was the accepted thing to do. But it was not God’s way, and God’s way clashed with many things in Ephesus. Paul, Timothy and John established the early church there, and because they did, we have the gospel of Christ today.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord for Paul, Timothy and John, who were faithful preachers and teachers of your word. Open our eyes and our hearts to the truth established through their hard work and ministry. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

New Beginnings

Sea of Galilee

Peter, James, John, Nathanael and Thomas were together by the Sea of Galilee. I can only imagine the confusion in their hearts. They had been in the upper room with Jesus. He washed their feet, which they thought was strange. Why would He do that? He shared the Passover meal with them; then the bread and wine. He said to remember Him when they did this in the future. After supper they went to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. They fell asleep but were awakened by a crowd carrying swords and clubs. The guards arrested Jesus and took Him away (Matthew 26:47-56).

They beat Jesus, mocked, and tried Him. They put a cross on Him, which He carried through Jerusalem until a man named Joseph took it and carried it to the hill outside of town. There they crucified Jesus. Except for John, all the disciples left. Peter even denied he knew Jesus. Three days later they huddled in the upper room, afraid of the Jews, but Jesus appeared right in front of them.

They went back to doing what they did before Jesus called them–fishing on the Sea of Galilee. That night they caught nothing. Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize Him.

“Haven’t you any fish?” He called. They answered that they didn’t. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some,” Jesus said. When they did that, they were unable to haul the net into the boat because of the large number of fish.

John said, “It is the Lord.” Peter jumped into the water and swam to shore. The others followed in the boat. Jesus had a fire with some fish and bread on it. “Bring some of the fish you caught,” He said. Peter got into the boat and dragged the net to shore. Even though it carried 153 fish, the net did not break.

After breakfast Jesus commissioned Peter to “Feed my lambs.” It was from this shore that the disciples began their ministry (John 21:1-9). About three thousand were added to the number of believers at Peter’s first evangelistic meeting. Empowered by the Holy Spirit the disciples gave eye-witness testimonies of Jesus and His teachings, and many more believed (Acts 2:40).

Jesus’ friends thought it was the end, but it was the beginning of the adventure of their lives. They would do what Jesus did and more. People were rescued from demons and sickness. The lame walked and the blind saw.

Today we see more signs of the end times, and it can be tempting to give up when times are tough. I encourage you to refocus. Look up to Jesus and not at your problems. Nothing is too big or too little for Him. Nothing is impossible. Let Him love you and give you new life. Let what you thought was the end be a new beginning by trusting God. It’s easy for me to say that because I feel blessed, but a simple prayer like, “Help me, Jesus,” is a powerful prayer for you. Sometimes all we have left is prayer, but prayer is the best and most powerful thing we can do.

Prayer: Holy Father, we live in troubling times. Many have lost homes, health, wealth, or loved ones. Comfort us in our loss. Heal our sickness and make us new in Christ Jesus. Strengthen us for the days to come. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Majestic Mountain

Photo by Roman Pohorecki on Pexels.com

Mount Hermon, a limestone mountain with an elevation over 9,000 feet, is located in northern Israel. Snow-capped the year-round, it has meadows as green as emeralds, clear water ponds and vibrant hills flooded with wild flowers. Thirty miles long with three large peaks, Mount Hermon seems more like a mountain range than a single mountain. Pine forests, fruit and almond orchards cover the lower slopes.

The mountain has been considered sacred for hundreds of years. Archaeologists have surveyed more than twenty temples, many of which seem to be Canaanite or Phoenician cult centers where Baal Shamaim (Lord of the Heavens) might have been worshipped. However, Jesus spent time on this mountain too. He led Peter, James and John here to witness His transfiguration. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes gleamed the purest white. He talked with Moses and Elijah. Peter was so amazed by the experience he volunteered to build three shrines – one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus. While the words were still on his tongue, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice spoke from it. “This is my son whom I love. With him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5). Terrified, the disciples fell on their faces. Jesus reached down and touched them. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. When they looked up, they only saw Jesus.

Peter took time to process what happened and later testified about this experience in his ministry: “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father, when a voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my son whom I love . . .’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:15-18).

Like Peter, I am still processing my journey through Israel and walking closer to God. Whatever trail you are on, take time to ponder, discuss and relive mountain top experiences. Consider how God may want you to use them for His glory.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord for the opportunity to walk in the land where you walked and to see the things you saw. Thank you for opening up your stories so we can see your word more clearly. Send your Holy Spirit on each of us to understand and apply your will in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Capernaum, Jesus’ Hometown

Resting on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee is the fishing town of Capernaum. The name, Capernaum, means Village of Comfort, which seems the perfect place for Jesus to settle. He taught in a synagogue where Jairus was the synagogue leader, and He raised his daughter from death. He healed a woman with a twelve-year medical problem. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law here, and she got up and served Him. He healed a paralyzed man and forgave him of his sins after his friends took him to the roof, uncovered some mud tiles and reeds to let him down in front of Jesus. He delivered a man possessed by demons and healed a Roman centurion’s servant here in Capernaum. Jesus called Philip, Andrew, Peter, James and John to be His disciples in this town.

Jesus claimed Capernaum as His home; not Bethlehem where He was born; not Nazareth where He grew up and not Jerusalem, the religious center of Israel. Although He performed most of His miracles in this place, they didn’t bring about repentance and changed lives. This is where Jesus said, “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades, for if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:20-24).

Although we may wonder why the people did not respond to Jesus’ miracles, His teaching or His amazing love, we can. They did not have the Bible as we have it today. They learned from teachers, like Jesus, who read the Scripture and taught what it meant. We have the great advantage of having the complete Bible to read and study on our own or in church, Sunday school classes or Bible studies.

Prayer: Teach us Father God to be receptive to the truth about who you are and how it can bring meaning to our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.