San Diego First United Methodist Church’s Daily Devotion for
Monday, 24 February 2014 – Sunday 2 March 2014 - Sermon theme for coming
Sunday: Designed by Jesus - Transfiguration
Text to read: Matthew 17: 1 After six days, Jesus took with him
Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by
themselves. 2 He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and
his garments became as white as the light. 3 Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared
to them talking with him.
4 Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to
be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses,
and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and
were very afraid. 7 Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be
afraid.” 8 Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.
14 When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling
down to him, saying,
18 Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was
cured from that hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why
weren’t we able to cast it out?”
20 He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most
certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will
tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing
will be impossible for you.
--------
John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary for
Matthew 17:1-8, 14, 18-20
Verse 1. A high mountain - Probably Mount Tabor. Mark ix, 2;
Luke ix, 28.
Verse 2. And was transfigured - Or transformed. The indwelling
Deity darted out its rays through the veil of the flesh; and that with such
transcendent splendour, that he no longer bore the form of a servant. His face
shone with Divine majesty, like the sun in its strength; and all his body was
so irradiated by it, that his clothes could not conceal its glory, but became
white and glittering as the very light, with which he covered himself as with a
garment.
Verse 3. There appeared Moses and Elijah - Here for the full
confirmation of their faith in Jesus, Moses, the giver of the law, Elijah, the
most zealous of all the prophets, and God speaking from heaven, all bore
witness to him.
Verse 4. Let us make three tents - The words of rapturous
surprise. He says three, not six: because the apostles desired to be with their
Master.
Verse 5. Hear ye him - As superior even to Moses and the
prophets. See Deut. xviii, 17.
Verse 7. Be not afraid - And doubtless the same moment he gave
them courage and strength.
Verse 14. Mark ix, 14; Luke xi, 37.
Verse 20. Because of your unbelief - Because in this particular
they had not faith. If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed - That is, the
least measure of it. But it is certain, the faith which is here spoken of does
not always imply saving faith. Many have had it who thereby cast out devils,
and yet will at last have their portion with them. It is only a supernatural
persuasion given a man, that God will work thus by him at that hour. Now,
though I have all this faith so as to remove mountains, yet if I have not the
faith which worketh by love, I am nothing. To remove mountains was a proverbial
phrase among the Jews, and is still retained in their writings, to express a
thing which is very difficult, and to appearance impossible. Matt. xxi, 21; Luke
xvii, 6.
-------
Monday – Are there times when you wish God would "do
something"?
Describe those moments.
Tuesday – In reading the text, why does Jesus tell his disciples
to keep things a secret?
Wednesday – What is Peter's request all about?
Why does he want to enshrine the transfiguration?
Thursday – Where is God moving in ways that we do not recognize
it? (No...this is not a trick question!)
Friday - Why does Jesus not end his ministry here?
Why go down the mountain?
Saturday – When Jesus returns from the mountain, what does he
find waiting for him?
What does this mean?
Sunday – Pray for all those who live at the bottom of the
"mountain".
-------
First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment