Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “BLEACHED BRIGHT” for Tuesday, 19 July 2016 with Scripture: Mark 9:2-13

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “BLEACHED BRIGHT” for Tuesday, 19 July 2016 with Scripture: Mark 9:2 Six days later, Yeshua took Kefa, Ya‘akov and Yochanan and led them up a high mountain privately. As they watched, he began to change form, 3 and his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than anyone in the world could possibly bleach them. 4 Then they saw Eliyahu and Moshe speaking with Yeshua. 5 Kefa said to Yeshua, “It’s good that we’re here, Rabbi! Let’s put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moshe and one for Eliyahu.” 6 (He didn’t know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud enveloped them; and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Yeshua.
9 As they came down the mountain, he warned them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves; but they continued asking each other, “What is this ‘rising from the dead’?” 11 They also asked him, “Why do the Torah-teachers say that Eliyahu has to come first?” 12 “Eliyahu will indeed come first,” he answered, “and he will restore everything. Nevertheless, why is it written in the Tanakh that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 There’s more to it: I tell you that Eliyahu has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as the Tanakh says about him.”
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There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.[Mark 9:2-3 (NIV)]
My great-grandmother Eliza Jane emigrated from Ireland in 1888. She had five children, but only two lived to adulthood. In 1901, her husband, James, died of smallpox. Life was difficult for Eliza Jane. The only work she could find to support herself and her children was housework — washing clothes, cleaning windows, mopping floors, beating rugs — for wealthy families. My Aunt Margaret, her eldest child, said that no one anywhere could bleach sheets and linens like Eliza Jane. When she cleaned and bleached white sheets, they were almost too bright to look at.
Now when I read the story of Jesus’ transfiguration, I think of Eliza Jane. Jesus is on the mountain with his dearest friends. His appearance and clothing are changed; he glows in glorious light — almost too bright to look at. And God speaks out of a cloud, affirming love for Jesus.
When we spend time studying scripture, a noticeable change comes over us as well. God’s love can shine through our troubles, and we can carry that assurance to others by sharing our experiences of God’s transforming love.
The Author: John Fischer (Washington, USA)
Thought for the Day: God’s love makes us light for the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, make us bright with the light of your love and compassion so that we may share your love with others. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE WHO CLEANS HOUSES FOR A LIVING

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