I want to begin by briefly reminding readers that you don't have to have a "blogger" account to make a comment. All you have to do is choose to comment as an anonymous person and then, if you would be so kind, just sign your name to the bottom of your comment. A few folks had questions about this. On the comments page just scroll down to "post comment as" and then select "anonymous." You will have to then "de-code" a secret word, which will make you feel like a secret agent - enjoy that experience - and then you can publish your comment. It's really not that hard. Feel free to do a practice comment, just for fun. Comment with something like, "wow this is easy, I'll see you all on Sunday!" or something less cheesy. Alright...enough.
I want to have more Sunday morning classes like last Sunday's class! We really ripped into the text and talked about some powerful things. It never ceases to amaze me how deep a conversation can go when we read texts communally. This reveals, once again, the communal aspect of our spiritual lives. God speaks to us the loudest, I think, in community. Let's do that again.
We opened with the story in Mark 9 about Jesus' moment of transfiguration. It is, we all agreed, a rather odd story. Jesus selects a few from the disciples and heads up this really high mountain where he suddenly transfigures before their eyes. His clothes are dazzling white and then Moses and Elijah are there. Peter speaks up and says, "It is good for us to be here! let's put up some tents for the three of you chaps!" and then God speaks up, "This is my son, who I live, listen to him" and then everyone is gone. Then they turn and walk right down from this mountain into a rather messy valley experience.
This story, like many stories in scripture, works in many layers...
-this story shows the ultimate authority of Christ. Elijah and Moses were some really well thought of guys, to say the least. They were powerful prophets and all believers held them in the highest esteem. On one level this story shows God selecting Jesus out of this crowd. Joshy Stump commented that God spoke up right after Peter wanted to build tents for the three of them, which was the wrong attitude. As Joshy said, "if there were going to build any tents, there would have been just one tent!" This story shows the ultimate authority of Christ.
-This story also reveals that, indeed, Jesus is God's own son. This is important when you consider what all is about to happen to Jesus. This is a reminder of who Jesus really is.
-This story shows that Jesus picks some leaders from among his leaders. This is a sub-plot, to be sure, but an important one, especially for us as we begin to pick some leaders (elders) from among our church leaders.
-And then we focused on the fact that Jesus rejects Peter's desire to stay on the mountain. Peter obviously thought the mountain was some sort of an arrival point...nope. It was a sending point. The mountain was not a place they were gathered to, it's a place they were sent from time.
Jesus does not want to dwell on the mountain. Rather, he heads right down into the valley, where things are messy. We noted that this move is actually a very Godly move. God is, in his very nature, incarnational. God goes out to his creation. This is a very important idea in scripture.
The very first commandment, or perhaps mission, that God gives humans is way back in Genesis 1 when he asks them to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. Remember, oh please remember because I feel like we constantly forget, people are created in the image of God. "In the image of God he created him, both male and female he created them." Men and women (everyone) is created in God's image. As our song goes, "and every person of every race is a variation on our savior's face."
So...
God want's to fill the earth with his image. This is our big mission as believers, as image bearers, of God. This is what God wants from us as his people. Fill the earth with the image of God. In the book of Revelation we have a picture of the end when, what!, the whole earth is filled with the glory of God! This the where the world is going to...filled, absolutely filled with the image, the glory, the fullness, of God. And we get to do that. God has been calling his people to join him in this mission through all of scripture. Genesis 12, Exodus, Luke 10, Matthew 28, Mark 16, Acts, Ephesians...and so many more are stories and invitations to fill the earth with the image of God. This is the big mission. This is our main task!
But...
This does not happen by staying on a mountain. This happens by going down into the valley. Filling places where God is not seen with the image of God. Jesus does not remain on the mountain, rather he goes down into the valley. We, as God's image bearers, must not remain on the mountain (or in our churches...for that matter!) we must bring the image of God into all the world.
Whew! You can see it was a thick class. We talked about how this applies to the journey we find ourselves in these days with the possible sale of our building coming up. This is a move of faith! But it is scary. Noticing that God blesses his people when they follow him off of the mountain and into the valley is vital for us at this time.
Reflections?
Hopes?
Encouragements?
I can honestly say that you really got me thinking about we are made in God's image. That sentence always sounds so strange to me...I mean think about it..God's image...I am nothing like God...I mean I am not perfect in any way shape or form..But in God's eyes I AM!!! I am perfectly created by Him. I only pray that my life gives Him all the glory and honor He deserves but sadly I am sure it doesn't as I am a sinner. But the nice thig is that He knows my heart and He knows I truly want to be in His image in all factors. Thanks for making think Aaron. As alwyas, I truly enjoyed your class and sermon. You are such a blessing to the family of Westide. Have a great week!!!
ReplyDeleteJennifer L.
Sorry about the typos....next time I will preview before I post
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your heart felt post. Worry not about typos (I certainly don't!) the important thing is that you express yourself and add to the conversation.
It is always a foreign idea to me as well to notice that we are created in God's image. I, like you, am quick to think otherwise. And yet, this is central to the creation story, it's kind of the apex of the whole story. And it's central to the whole story of the bible. You, Jennifer, are created in God's image and when you live that out the earth is filled with His image. As you said you are perfectly created by him...and I would add you are created for him and for the good of this earth.
You are a blessing to this family at Westside. Thanks for all you bring.
Aaron
Well thank you Aaron....I was truly moved by your comments. It is hard for me to remember that I am perfectly created by Him because sometimes I feel like such a failure and that I am so displeasing to Him but I must....I am thankful for being created the way I am...I guess I wouldn't be me if I was created like you huh?
ReplyDeleteI look forward to what we will get into this Sunday and what kind of things I will think about over the week.
Sunday was a wonderful and very emotional service for me. One minute I was smiling and then the next I was crying with the tears burning my eyes from trying so hard not to cry...
It is always good to be moved in the worship service even if it is being moved to tears....it's all for a reason and for the people we love right? Or maybe because I am just a whimp...LOL...that too I think
Sorry, that last comment was from Jennifer L. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about Jesus coming off the mountain since the sunday before; of the absolute determination/will in that act. The imagery of Jesus turning his face made me think of God turning his face and the determination in the complete understanding of difficulty; to do what must be done. So often we bask in the images of hiding in the cleft, or under the shadow of his wings, or beneath his right hand. I wonder if when we say God is our rock, he is the rock we hide behind, instead of a source of strength and confidence. I'm pretty sure I have carved a nice little reading nook into that rock I hide behind.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if that really is such a bad thing...to use God as our protector...I often hide under His wings...I feel safe there in an unsafe world...He is our comforter. So, I may be joining you in that little nook....
ReplyDeleteJennifer L.
On a similar note, I feel like leaving the mountain top as a church body is a much less terrifying idea than doing it alone. Almost like it's a strange combination of hiding beneath the shadow of his wings (because when we're together we are very much also with God) and ALSO venturing down from the mountain in a frightening experience of sharing his glory. At least we're together... :)
ReplyDeleteI like what both of you are saying, Jennifer and Chelan.
ReplyDeleteIt has me thinking about the idea that we are not going where God cannot go, nor where God is not already many times. His wings are wide, and his Spirit indwelling. Of course, my underdeveloped vision would have me stay in places more familiar, because I cannot see where he is, or has been straightening the path before me.
Perhaps I need to think more along the lines of what you are saying, Chelan, taking more of the familiar with me and in more tangible ways; and how that would look outside of a building or a family group living room.
As much as I want to be safe, I do not want to be irrelevant.
You know, the more I think about it we can't take Christ out of Westside. I have been at Westside I think almost 18 years. And to me Westside is a "feeling". I will take it with me to the unfamiliar. I believe that God calls us to come out of ourselves and that in turn means come out of our comfort zones as well. It may not be easy. But with faith we can do anything
ReplyDeleteI know God will bless us where ever we end up and whatever building we are blessed to find. He will always choose us and we must choose Him and He will be with us every step of this journey and beyond. God is good all the time...all the time God is good
I keep forgetting to put my name on here after I comment. The last anonymous comment was from Jennifer L.
ReplyDelete