I stood in a dense desolate place called Caesarea Philippi where the Messiah made his move on his final journey to Jerusalem. A poignant moment to remember is the question posed to the followers and to you reading this Word from God. Luke 9:20 "Who do You say that I am?" It was Peter who answered for his eleven disciples. Quickly, He spoke: You are the Christ! In a couple of days, Peter will quickly transpose those words, He is not the Christ. Fickle just like you and me.
And who do the crowds say He is? The crowds had already begun listening to the smear campaign launched by high priests and noble rulers against the Messiah Who was no longer the One of their dreams. No one in the town responds that He is the Christ. Just this day I was criticized unfairly and I limped through the day with hurt feelings. But this vindictive crusade accused Jesus of being Beelzebul, a wine drinker, a glutton, a sinner, a Sabbath breaker, a deceiver, a friend of sinners. Nothing good could come out of Galilee. He was a man "beside Himself" claiming to be a King, Mark 3:21.
The crowds do not even acknowledge Him as their coming Messiah anymore.
And in this desolate place in the foothills of Mount Hernon,
Jesus said to all: If you are going to come after Me...
Deny self
Take up your cross Daily
and follow Me.
So what does that look like in your life?
200 million born in Jesus day.
We know of about 10,000 who would follow Him.
6.9 billion alive today.
We know of about 2.1 billion Christians this day.
Who is this Christ?
Who do you say that He is?
He is the Messiah of My Dreams,
not that everything works out and that I understand,
but I trust the Unseen One with tiny grains of faith, even when I don't understand
like now.
,
I've heard the story of Jesus's transfiguration since I was a little girl. Never really invoked emotion until I read this morning.
ReplyDelete"And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white."
And then to hear God's audible Voice...This is My Son. Listen to Him.
These are three who saw things as they really are--not dimly foreshadows as in a mirror but Face to face.
Hey Annette,
ReplyDelete~~~~ "Listen to Him" ~~~~
Nothing matters more, does it?
Thinking of you this morning. You could have become a self-made woman for you have so many talents. But no, you have come to Him for Love and Life. You are a Living Letter! Love you so!
Nothing matters more--You are so right and even in this hour I need to be reminded again. I don't want to be about the here and now-although the work we've been given is important. I want that eternal perspective that you so graciously bring to me each day, Bev. Love you!
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