How to Lead Like Jesus

Mark 8:27-9:8

Do you ever find yourself identifying with Peter?  I sure do. In these few verses, he goes from showing a deep understanding of who Jesus is ("You are the Christ" in verse 29) to being rebuked by Jesus for his lack of understanding ("Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" in verse 33).

 And in the next chapter, he is overwhelmed by Jesus' transfiguration and he inappropriately suggests that the disciples ought to build shelters for Elijah, Moses and Jesus (9:5) - again, he is missing the point of what Jesus wants them to see.

I take heart in Peter's mistakes, because I make them every day. I want to follow Jesus - I long to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs his love and forgiveness. But I often find myself thinking, just as Peter did, that I have better ideas than Jesus does.....

Jesus tells us that the life he offers us is not the same as the way the world works:

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  Mark 8:34-36

How did Jesus lead? He washed his disciples' feet. He broke bread with sinners - prostitutes, tax collectors, crippled, poor people. He cared about the outcasts, the losers, the refugees. And he asks us to do the same - to take up his cross and follow him. 

Jesus built his church on Peter, who was a sinner just like you and me. He takes us where we are, and he gives us grace, mercy and power to show justice and kindness to our neighbor.  Thanks be to God!

The Woes of Middle Management

For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!

Deuteronomy 31:27

Moses chose some harsh words for his farewell address to the Israelites he had been leading for over forty years. Perhaps justifiably so. The Israelites hadn’t stopped complaining since they left Egypt. They were idolaters who built a golden calf to worship while Moses was off receiving the stone tablets of God’s covenant law (Exodus 32). They were rebels constantly attacking Moses’s leadership, even taking up the cause of Korah after God miraculously opened the mouth of the earth to swallow him and his fellow rebels alive (Numbers 16). 

Yes, Moses had his reasons to rebuke the Israelites, but let’s dig deeper into the context, shall we? 

You see, Moses was only middle management. God was in charge, and Moses had just come from the tent of meeting where he and Joshua had been summoned to hear the will of the boss. God, speaking in a pillar of cloud, expressed the same sentiment toward the Israelites that Moses parrotted and then commissioned Joshua as their new leader, for God was about to bring the Israelites into the promised land. By God’s will, Moses would never experience it. He would only view the promised land from a nearby mountain just before his death. Why? Moses was being punished for his own rebellion against God (Numbers 20).

On that day, Moses was both the recipient and proclaimer of God’s righteous judgment. He climbed Mount Nebo and died, never to be heard from again … 

Until the transfiguration! There, again atop a mountain, Moses beheld one whose face shone like the sun, whose clothes were white as light (Matthew 17). Moses never entered the promised land, but he talked with the promised one, the perfect lamb of God, the Messiah who through his death and resurrection would free us all from God’s righteous judgment.

We have heard people speak of amazing times in their lives as being 'mountain top experiences'.  They are referring to those occasions when the most wonderful time was had; when the adventure just past couldn't have been planned more wonderfully.  It is those occasions we will try over and over again to duplicate, but, to no avail.

Mark 9:2-4 (NIV) 
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus." 

The saying, 'mountain top experience' has to have its origin in the Scripture reading for today, when Christ was transfigured right before their eyes. Peter was enjoying the moment so much he wanted to build a house right there and live on the mountain top.  

I have had an experience or two where I felt it could never be topped.  There would never be another moment in time when I felt as I did this very minute. But God keeps working His wonders in my life daily.

I am coming to recognize those special events in my life don't need all the drum-roll or fanfare.  Amazing things happen every day when we truly walk with Jesus.  When our eyes and hearts are open to all that He is doing in and around us we can recognize special moments daily.  God is in the little things.  God provides the little things to give us great joy.

Read Mark 9:2-13 here

Listen to Mark 9:2-13 here

The Story - Chapter 25 - Jesus, The Son of God

Mark 8:36-37 (NIV) 
^"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" 

There was a popular television game show many years ago called Truth or Consequences.  It was a silly program, made to entertain us.  A question was posed to the contestants and when they didn't answer it correctly there were consequences.  It was all in fun, and there were valuable prizes for winners.

Consequences are a part of life and we face them daily.  If I don't eat and properly and exercise regularly I cannot expect to stay healthy.  A student who parties more than studies will not get good grades.  You get the idea.  Jesus is showing us by His Words that all of life is filled with consequences, and not all are bad.  The word only means result of.  When we perform positively the results are good.

Our behavior, our actions do matter.  Jesus came to teach us how to be happy, how to have peace and joy in this world and the next.  He did not come to give us instructions on how to live effortlessly.  His purpose was not to tell us that everything was going to feel good.  No, He came to be an example to us.  His life was meant to point us to eternal life, His death was meant to redeem us from this world.

Life will not be easy for a follower of Jesus.  Just because we believe does not mean we are saved from trouble or grief or pain.  It means these troubles or momentary and the rewards are eternal.  If we keep reading and praying and it will all make sense soon.

Read Mark 8:27-9:1

Listen to Mark 8:27-9:1

A Mountain-top Experience - Luke 9:28-36

The word transfiguration refers to a marked change in form or appearance; a metamorphosis; a change that glorifies or exalts.  It must have been some mountain top experience for Jesus' inner circle of men.  While reading this section of scripture captures the imagination and provides a visual of brilliance and stunning beauty, I can't help but wonder what Peter, James and John were really thinking.

Peter doesn't want to forget the moment, he is ready to build three shelters so Jesus, Moses and Elijah and stick around for a while.  Perhaps Peter is starting to understand all Jesus has been saying to them.  Just maybe this was truly a light-bulb moment and he knows Jesus will soon be gone, so he is prepared to do what it takes to keep him around longer.

"While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then there was a voice out of the cloud: "This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him."

 When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus there alone. They were speechless. And they continued speechless, said not one thing to anyone during those days of what they had seen." (Luke 9:34-36)

This story brings to mind so many different lessons, but they all point to Jesus.  Jesus will change our lives.  Jesus will transform our hearts.  Jesus will fill us with such light and joy and hope that we will want to pitch a tent on a mountain top just to stay close to Him.

Read the Luke 9:28-36 text here or listen to a reading here.

Change, Oh, it hurts! Matthew 17:1-13

My family has had quite a bit of conversation recently about change.  We asked questions like "Why all this change now?" and "Why does change always seem to come just when we were getting comfortable?"  The word transfiguration means change.  It also is defined as: altered, modernized, updated, and more.  

 Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him. (Matthew 17:1-3)

I had not written this piece before I went to sleep last night because I knew from experience, that God would wake me up early, with an idea.  He reminded me of the talks my husband and I have had about death and about what happens after we die. We dreamed of the new body Jesus would be giving each of us when we get to heaven.  We also envisioned the dazzling white clothes we could be wearing.

Jesus brought Peter, James and John up the mountain with Him to witness this change and to help them understand just who He is.  Jesus is walking Dave (my husband) and I up this same mountain so that we too can more fully understand who He is.

I will never read the passage about the Transfiguration of Jesus again, without remembering this season in my life.  What change does this story remind you of? What season of 'transfiguration" has God usher into your life to help you see Him more clearly? Will you share about it with us?

To read this text today in the Message go here. 

Peter Experiences the Transfiguration -- Mark 9:2-13

I remember reading a classic in High School called, Great Expectations. Our class spent weeks pouring over this story and tearing it apart, analyzing the work in an attempt to identify what made this writing so unique and special. I felt the same anticipation reading the scripture about the Transfiguration.

I am sure the phrase "Mountain Top Experience" refers to the experience Peter, James and John had when Jesus brought them with Him up a mountain for some alone time. Don't you find it interesting to note Jesus wanted to share this adventure with only these close friends, His inner circle? I know Jesus doesn't play favorites, but He does know the big picture and acts accordingly.

So much is going on in this scene. First the four of them are all alone. Then they are joined by Elijah and Moses. Then the cloud appeared, (it was a bright sunny cloudless day), enveloped them and a voice spoke, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!” (Mark 9:7). Just as suddenly, they were alone again.

Whew – makes me dizzy just imagining how the three disciples felt. Listen to Him jumped off the page for me.  What is it about this text that grabs your attention?  Which line is your 'take-away' today?

To read all the text for today go to Biblegateway and Mark 9. To return to this posting hit the back arrow.

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