Scripture

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ”This is my beloved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

Observation

Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain to be alone. Jesus’ appearance is transformed, and His face shines like the sun. Moses and Elijah also appear.

Peter wants to build some shelters as memorials, but a cloud overshadows them and the Father speaks from the cloud. “This is my beloved Son.”

The disciple fall to the ground in fear. Jesus comes and touches them. He then tells them not to tell anyone about this event.

Application

This event, especially the voice of the Father speaking from the cloud, was overwhelming for the disciples. They were terrified, although they should have known that Jesus would keep them safe .

Sometimes getting a revelation from God can be very terrifying. We often think of the Holy Spirit as being gentle like a dove, and He is. But sometimes He manifests as a wild wind and tongues of fire.

I remember one lady who came to me and said that she had had an encounter with the Lord in which she experienced his wrath. Even though she had been serving the Lord for many years,it was in her own strength, and not from submission to God.

We need to be open to what the Lord wants to show us and teach us. Sometimes that will stir up unpleasant emotions, but it will always be good for us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please reveal your true nature to me as you did for the disciples on on the Mount of Transfiguration. Amen.

Scripture

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”

Observation

Jesus begins to tell His disciples that he is going to Jerusalem to be crucified, but on the third day he will rise again. Peter rebukes Jesus, but Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind me satan!”

Jesus tells His disciples that following Him means to turn away from our sins and to take up our cross. If we try to hold onto our life, we will lose it, but if we give it up for his sake, we will save it.

Jesus is coming to judge all people according to their deeds. Some standing there will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.

Application

To be a follower of Jesus means that we must die to ourselves.

Firstly, we have to turn away from our selfish ways. We can’t be a follower of Jesus on our own terms. We must be prepared to change our way of life to conform to Him.

Secondly, we have to take up our cross. That means literally dying. The only people who took up crosses in Jesus’ day were condemned criminals on their way to a nasty death.

To take up our cross means that we let go of every form of ownership, every ambition, every plan. Jesus owns it all. This is very liberating.

Finally, we are to follow Jesus. This is the positive aspect of repentance.. We exchange self-serving for Jesus-serving, selfishness for love, and so on. We learn to live as Jesus lived, applying every action and word of Jesus in the gospels to our own life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, there is no way I can do this by myself. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who makes it possible to live for you. Amen.

Scripture

“Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

Observation

Jesus and his disciples come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asks them, “Who do people say I am?” They reply that some say John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the other prophets.

Then Jesus asks them, “Who do you say I am?” Simon answers, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus goes on to say that on the rock of this confession, He will build His church, and the powers of hell will never overcome it.

Application

Ever since Jesus was born, satan has been trying to destroy the church. He tried to kill Jesus as a baby, then at the cross. He tried to kill the disciples. All through the centuries, and all around the world, the church is under constant attack.

Yet all of the power of evil cannot overcome it.

Although the church is struggling in the West, miracles are happening all around the world. Much of sub-Saharan Africa is now dominated by Christianity. the Islamic Republic of Iran is experiencing mass salvations. In China, where persecution has been happening since 1947, it is estimated that 30% of the population is christian.

Although the New Living Translation has it that that hell will not conquer the church, the original wording is that the gates of hell cannot overcome the church. In other words, hell is on the defensive and cannot withstand the power of the gospel.

Many people despise the church and sneer at the gospel. But many, many more people are being saved everyday.

We need to pray daily for our neighbours, friends, and family members to be saved.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you that victory is yours. The gates of hell will never withstand the power of your people under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Scripture

“Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Observation

The Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus and demand a sign. Jesus condemns them for this, and says the only sign they will get is the sign of Jonah.

When Jesus is alone with the disciples, He warns them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They think He is talking about physical bread, but Jesus reminds them of the two miracles where he fed 5000 and then 4000 men.

Finally, the disciples understand that He is talking about the deceptive teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Application

The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees refers to the teachings of these groups that are still in the church.

The Pharisees are well known for their insistence on obedience to the letter of the law. They had rules and interpretations that covered every aspect of life. They were legalists who taught that salvation comes from following the rule.

The Sadducees were the more worldly-wise “don’t rock the boat” types. They co-operated with the ruling authorities to maintain their position of privilege. They are like the people and churches who are “affirming” of of the LGBT ideology to avoid offending anyone.

The yeast reminds us that it only takes a small quantity of these teachings to corrupt the whole loaf.

The correct response is not to get carried away with heresy hunting. No, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus alone. He is our salvation, our strength, our wisdom.

Prayer

Lord, please remove from me all forms of legalism and compromise. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Amen.

Scripture

The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel.

Observation

Jesus returns to the sea of Galilee. a huge crowd brings all kinds of sick people, and he heals them all. The crowd is amazed, and everyone praise is the God of Israel.

Then Jesus calls his disciples and tells them they need to feed the crowd. The disciples seem to have forgotten the feeding of the 5000, and they wonder where they would get the food from.

This time, Jesus feeds 4000 men, plus women and children. And then he gets into a boat and crosses the lake.

Application

Jesus is still in an area largely populated with Gentiles. The point of the healings and the feeding of the 4000 is to show that Jesus’s ministry is available to all people and not just the Jews.

This was a point that the disciples found hard to accept. When we read the book of Acts, it seems that the Lord had to work hard at getting them to preach to Gentiles and beyond the comfortable surroundings of Israel.

In this passage, many people were healed of many illnesses, and the crowds “praised the God of Israel!”

We praise the God of Israel because He has saved us through Jesus’ death on the cross. We praise the God of Israel because physical and emotional healing is available.

We praise the God of Israel because He shown that He is the God of the whole world.

Prayer

Lord God, I praise you for saving a sinner like me. Amen.

Scripture

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her,“your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Observation

A gentile woman comes to Jesus, begging him to heal her demon possessed daughter. Jesus gives her no reply, and the disciples urge Jesus to send her away.

Jesus tells her that He was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel and that it’s not right to take the children’s food to feed the dogs.

The woman replies that even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table.

Jesus is impressed by her faith and declares that her daughter is healed.

Application

Jesus has a way of drawing faith from people. Here, He seems to be ignoring the woman and then, when He does speak to her, it seems that He is pushing her away.

But what He is really doing is causing her to press in more and to express that seed of faith more determinedly.

In the end, Jesus heals the girl, but tell her that her faith is great.

Unlike the disciples who have little faith, or faith as small as a mustard seed, this gentile woman has great faith.

While it is impossible for us to measure faith, God obviously can. We can have a little faith, a measure of faith, great faith.

The issue is this: how much can I trust God for? Am I willing to yield my family, my job, my house, my possessions over to God and trust Him for the result?

Prayer

Lord, I believe you. I trust you. Please help me to grow to great faith. Amen

Scripture

” Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak are from the heart – that is what defiles you.”

Observation

Some Pharisees and teachers of the law come to Jesus and ask why he violates their traditions regarding hand washing before eating. Jesus turns the question back on them. While the law teaches us to honour our parents, they teach that they can sidestep the law by offering to the priests what they would have given to the parents .

Jesus then tells that it is not what goes into their mouths that makes them unclean, but what comes out of their mouths. What we eat passes through our body, but the words that come from our mouths reveal what is in the heart. and those sinful words and thoughts lead to a catalogue of sin .

Application

The words that we speak reveal what is in our hearts. We can do all kinds of religious activities, but if our hearts remain unclean, then we are not acceptable to God.

There are many people in churches who have not given their hearts to the Lord. There are many pastors who have never surrendered to God.

It doesn’t matter how good you are on the outside, it is the state of your heart that God looks at.

Our words will indicate where our heart is at. In that sense, our words render us unclean before the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, please cleanse my heart from every sinful desire or tendency. I surrender my life to you. Make of me what you desire. Amen.

Scripture

Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid”, he said. “Take courage. I am here.”

Observation

Jesus sends the disciples back across the lake in a boat. Jesus goes up to the hills to pray.

A strong wind arises on the lake, and the disciples are afraid. About 3 o’clock in the morning, they see Jesus walking on the water towards them.

Jesus calls to them to reassure them that He is not a ghost. Peter calls to him,“Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

So Peter walks to Jesus on the water. When they get back in the boat, the storm calms.

Application

In the gospels, boats can often be seen as a symbol of the church. Here, the boat is being assaulted from every direction by wind and waves. To get to Jesus, Peter does something brave and unexpected – he leaves the safety of the boat and steps into the storm.

Sometimes, to find Jesus we have to temporarily leave our comfortable safe place, to go in faith to be with Him.

The test that Peter put out is brave. “Lord, if it is really you command me to come and walk on the water.”

Traditionally, we use safe tests of God’s will. But here, Peter lays his life on the line to know Jesus.

Finally, we have the words of Jesus: “Take courage. I am here.”

Whenever we are afraid or feeling under great pressure, we need to listen to Jesus. Peace comes from hearing the voice of the Lord.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that you meet us in stormy places, in scary places. Please help me to look to you, my Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Scripture

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up towards heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.

Observation

When Jesus hears the news about John the Baptist’s death, he crosses the lake in a boat to be alone. But a huge crowd follows him on foot. Jesus is full of compassion so he heals their sick.

The disciples become concerned about feeding the people. They tell Jesus to send them away so they can buy food. But Jesus tells the disciples to feed the people.

Jesus takes five loaves and two fish; He blesses them and breaks them before passing them to the disciples to distribute.

Everyone has enough to eat and there is far more left over than they started with.

Application

I am fascinated by this story of God’s provision for people. They had just one boy’s lunch, and Jesus gave them enough to eat – 5000 men plus women and children- and an abundance of leftovers.

In my experience, God is not stingy in his provision. When we focus on serving Him and obeying His word, He gives us more than enough. I have experienced this for many years. There have been times where we have had just enough, but there have been times when we have had an abundance. Even in the tough times, we always managed to be generous to others and tithe to our oversight We used to say that if you kept the money moving fast enough, you never noticed that there was not enough to go around

God is mighty in provision

Prayer

Thank you Lord for providing not just what I need, but enough to share with others as well. Amen.

Scripture

So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

Observation

Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, hears about the miracles Jesus is doing. He thinks that He is John the Baptist come back to life.

Sometime earlier, Herod had arrested and imprisoned John because John had been telling him that it was against God’s law for Herod to marry Herodias. At a party for Herod’s birthday, Herodias’s daughter had performed a dance for which Herod promised to give her anything she wanted. She demanded John the Baptist’s head brought to her on a tray. So John was beheaded. His head was taken on a tray to Herodias’s daughter, who gave it to her mother.

Application

The rich and powerful have always wielded control over people’s lives and punished those who criticise them.

These days, their power is more subtle than in the past. People are cancelled from social media or their jobs for expressing the wrong opinion.

Christians must not be afraid to speak the truth, regardless of the threat of reprisals. We must always speak the truth in love, but we must speak it anyway.

In his book, “Letter to the American Church,” Eric Metaxas writes that the Nazis were able to wield power ruthlessly because pastors and other Christians were afraid to speak up.

In our day, Western civilisation is rapidly falling apart, and Christians have a duty to confront evil and promote God’s righteousness.

Prayer

Father, thank you for the testimony of Christians through the ages who have stood up for truth at the expense of their own lives. Please give me that kind of courage. Amen.