Our oldest was into the Ripley's Believe It or Not books for a while, so we have a number of them on our bookshelf. And if we are ever in a (tourist) city that hosts one of the Ripley's Believe It or Not museums, you better believe that we make time to meander through the lobby exhibits and read up on people like Robert Pershing Wadlow, world's tallest man at 8 ft. 11 inches (born in February, 1918), or J.T. Saylors (1930's) who could put his bottom lip up over his nose.
But far more amazing than human oddities is the majesty, sovereignty, and power of our Lord. He can do anything, and I stumbled upon a Ripley's Believe It or Not moment in Scripture today.
Ever heard of the 'Transfiguration of Christ'?
Believe it or not, here it is:
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
(2) There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. (The Gospel of Mark adds: His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ~Mark 9:3).
(3) Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. ~Matthew 17:1-3
I'm sorry...say what?
Jesus was transfigured before them (face shining and glowing-white clothes) AND Moses and Elijah showed up?!
I wouldn't even know what to say if I were witnessing that.
Peter didn't either, but (like me) he often spoke, just to fill the silence:
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (6) (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) ~Mark 9:5-6
(5) While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” ~Matthew 17:5
I don't know about you, but when I read that today...when I imagined God saying that...it was bit emotionally overwhelming. What would it be like to hear God tell us that He loves His Son, that He's pleased with Him, and that we should listen to Him?
It almost made me cry.
If you will get-alone with this verse and the "moment" that is occuring within it, you might have a reaction too.
The disciples did:
(6) When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
(7) But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
(8) When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
(9) As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” ~Matthew 17:6-9
~~~
What Jesus knew, but what we might not know, and what the discples definitely did not know...was that Jesus was beginning His journey to Jersalem and the cross. He would soon suffer, die, and then be raised from the dead.
Believe it or not.
Scholars say that "The Tranfiguration" was a little taste of glory to encourage and strengthen Jesus for what He was about to experience, which was the (temporary) loss of His glory...before being restored to glory.
This Believe it or not moment was possibly the "joy" that was "set before" Jesus that then enabled Him to endure the cross. (Bible.org).
Believe it or not.
...looking unto Jesus...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ~Hebrews 12:2
~~~
All of it is almost unbelievable, isn't it? Perhaps that's why Jesus told Peter, James and John to keep it to themselves for a while. And He also told them (again) that soon He would die and be raised from the dead (Matthew 17:9).
Far more amazing than anything we can imagine (or beyond our imagination) is the majesty, sovereignty, and power of our Lord. He can do anything,
Believe it or not.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved ~Acts 16:31
sarah
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com
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