Discipleship and the Transfiguration Luke 9:23-36

This post discusses discipleship and the transfiguration of Jesus.

‘Discipleship and the Transfiguration’ as a post provides two important lessons for Jesus’ disciples, namely how to be a disciple and who to listen to. Jesus continues the training of the disciples for the future trauma of the cross. In these verses, Jesus discusses the requirements of  discipleship, Luke 9:23. “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

When Jesus said earlier that He would be killed, it involved a giant, future reversal from His current fame. Now, Jesus explains that His disciples would also have to experience a reversal by denying themselves. This meant they should die to personal pleasure and goals and, like Jesus, take up their crosses and follow Him. When Jesus went to the cross, He obeyed His heavenly Father. In the same way, His disciples must also obey Jesus.

Therefore, saving of life on earth without obedience to Jesus meant a lost life in eternity.

Losing or submerging personal goals to follow Jesus provides heaven.

So, profiting to the point of gaining the entire world would be a poor trade if one’s soul was lost. Likewise, after the cross, if a disciple showed shame of Jesus’ death or his teachings, he should expect shame from Jesus on the day of judgment.

Jesus’ death and the establishment of the kingdom (church) would come in the near future. Some of the apostles would live until its establishment—see Acts 2.

Then, three disciples saw the transfiguration, a miraculous presentation of glory for Jesus—seeing Jesus’ altered appearance and dazzling clothing. Note that Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus of his departure, namely, His ascension from the earth.

Impressed, Peter wanted to build three booths to honor Jesus, the lawgiver Moses, and the prophet Elijah. The voice of God corrected this mistake, Luke 12:35. “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Then, Jesus, left alone at the end signified Jesus and His words as their guide.

So, what did we learn?

1.Disciples should give up self to serve Jesus.

2.God authenticated listening to Jesus as His Son.

For more on the Bible click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#giveUpSelf #MosesElijah #transfiguration #listenToJesus

Loving God and Jesus John 14:14; 1 John 5:3

This post covers the meaning of loving God and Jesus.

We know about love. We know how to love our mates, our children, and our parents. But how do we love God and Jesus?

Memorial Day exists in the U.S. on the last Monday in May to express appreciation for soldiers who gave their lives in battle.

But do we have a special day for loving God and His Son?

Consider the following, Hebrews 10:25. “…let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Thus, for Christians, a Memorial Day comes on every Sunday.  

In addition, Jesus said in John 14:15; “If you love me, you will keep my commandments…”

So, keeping Christ’s commandments shows we love Him.

In exactly the same way, John’s writings clarifies about loving God, 1 John 5:3. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”

Thus, the primary consideration in loving God and His Son becomes keeping their commandments as recorded in the New Testament.

However, both Jesus and God added a second important rule. Jesus provided this important consideration in John 13:24. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

Likewise, John also recorded this second component to loving God, 1 John 5:20-21. “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

Therefore, loving God and Jesus must also involve loving our brethren.

So, how do we feel about loving our brethren? Do we still harbor dislike or even hatred for some? We must erase these feelings to develop the proper love for God and Jesus.

So, what did we learn?

 1.Loving God the Father and Jesus involves obeying their commandments.

 2.Loving the brethren comprises an important element in loving God and Jesus.

For more on the Bible  click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#lovingJesusGod #ObeyCommandments #loveBrethren