A Very Special Experience

“Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.  And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light” (Matt. 17:1-2).

Hey Gang:  What do you think was going through the minds of Peter, James and John when they saw Jesus transformed before their eyes?  Would seeing Jesus’ “face shine like the sun and His clothes become as white as light” have totally blown your mind?  But notice, about the time their hearts  returned to normal, “out of sight” experience number two occurred- “Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus” (vs. 3).

Keep in mind where this happened, “…on a mountain top”.  And then, an “out of sight”  experience happened that etched the whole experience in the archives of eternity! We are told that “While he, Peter, was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased”.  (vs. 5).

Notice, the response of the disciples: “…they fell face down to the ground and were terrified” (vs. 6).  I believe most folks would agree that what Peter, James and John experienced that day would have been a life-changing experience for most folks.  But, just for a moment, let’s move that experience into the context of 2017.

If I were to read that story to a group of fifth graders, they would have no problem getting a mental image of what the reader was saying.  In our modern era we are presented with profound images that just fifty years ago would have blown the mind of the average person.

Now think about that for a moment.  My first-grade teacher greeted her thirty six-year-olds, each school day morning, with the challenge to find something very quickly that would turn their brains into a receiving mode.  

This she did by beginning the day with a story, a verse from the Bible and the Pledge of Allegiance, all important, but, while completing this morning ritual, she was moving up one aisle and down the other making eye and physical contact with every child in that class.  Now, I could go into a long dissertation of the ills of our current education system, but will leave that for the educational gurus.

What I am saying is, that same teacher, in that same class will face a group of kid with very high expectations that the teacher will mimic, look like, sound like, sing like and even dance like a big yellow bird that they just watched while eating their breakfast.    

Again, we could take a side trip and talk about the multiplicity of issues and many crises that the child has already faced on any given day, but a trip through the local newspaper will give you all the material you need to help you understand what that teacher will face on any given day.    

There is no way that first-grade teacher can compete with the technology that fills our children’s brains with the violence, mundane and nonsense.   Paul, in his letter to Timothy, hit it on the head when he wrote: “There will be a time when, ”always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” will be a dominating force”. (I Tim. 3:7).

So, what am I saying here? The story of the transfiguration is a wonderful story when one has a base of knowledge to receive it.  Is it possible to build that base into our kids even in this garbage-filled world? Moses gave us the formula for success in Deuteronomy 6:4-9.   Read it over and over until it is etched in your heart and brain.    It is a tough world to raise children today, “…in the fear and admonition of the Lord” but “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4).

Blessings,

Gramps