You Say You Are a Christian; Are You Listening to Jesus?

Thinking Through Luke 9:28-36

by Clarke Dixon

Vladimir Putin has said that he is a Christian. But is he listening to the voice of Jesus these days? Are we?

Reading through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John we often read of Jesus doing extraordinary things, but usually in ordinary circumstances and among ordinary people. There is an event that leaps out as being different:

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.

Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.

Luke 9:28-32 (NLT)

The presence of Moses and Elijah was extraordinary as both had been gone for centuries! But we should not be surprised, for an extraordinary fact, which this story relates, calls for an extraordinary event.

Moses and Elijah were not just long gone heroes of the faith, they symbolized the law and the prophets. Jesus spoke to them about “his exodus” a hint that just as God had revealed something about himself when he rescued a people in an exodus from Egypt, God was revealing himself again in Jesus.

The extraordinary continues:

As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.
Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone.

Luke 9:32-36 (NLT emphasis added)

God did not say “listen to Moses,” representing the law, nor did he say “listen to Elijah,” representing the prophets, but rather “listen to Jesus.” And to put an exclamation mark on that point, Jesus was there alone. Though God had revealed himself through the law and through the prophets, God was revealing himself more fully and more thoroughly through Jesus.

You could be forgiven for meeting Jesus, for seeing the extraordinary things he did among ordinary people and thinking he was just a great miracle worker. But the event on the mountain with Moses and Elijah pointed out that Jesus was no ordinary miracle worker. This event pointed to a fact the disciples, and many more would become convinced of following Jesus’ resurrection, namely that Jesus was in fact “God with us.” If Moses represented the law and Elijah represented the prophets, Jesus represented God!

The writer of Hebrews captured this when he wrote:

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.

Hebrews 1:1-3 (NRSV emphasis added)

This understanding of the extraordinary identity of Jesus led to a huge change in thinking. While the law and the prophets could be useful, as the apostle Paul said in one of his letters, Jesus is how one relates to God.

Peter became convinced of this when he had a vision where he was told to eat unclean foods. The law said he should not! God said he should!

Paul and a complete rethinking of his knowledge of God based on his experience of Jesus. Though he was a Pharisee, devoted to keeping the law with great attention to detail, what Jesus said became more important to Paul than what the law said. So thorough was Paul’s rethinking that we read in his letter to the Galatians his warning that Christians from a non-Jewish background should not become circumcised. The law said they should!

Peter, Paul, and all the other disciples came to know that in Jesus, God had revealed himself more fully than ever before, and that now we relate to God through a new covenant. Now we listen to him.

This event on the mountain with Moses and Elijah might seem different and strange compared to the usual stories of the miracles and teaching of Jesus, but it happened for an important purpose. It was the greatest glimpse up to that point, that Peter, James, and John would have of Jesus’ identity, and of God’s. Knowing who Jesus was, and is, changed everything. Peter, James, John, Paul, and so many others devoted their lives to listening to Jesus.

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son…

Hebrews 1:1 (NRSV)

Are you listening to Jesus?

There are some things that can help us hear the voice of Jesus, like our own conscience, for example. Our gut feelings can be a Holy Spirit thing, a conscience that is getting sharpened as our relationship with God is deepening. Or our gut may lead us astray. We need prayerful wisdom in knowing when our conscience is helping us hear the voice of Jesus, and when it is not.

Mediation and thoughtful reflection can help us hear the voice of Jesus. There is a long tradition within Christianity of deep thought. Thinking can help us hear the voice of God. It can also lead us astray. We need prayerful wisdom in discerning the voice of Jesus in all our mediation.

The voices of others can help us discern truth and hear the voice of Jesus. Christian friends, Christian authors, and yes, Christian pastors, like me, can help. And we can also lead you astray. We need prayerful wisdom in discerning the voice of Jesus in the voice of others.

Christian traditions can help us learn truth and hear the voice of Jesus, whether the reformed tradition, the charismatic tradition, or some other. But they can also lead us astray. To give an example, many traditions in the past had elements of anti-semitism in their interpretations of Scripture. We need prayerful wisdom in discerning the voice of Jesus within traditions and expressions of Christian faith.

The Bible can be our biggest help when it comes to listening to Jesus. But it can also hinder us from hearing the voice of Jesus. How?!

The Bible can hinder our hearing the voice of Jesus when we try to apply Bible passages to our lives without recognizing the context in which they were written. For example, my wife and I are currently both reading through Leviticus. There is so much in Leviticus that we could not put into practice in our lives today. Even if we could, I reckon we would sometimes feel rather “unChristian,” even sinful if we tried. However, we are not called to keep all those laws we read in Leviticus. We are not under the old covenant, that is not how we relate to God today. We are under the new covenant, we relate to God through Jesus.

The words of the Bible should not be given a higher place in our lives than the voice of Jesus. Let us remember that Moses and Elijah represented the law and the prophets, which was code for the writings that made up the Bible before the writing of the New Testament. Yet God said “This is my son, my chosen, listen to him.” Let us remember that we are Christians, not “Biblians.” We might assume that Jesus helps us read the Bible, but actually, the Bible helps us hear Jesus.

Let us dive deeper into why this is important with an example. If we just focus on the old covenant, we will not murder because doing so would lead to our own death. Listening to the law, we might avoid murder merely out of self-interest. But if we listen to Jesus, we will focus on growing in our character, a character that reflects the goodness of God, a character which reflects the fruit of the Spirit. When we do so we will not murder, not out of self-interest, but out of love for the other. Trying too hard to be “Biblical” can result in our missing of the target of being Christlike. A focus on the letter of the law can result in missing opportunities to reflect the love of God.

As we read the Bible, we need prayerful wisdom in discerning the voice of Jesus.

In Conclusion

So back to the original question on whether or not Vladimir Putin is listening to Jesus. I tend to think that any world leader listening to the voice of Jesus would hear the call to be a shepherd and would focus on taking care of people. Those who are not listening tend to become rulers who focus on building empires.

Sadly, many world leaders over the centuries, even those who have called themselves Christians, even those who have quoted the Bible, have shown no evidence of listening to Jesus.

Do we?

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Watch the sermon on which this is devotional is based at this link. Clarke Dixon is a Canadian pastor and appears here most Thursdays we’ve found his writings are a perfect fit for C201. Click the header above Clarke’s name to read things at his site.

The Transfiguration: Listen to Him

Today, our regular mid-week thoughts from Pastor Clarke Dixon.  Click the title below to read at his blog, Sunday’s Shrunk Sermon.

The Transfiguration Clarification

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,  3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.  4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.  5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (Mark 9:2-7 NRSV emphasis mine)

The transfiguration of Jesus may seem strange to us, with dazzling clothes, and the appearance of Moses and Elijah, but as strange as it may seem, this is a very important moment with much to teach the follower of Jesus, both then, and today.

To understand it well we will want to notice the many references back to the Old Testament. The event occurs on a mountain, which reminds us of God giving the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. Also we have the radiance of Jesus, reminding us of the radiance of Moses’ face when he had spent time in God’s presence (see Exodus 34:29,35). We also have Peter’s reaction, which though most translations have as a statement, some Biblical scholars think should be a question: “Is it right for us to be here?” The Israelites were not to go up Mount Sinai with Moses, for God is holy and they were not. Peter may be reflecting that same concern of getting too close to where God’s presence and glory is being made manifest. Then there is Peter’s suggestion of building shelters or “booths.” The word for shelter can also be translated as “tabernacle,” and part of the intent of the tabernacle was to shield the people from the glory of God while God’s presence was among them. And of course we have the presence of two key figures from the Old testament, Moses and Elijah. These are very key as Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the prophets. Both the law and the prophets are associated with God’s speaking to the people and His expectation of their obedience.

So what has this to do with my life today?

First, the transfiguration gives clarity to the identity of Jesus. The disciples knew that there was something special about Jesus. And many people today think there is something special about Jesus, but when asked what that is, they will talk about his great ethics, or his inspirational compassion and love of peace. But that does not capture it, for that quaint view of Jesus is not amazing enough. Consider how amazing it would have been for Peter, James, and John, to find themselves standing with Moses and Elijah. These were two key heroes of the people, representing the law and prophets. Yet God does not introduce Moses with “here is my servant, Moses. Listen to him,” nor Elijah with “here is my spokesperson Elijah, listen to him.” No, for there is one of even greater importance standing among them: “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (Mark 9:7 NRSV). As amazing as standing in the presence of Moses or Elijah would be, it is not as amazing as standing in the presence of Jesus. Though Moses and Elijah could reflect the glory of God, Jesus is the source. Though Moses and Elijah could call people to repentance, Jesus is the One who redeems the one who repents. Far too many Christians today do not have an amazing enough understanding of who Jesus is. Let the transfiguration amaze us.

Second, the transfiguration gives clarity as to how to live as a Christian. Some people become Christians, but it is as if they are taking up religion. They want to know the rules, they want to fit into the denominational subculture, they want to be like everyone else in the religion. But Christianity is not taking up a religion, it is entering into relationship with God through a person, Jesus Christ, in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Entering into relationship with Jesus is not taking up religion, but taking up the cross and following Jesus in the way of the cross. It is not being like other religious people, but becoming like Jesus. Being a follower of Jesus means: paying attention to the teaching of Jesus, paying attention to the example of Jesus, and paying attention to the example of the early Christians as they followed the teaching and example of Jesus. All this is recorded for us in God’s Word. In short, we are to “listen to him.”

Third, the transfiguration provides a response to certain accusations being made against Christianity. In our day we seem to be seeing a rise in violent militant Islam and many are saying that Christianity could be as likely to turn violent. People will point to passages from the Old Testament as proof. However, when people compare Christianity with Islam in this way they are really comparing apples and oranges with the conclusion of “we are all fruit after all.” Or comparing cashews with almonds and concluding “we are all nuts.” However, if you are allergic to cashews and not almonds, knowing the difference becomes very important. It is important to know the difference between Islam and Christianity on this point.

When a Christian turns to violence, he or she is not paying attention to the teaching of Jesus, the example of Jesus, or the example of the early Christians and how they follow the teaching and example of Jesus. He or she is not expressing the Christian faith, but rather a sinful heart. We are not thinking here of those times that violence may be a matter of national or personal security; that is a deep topic worth mining. That Christians have turned to violence is not in dispute. That the turning to violence is an expression of Christianity is. We are to “listen to him.” Rip out of context whatever passages you want from the Old Testament, we are to “listen to him.”

When a Muslim turns to violence, we are grateful that he or she (but typically he) is in the minority of Muslims. However, the militant Muslim can point to the teaching of Muhammed, the example of Muhammed, and the example of the early Muslims. Each has violence. Thankfully this is a minority view, but it is a possible view which the militant Muslim can defend theologically, and use to radicalize others. This is happening. The militant Christian cannot defend a violent expression of Christianity. We are to “listen to him.” When we do that we pick up a cross, not a sword.

God on the Mountain

This was posted last week by Daniel Jepsen at the blog Sliced Soup and all I can say is, “Wow!” There is so much depth to scripture that allows for so many fresh insights.  Check it out for yourself by clicking on the title below.

Meeting God on His Holy Mountain

I saw something new as I was reading scripture this morning.

In Exodus 19, you have perhaps the most dramatic scene in the whole Old Testament.  Moses, after being used by God to lead Israel out of slavery, is instructed to climb to the top of Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai).  It was on this occasion that God then revealed the Ten Commandments, the covenant stipulations between God and Israel, by which He would be their God and they would be His people. God told Moses he would meet with him in a thick cloud, and indeed the whole mountain, we are told, was covered in smoke and thick darkness. Apparently the presence of God was marked by a tremendous storm (some think Horeb was an active volcano) both to reveal His power and to conceal where His voice came from. And there, the invisible God met with the representative of His people. There in the dark mist and cloud, Moses could not see anything of God, but could only hear his voice.  Such is the way the Holy God appears to unholy men. His presence is ever veiled. God spoke to Moses in a more intimate way than anyone before Christ, yet it was still in a thick cloud of darkness and storm.

Several centuries later another prophet of God was instructed to make the trek to Horeb. Elijah had been used by God greatly to call Israel back to repentance and faith (and away from idolatry).  Again, God called his prophet onto the mountain, and again God spoke to him.  I Kings records:

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Again, though the prophet is called to the mountain to meet with God, it is in the midst of a storm. And again, the prophet veils his face, and sees not from whence the voice came.

In the New Testament, we also find a prophet (though more than a prophet) who ascends a mountain.  You will find the story in Matthew 17:

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

Here Jesus (like Moses and Elijah) goes up to the mountain for holy conversation.  But we note some differences in what happens.

First, Jesus apparently does not go to Mount Horeb, but (most likely) Mount Hermon, far to the north of Israel instead of far to the south.  This is not to sanctify north as more spiritual than south of course, but to point out that it is not the mountain that makes the divine conversation possible, but Jesus Himself.  He does not come to holy ground. He makes every ground holy.

Secondly, Jesus, unlike Moses and Elijah, does not come to the mountain alone for the divine conversation.  He brings Peter, James and John, those who represented all his followers, to the mountain with him, and they hear and see what he hears and sees.  This fits in well with the promise of Jesus that He is not only the one sent from the Father, but is the one by whom we also can be brought into close fellowship with the father (see John 14).

Thirdly, when Jesus ascends the mountain, there is no great and forbidding storm, no thick darkness and trembling mountain. Yes, a cloud of God’s presence does enter into the scene, but it is a “bright cloud”.  Jesus (by his later work on the cross) takes the terror of God upon Himself, so that he can say to us as he does to his followers on the mountain, “Get up. Don’t be afraid”.

Let us love and sing and wonder,
Let us praise the Savior’s name!
He has hushed the Law’s loud thunder,
He has quenched mount Sinai’s flame

John Newton

Finally, we see this great contrast. Though Jesus, like the Moses and Elijah, goes up to the mountain for a divine conversation, the motif is flipped on its head when we see what happens on the mountain: Moses and Elijah appear, conversing with Jesus.  They come to the mountain again, not to see God veiled in thick darkness and surrounded by storm, but to speak with God in the person of Jesus.  And Jesus himself is transfigured (or, perhaps better, revealed) as a person of light and majesty. He is not simply another prophet of God, nor even the greatest prophet of God. He is simultaneously the great prophet of God and the great God of the prophets. 

Oh, Holy Father, thank you for revealing yourself to flesh and blood, sinful and stupid as we are.  Thank you that you have always had your prophets by which you revealed your ways and laws, and you have called us to listen to those prophets. But thank you so much more for Jesus, the Son sent from your right hand, to be not only your last and great prophet, but You yourself in human form.  Help us all the more to heed your call, and listen to him.  Amen.

Seeing God Face To Face

^{NIV Ex. 33: 18} Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. ²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

The inspirational gospel singer Sandy Patti once had a song out called “We Shall Behold Him.”* Have you ever wondered what that might be like when we first see him, as the song says, “face to face in all of his splendor?”

In his earthly body, Moses returned from Mt. Sinai severely sunburned — so to speak — after being in close contact with God. In the New Testament, when Jesus became “transfigured,” he appeared in dazzling white.

Exodus 33 says that no man — i.e. no human being in their present state — can look at God and live. The image and presence of God is simply too much. However, the Bible in Deuteronomy suggests something else. Even Moses in other encounters spoke face-to-face with God.

Still; lying in bed the other night unable to sleep, I wondered about the whole subject of what will strike us the first time we do in fact behold Him. Usually the verse is quoted that suggests that God made us to look like Him. I have a hard time taking this literally. In fact, in one period of my life, I was convinced this would be better interpreted that “God made us out of his imagination.” I still believe there are fewer similarities than most of us think.

What if C.S. Lewis’ depiction of God as Lion is more accurate than what many of us have in mind: “He’s not safe, but he’s good” — referring to Aslan, the Lion, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?

Or what if God is able to shape-shift or transform or morph into a second form, or many different forms? (Well, of course “is able” isn’t the question…)

I just wonder if some day, as we stand there and God makes His first appearance to us if we will just stand there going, “Holy mackerel;” or “Holy smokes;” or… well I know I’ve probably got the “Holy” part right.

I can guarantee it won’t be a Wizard of Oz moment with God simply being a man — who looks like us — behind the curtain. The concept scares the hell out of me. Literally. It’s supposed to.

So what do you think God looks like?

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*I always thought “We Shall Behold Him” would be best performed at the Rogers Centre (aka Skydome) in Toronto or any other stadium with a retractable roof. (At night, of course.) As the roof unexpectedly unlocks and begins to divide into two sections, a powerful soprano begins the lyric of the first verse, “The sky shall unfold…” Even more cool if at that exact moment God makes the whole sky light up like it was daytime. He could do that.

(The picture is a daytime shot with the roof partly opening or closing. )