The Chronological Gospel –

Transfiguration and Teachings

Matthew 16:21, Mark 8:32a, Matthew 16:22, Mark 8:33-37, Luke 9:26, Matthew 16:27b-28, Jesus forecasts his death and resurrection
Mark 9:2a, Luke 9:29-33, Matthew 17:5-7, Mark 9:8, The Transfiguration
Mark 9:9-12, Matthew 17:12a, Mark 9:13b, Matthew 17:12b-13, Luke 9:36b, Perplexity of the three disciples
Mark 9:14-26, Luke 9:42b-43, Mark 9:28, Matthew 17:20, Mark 9:29b, Healing the demoniac boy
Mark 9:30-31, Matthew 17:23c, Luke 9:45, A second forecast of death and resurrection

More of The Chronological Gospel

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'Jesus Healing the Lunatic' by Gustave Doré.  Click to enlarge. See below for provenance.

Matthew 16:21, Mark 8:32a, Matthew 16:22, Mark 8:33-37, Luke 9:26, Matthew 16:27b-28, Jesus forecasts his death and resurrection (5/26/14)

Friday we read one of the tremendous insights that Peter was capable of in his confession that Jesus was the Messiah, and the promise (as I believe) that he would continue to have insight into God’s workings. Today, not so much. I guess we can take some comfort that Peter, the great rock and pillar of the Church, blew just as hot and cold as we do.

Mark 9:2a, Luke 9:29-33, Matthew 17:5-7, Mark 9:8, The Transfiguration (5/27/14)

The nation has been following the sensational case of a public figure who said something he shouldn’t have said and was unlucky enough to be recorded. (Notice that this statement will almost always be true, no matter when you are reading it.) Peter was often in the same boat. He was such an important figure in the early church that people wrote down what they remembered about him; all too often, what people remember about us is exactly what we wish they’d forget! There are two things to remember about the Transfiguration:

  • The Transfiguration is a mystery, and we are like Peter in not knowing quite what to make of it.
  • We should never pass up the opportunity to be quiet when we don’t know what we’re saying.

    Mark 9:9-12, Matthew 17:12a, Mark 9:13b, Matthew 17:12b-13, Luke 9:36b, Perplexity of the three disciples (5/28/14)

    Peter, James, and John weren’t too sure exactly what they had been a witness to, and then Jesus told them not to talk about it “until after the Son of Man has risen from among the dead.” It may be impossible for us to imagine how puzzling that was to them! Apparently they did come away convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, however; their question about Elijah reflects the conviction among the Jews that the prophet Elijah will return before the Messiah comes. So to top it all off, Jesus said that Elijah had come without being recognized. Probably the two main reasons the three disciples didn’t talk about any of this was that they didn’t understand it and figured no one else would believe it.

    Mark 9:14-26, Luke 9:42b-43, Mark 9:28, Matthew 17:20, Mark 9:29b, Healing the demoniac boy (5/29/14)

    We often talk about “mountaintop experiences” and what a letdown it is (hahaha) to go back to our ordinary lives afterward. Jesus has just had one of the ultimate mountaintop experiences – his transfiguration and conversation with Moses and Elijah – and now he comes down to find his disciples squabbling with the scribes and unable to cast out a demon. It has never surprised me that Jesus sounds a little exasperated in Mark 9:19.

    Mark 9:30-31, Matthew 17:23c, Luke 9:45, A second forecast of death and resurrection (5/30/14)

    My own opinion is that there wasn’t anything supernatural causing Jesus’ meaning to be veiled from the disciples. They were hearing something they didn’t want to hear – that he was going to die – and something that they surely didn’t understand – that he would rise from the dead. Furthermore, they didn’t want to ask, probably because they were pretty sure they wouldn’t like the answer. It’s no wonder they didn’t understand what he was saying.

    More of The Chronological Gospel

    Birth Announcements and Early Lives of Jesus and John the Baptist
    Early Ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist
    Jesus’ Early Ministry
    Jesus’ Galilean Ministry
    Sabbath Controversies
    The Sermon on the Mount
    The Sermon on the Plain
    John the Baptist
    Signs and Parables
    Miracles and Mission Trips
    Bread of Life
    Miracles and Meanings
    Transfiguration and Teachings
    To Jerusalem for the Festival of Tabernacles
    Some Results of Luke’s Research
    Light
    More of Luke’s Research
    On the Road Again
    The Raising of Lazarus
    Holy Week: Palm Sunday and Monday
    Holy Week: Tuesday, Parables and Questions
    Holy Week: Wednesday Part 1, Discussions
    Holy Week: Wednesday Part 2, Be Ready!
    Holy Week: Thursday Part 1, Jesus' Celebration of the Passover
    Holy Week: Thursday Part 2, Jesus' Farewell Discourse
    Holy Week: Friday Part 1, Jesus' Arrest and Two Informal Trials
    Holy Week: Friday Part 2, More Trials
    Holy Week: Friday, Part 3, and Saturday, Jesus' Death and Burial
    The Empty Tomb
    Final Appearances of Jesus Prior to Pentecost

    Copyright 2014 by Regina L. Hunter. All rights reserved. Scripture readings are from the Weymouth New Testament (1912). "Jesus Healing the Lunatic" by Gustave Doré is from the Gartin family Bible, now in the private collection of Regina Hunter. This page has been prepared for the web site by RPB.

    Opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the author, Regina Hunter, and may or may not be shared by the sponsors or the Bible-study participants.  Thanks to the Holy Spirit for any useful ideas presented here, and thanks to all the readers for their support and enthusiasm.  All errors are, of course, the sole responsibility of the author.

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