EPIPHANY • 14

How great is our God (in our lives)?

The word epiphany is defined as ‘a moment of sudden and great revelation’. What is this great revelation that we celebrate in this season? As we come to the close of this season of Epiphany, this week’s readings invite us to examine the greatness of God in our hearts, mind and the corresponding outworking of our lives.

reading for: 23 Feb

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a)

I AM WHO I AM

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Today’s reading brings our attention to the transfiguration event of Jesus’ life. While much can be discussed on this, today’s lectionary hopes to give us a glimpse into the heart dimension of the transfiguration.

The appearance of Moses and Elijah both represent principal components of the Old Testament; namely the Law and the Prophets. Moses was the giver of the law and Elijah was considered the greatest of the prophets. The fact that these two figures “spoke of His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfilment in Jerusalem” (v 31), was noted deliberately because the Law and the Prophets pointed forward to the Messiah, His sufferings, and His death. It is without a doubt that the Gospel writer intended for us to clearly see Jesus as the fulfilment of the Law and Prophets and the long-awaited Messiah!

However, to further appreciate the significance of the transfiguration, just eight days before the transfiguration, Jesus had for the first time told His disciples that He had to suffer, be rejected, and be delivered into the hands of Israel’s spiritual leaders to be killed (Matt 16:21). This was met with much stumbling, rejection, and offense. While they had witnessed Jesus’ life as well as many signs and miracles in their years following Him, but this news from Jesus really shook their faith. In fact, the bible records that Peter (speaking for the group) took Jesus aside and rebuked Him saying “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22). Of course, Jesus was upset and rebuked Peter for not having the concerns of God in mind but merely human concerns (Matt 16:22).

This combination of Jesus’ fulfilment of the Law and Prophets as well as the context of staggered faith foreshadows another later encounter on the road to Emmaus, where the risen Jesus would minister to two similarly staggered and dejected disciples by showing them how all the law and prophets pointed to Himself (Luke 24: 27, 32).

It is in such a context of the disciple’s staggering faith and authentic struggles that the glorious transfiguration takes place as a form of reinforcement for their faith.

Days following His sharing about His pending death, Jesus had brought three of his closer disciples to the mountain top to pray. Being tired and having fallen asleep, the disciples awoke to Jesus transfigured (‘metamorphized’ in Greek), much like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Just for a few moments, Jesus unveiled His physical glory and stood before them in an overwhelming manifestation of light and glory. As if that weren’t enough, God Himself, spoke out of the thick cloud that covered them, declaring that “This is my son whom I have chosen; listen to Him (v 35)”. The transfiguration was not a random nice flashy event, but an intentional loving act on Jesus’ part to strengthen His beloved disciples.

If this was not enough, tell-tale signs of the other disciples’ staggering faith were also intentionally included in the after story (v37-43a) where they were unable to drive out an evil spirit that was plaguing a boy. When asked why, Jesus explained that it was because of their staggering faith that they were unable to drive out the evil spirit.

In the larger context, it was the message that He was going to die that staggered their faith. and the transfiguration served to encourage the disciples and remind them of who He was even in the face of seemingly grim things that was to come.

Years later, Peter would show that this was exactly what he got out of this experience when he wrote to encourage and assure others that “we did not follow cleverly devised stories, … but were eyewitnesses of His majesty… when we were with Him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18). Jesus had strengthened Peter’s faith through that indescribable experience of His glory. In Peter’s own departing letter, knowing that he was about to die as well, Peter was then in turn encouraging others to take heart and hold on unwaveringly to their faith in Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah! He is the fulfilment of the Law and Prophets! He is the promised Saviour, God’s only begotten Son of God, and all that they are longing and searching for!

  • REFLECT

    I AM WHO I AM. No matter the pain, shaking and discouragement, Jesus will not and cannot compromise on who He is. He lovingly confronts us with the truth of who He is all the while assuring us that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor 12:9) and that He will be with us through it all (Matt 28:20).

    The authentic tensions and corresponding critical questioning is something that we all must grapple with on a regular basis in our faith journeys with Christ.  

    While Epiphanies are not always what we want or like, let us not despise such times of questioning and shaking when we are confronted by who He is. Let us take a moment to chew on the details and the highlighted significance of today’s reading. Like the disciples perhaps we too need to be confronted afresh in who Jesus is. Make time for the Lord and allow for the Holy Spirit to show us how we may be staggering in our faith.

    Even though the season of Epiphany is coming to an end, my prayer is that we will never stop pressing in to know the Lord and be transformed by Him. If we are to truly be God’s servants and children in our work and relationships, we must continue to behold the Lord and allow ourselves to be challenged by who He is. Let us therefore continue to spend quality time in the Word regularly and seek the Holy Spirit’s help to abide in Him even when the truth is uncomfortable and faith staggering. Let us continue to meet up regularly and encourage one another in our life groups to press into His truth and to allow our lives and minds to be renewed in the revelation of who He is. Share with one another about the areas of our lives that the Lord is challenging us about and allow brothers and sister in Christ to keep you accountable. Trust Him. He is a good good Father. Let us turn to Him.

reading for: 24 Feb

Exodus 34: 29-35

Amazing Grace?

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Following our reading of Jesus’ transfiguration, one may wonder what is there to gleam from this Old Testament version of glory shown through the person of Moses. Let us consider for a moment the context of the situation in Exodus 34.

i)                    Jesus Christ had not arrived on scene. The people of Israel were led by God’s representative and servant Moses whom God spoke to as one would with a friend.

ii)                  The people of Israel were not ready to come near to God and were contended to simply listen to whatever God wanted them to do through Moses.

iii)                As a result, they were all dependent on Moses for God’s leadership and law. In Moses’ absence (Exodus 32) things got bad quickly. They found themselves a new leader in Aaron who in turn simply gave the people what they wanted fashioning for them a false imagine of ‘the Lord’ (yes they still worshipped ‘Yahweh’, but their own version of who He is) in the form of a golden calf to worship.

iv)                While they sinned greatly against the Lord who had warned them through His commandments not to have any idols or to form any image of Him, Exodus 34:29-35, actually showed a picture of God’s great compassion and mercy in His continued presence through Moses (seen shinning forth from Moses’ face) and His renewed covenant with them in the newly inscribed tablets. Despite many many more generations of infidelity and sin, God still saw through His covenant all the way through finally cumulating in the new and final covenant in Jesus Christ Himself.

v)                  Moses’ face was radiant because He had spent time in the presence of the Lord. This was not something that was sought after but a natural outcome of time spent with God. Moses was not even aware that His face was radiant until after this incident. Much like with the example of Moses and more to be discussed in tomorrow’s reading, time spent with God should naturally be evident in the form of the fruits and glory that we bear. We are after all meant to be the image of God on earth (Genesis 1:26-27).

As we consider these points, it is not difficult to see the parallels in our everyday lives today. Though the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all flesh in these last days, like the people of Israel, many of our family, friends, and people in our workplaces do not know the Lord and do not yet have the desire to draw near to God. They worship ‘God’ or gods because they do not know better who God truly is.

In such spaces, we are called to be God’s representatives and shinning images of God’s grace and truth where we are placed. We need to ensure that we do not neglect or take for granted the Holy Spirit given to us. Let us humbly consider our lives and our fruits. Do people see God’s glory in us? If not, let us not harden our hearts. As His church, let us be diligent in cultivating His presence and Lordship in our lives. Like Moses, we are God’s chosen vessel to many around us. Let us count this calling as precious and repent if we have begun despising this exceedingly precious inheritance and gifts in our lives. He is the true Vine, and we are but the branches (John 15). Let us therefore abide in the true Vine, Jesus Christ and bear fruits in keeping with who we are in Him. 

  • REFLECT

    As I write this reflection, I feel led to make sombre call to consider our lives before the Lord. What do the fruits of your life tell you about the condition of our walk with God? Perhaps, some of us may honestly feel like your walk is non-existent except in times of need. Perhaps, you realized that you are not connected to His vine in your relationships and work and His glory and power is absent in your life. Perhaps like the Israelites, you found that we have become contended to interact with God from afar simply through your pastors and leaders. Or others perhaps, you realized that you have cheapened the precious inheritance and calling you have in Him and have allowed it to waste away in the background.

    This is not a call to condemnation, but as with in Exodus 34:29-35, it is a call to see God’s loving kindness, compassion, and exceedingly great mercy. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and gone our own way in some if not most of our lives. However, we are reminded in John 3:17, that God did not send His son to condemn us but so that we can be saved through Him.

    Listen to the lyrics of ‘Spirit touch your church’ and prayerfully commit it as personal prayer onto the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMneCBDVBoU

    Let us turn to the Lord afresh this day and be surprised by what we find. Let us come back to our first love and allow Him to transform us from the inside out. And perhaps we can sing out of the overflow of our hearts with one another that timeless song;

    “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
    I once was lost but now am found. Was blind but now I see.
    T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.
    How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
    My chains are gone! I’ve been set free.
    My God my Saviour has ransomed me.
    And like flood, your mercy reigns.
    Unfailing love, amazing grace.”

reading for: 25 Feb

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

What is this business of unveiling for?

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It is important to note from the beginning that today’s scripture is not a rejection of the Old Testament for the New testament. While one might feel tempted or inclined to think this way because of phrases like ‘not like Moses’, ‘their hearts were hardened’, ‘passing away’ or even the word ‘Old’, for Paul there is no disconnect between Moses (referring to the Law or ‘Torah’ i.e. the first 5 books of the bible) and Christ. We can quickly recall from Wednesday’s reading, that Jesus was the fulfilment of the Law represented by Moses and the also the Prophets. Jesus Himself, used the Old testament to give insight to the disciples on the Emmaus road, to reveal Himself to them (Luke 24:13-35).

However, Paul is making a specific and essential claim that it is only through Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit that we ought to read and interpret scriptures, our faith, and our lives accordingly. It is the Spirit of the Lord alone that brings freedom from blindness and our ‘veiled’ minds. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 explained that if the Gospel is veiled, it is ‘veiled to those who are perishing’ and that it is veiled because ‘the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God’. It is unbelief, the very thing that the disciples themselves struggled with in Wednesday’s Luke reading, that is keeping them from being effective (i.e. like in their ability power to cast out the evil spirit) and from having life to the full (John 10:10). Paul asserts this when he wrote that when ‘we turn to the Lord, the ‘veil’ is removed (v16)’.

Why is this understanding important? And why this allegorical use of the veil and subsequent emphasis on removing it? Well, the answer, is none other than for the purpose of transformation (v18), or more accurately transfiguration. The Greek word used here for transformed (metamorphoumetha), is the same word used in Matthew’s account of the transfiguration to describe what happened to Jesus in the eyes of the disciples. He was transformed, transfigured as though the veil was removed from His face (or rather, more accurately, from the minds and hearts of the disciples) allowing them to see clearly for a moment as like reflected in a mirror (v18).

Paul uses similar connected concepts in Romans 8 when he talks about how all creation awaits as like in childbirth for the sons and daughters of Christ to be revealed in glory (Romans 8:19-21). Not to mention, that creation itself groans to be liberated from its bondage and decay into freedom and glory of the children of God. As you can see through this example, the unveiling does not just have a localized impact on ourselves as individuals but even on creation! Taking the Abrahamic blessing and call as a reinforcing reminder, we are blessed to be a blessing to the world and people around us. And in Jesus’ own terms, ‘salt and light of the world’.

  • REFLECT

    Listen to ‘This Kingdom’ by Hillsongs: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FInBsbSCnWk) and meditate prayerfully on the lyrics of the song about who Jesus is and this precious Kingdom that we are all called to be a part of; not just as sheep or extras but as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-16). Yes, we are princes and princesses in God’s glorious Kingdom. Selah.  

    My prayer is truly that we will take Paul’s call seriously to turn to the Lord this day and every day forth. Begin with a simple and sincere prayer this day asking that He show afresh who He is and who you are to Him. Perhaps, pray sincerely like the man in Mark 9:24, ‘I do believe but help my unbelief’. Perhaps, ask Him to show you His ways afresh and this precious Kingdom that you are a part of. Perhaps, ask Him for a renewing and revival of the assignments and calls He has over your life. Perhaps, simply ask to know His love afresh and to teach you to love.

    Jesus promises and teaches this; Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be open onto you (Matt 7:7-8). He is our great and exceedingly good Father and desires only to give us what’s good.

    Our Heavenly Father has ordained that we be image bearers of His glory here on Earth.

    Your family, friends, colleagues, brothers and sisters in Christ, your workplaces, your community, and even all of creation is waiting.

    It is time for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed.

reading for: 26 Feb

Psalm 99

Who are we beholding and exalting?

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    What an amazing Psalm to bring together this week’s readings!

    Briefly speaking, Psalms 99 can be divided into two main ‘postures’; The first posture is that of beholding/contemplating on the King and His Kingdom (broken into 3 segments in v1-3, v4, and v6-8 respectively), and the second a call to His people to exalt/proclaim of Him because He is holy (also found in 3 parts concluding each of the 3 segments above).  For a simple breakdown, read the subsequent portion in blue, otherwise feel free to skip it for today’s emphasis.  

    The first (v1-3) begins speaking of God as the reigning King above all whose majesty is high above and beyond comprehension and all others; understandable striking terror to all before Him and His Kingdom - even the Earth shakes at His majesty.

    The second (v4) speaks of God’s kingdom rule as one of righteousness and justice; and as one who has truly already established equity. In fact, we now know that He is impartial to the point that His righteous judgements did not spare Jesus Christ His only begotten son.  

    The third (v6-8) speaks of God’s great mercy and choice to work with and through people. He is portrayed and proven to be a God who listen to those who call on His name and who exercises goodness and forgiveness though still punishing them for their misdeeds.

    The parallels of these meditations interestingly be found in our three prior readings through the week.

    1.      God is truly holy and majestic beyond comprehension. His glory is blinding and fear inducing. His ways are higher than our ways and often to the point that cannot help but constantly challenge our ideas about Him and our faith (see our reading and meditations of Luke).

    2.      His Kingdom and authority and rule are real and powerful. He is not all talk with nothing to show for it. Not only is He majestic and awesome in name but He actually carries out the destruction of His enemies performs signs and wonders and delivered people from evil spirits (see Israel’s history and Jesus’ ministry). The elements and all of creation reacts to His awesome presence (see the transfiguration, God’s interaction with Israel in Exodus and etc.).

    3.      God is a just God but also one who is forgiving and kind to those who call on Him. He punished Israel for their idolatry and infidelity but also renews His covenant with them (see this week’s Moses account context).

    While each of these are all worth meditating and application on in their own, I would like to bring our attention to the two main postures I talked about in the beginning (outlined three times in this Psalm); that of i) beholding/contemplating on God and His Kingdom and subsequently that of ii) exalting/proclaiming of God which is the repeated theme through all our reading this week.

    Paul aptly wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that “… we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” And subsequently in 4:5-6, he writes, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[i] for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

    We begin this last week of the season of Epiphany with the call to consider just how great is our God (in our lives). As the season comes to an end, our posture of beholding and subsequently bearing His image should never stop. In some sense, our Christian lives can simply be an on-going improvement and refinement of this basic posture.

    In John 5:19-20, “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.”

    If Jesus our master Himself lived and breathed this reality, we ought to do the same. Our veils have been removed and we have been reconciled to God in Christ! Let us therefore, never stopping beholding and exalting Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light!

    Who are we then beholding and exalting in our lives? Jesus longs to spend time with us and make Himself known to us. Let us welcome Him in (Rev 3:20)!

  • REFLECT

    “Seeking you as a precious jewel. Lord to give up I’ll be a fool. You are my all in all.”

    Listen to the song “All in all” by Dennis Jernigan. Wherever you may be personally, make some time today to spend in His presence as you are and to seek Him out. The God of the whole universe is a God who actually desires to be known by us. Not only that, but that He has ordained that we bear His glory and image in this world He has created. How magnificent and precious is that thought!

    Let us, therefore, take the encouragements from this week, to know Him as He is no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Let us be connected to Jesus who is our true Vine so that we may bear good and lasting fruits in our lives, relationships, and work. Let us ever be transformed more and more from glory to glory into His likeness for we are after all His children.

    In the words of Saint Irenaeus, “The glory of God is man fully alive!” Perhaps that was the glory that the disciples saw at the transfiguration in the final Adam (Jesus Christ) whom we are all patterned after as His children.  

    This precious reality was probably what Paul captured when he wrote…

    7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

    12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

    How great is our God (in our lives)? I pray our answer is “Not great enough!” Let’s press on together! He is totally worth it!

Season of EpiphanyCNL