Dawkins a Christian

Has anyone else seen Richard Dawkins' new book in which he writes about his recent conversion to Christianity? This could be big!

I see the King of Glory...

This is one of my favourite worship songs at the moment - and we'll be singing it on Sunday morning at St George's.

Sermon - John 4 - Where can I find Love, Acceptance, Safety?

John 4.1-42 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman

IMAGINE that the story of your past reads like the life story of this woman… a life of fruitless, hopeless searching for love, acceptance and safety. A life which has gone through one crisis after another, one failure after another, one abusive relationship after another. Deserted or dismissed by husband after husband, you have been called so many demeaning names for such a long time that you believe you really are worthless, useless and unlovable. IMAGINE that’s your life (some of you may not have to imagine too hard, but stay with us; I have good news for you).

IMAGINE that your daily life now is like the daily life of this woman… Living with a man you dare not marry because you are too afraid of being let down again; considered disreputable, notorious, shunned by the other women of the village you have to keep out of sight. You can’t even collect water from the well at the same time as the respectable people; you have to make that hard, heavy journey at the hottest time of day, while everyone else is indoors taking their siesta.

TODAY as you make your midday journey for water from the well of Jacob, you are surprised to encounter a Jewish man, a member of that despised neighbouring race who think they are better than you Samaritans. He even looks like one of their religious men – they are the worst kind! How do you expect to be treated by him..?

Well, a few minutes later this same woman is hurrying back to the village – in such a hurry that she forgets her water jar – but she has something better and more nourishing than water. Something is different about her. In fact she is utterly transformed from the unhappy, downtrodden, abused person who the villagers are used to mocking or avoiding. Now bursting with joy, confidence and freedom she clearly has something they all need – and they all come running to Jesus too!

HOW did this happen – let’s listen in…

Context

Jesus has left Judea to avoid a premature conflict with the Pharisees and as he heads back to Galilee we are told that “he had to go through Samaria”. This is strange because, although the route through Samaria was the most direct, if you had asked a Jew in Jesus’ day how to get from Judea to Galilee they would not have said “you have to go through Samaria” they’d have said “you have to avoid going through Samaria!” Because of all the bad history and prejudice between these neighbouring peoples, their “sat-nav” would show a route crossing the river Jordan and going around Samaria before crossing back over into Galilee. But Jesus had to go through Samaria because of his mission.

So Jesus was sitting at a well which his ancestor Jacob had dug and which had provided a supply of water for generations of ancestors of both Jews and Samaritans (and is still there today). Jacob, whom God gave the name Israel, had dug the well to supply water, to sustain life. Jesus, the new and perfect Israel, is seated at the same well, tired and thirsty. He needs a drink, but he has no bucket. What he does have within him is a gift greater than water, a gift which only he can give.

Perhaps Jesus is meditating on these things as he sits and waits at the well … and then he hears footsteps and sees this Samaritan woman approaching, carrying an empty water jar and a bucket. Her head is bowed, she looks anxious, uneasy. It is clear from her body language that she just wants to get her water quickly and go. But Jesus can see other things about this woman.

In fact Jesus can see everything about this woman, even her deepest secrets, fears, anxieties, wounds, needs and desires. He is tired and thirsty, but she is deeply tired and thirsty.

Opening moves – breaking down barriers

A conversation needs to take place between two people who society did not allow to have a conversation. Fortunately, one of them is also God and he is not about to be stopped by human social conventions! So Jesus immediately cuts through all the generations of prejudice by asking her for a drink.

This shocks and surprises her: “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (4.9). Jews do not associate with Samaritans. They consider them inferiors. A Jew would certainly not drink from a cup which had been handled by a Samaritan which would make them “unclean”. (Maybe you have experienced that kind of prejudice from people of a different race?). Jesus unexpectedly humbles himself, putting himself in a position of equality and dependance on the woman. And he does this not only because he needs what she has got, but because she needs what he has got.

Having broken through the barrier of prejudice, Jesus now gets straight to the point: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (4.10)

This interests the woman greatly. This man is treating her with unusual kindness and respect and is also offering to meet her need, to satisfy her thirst in a way that is a gift from God. Has she understood him correctly? She seeks clarification that Jesus is talking about more than water and he says this:

“Everyone who drinks this water,” the water from Jacob’s well, “will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (4.13-14)

Before we move on you might want to pause here and think about your own life. Perhaps there have been times when you have experienced this deep thirst, not just for a drink, but for love, for acceptance, for safety? And perhaps you have found relationships or things or experiences which have quenched that thirst … for a short time … before leaving you thirsty again and possibly scarred, hurt, disappointed.

Have you had experiences like that? I know I have and we need to hear these words of Jesus which he addresses to us today just as he addressed them to that needy woman:

Everyone who drinks this water - the water of power or success or alcohol or drugs or sport fanaticism or sex or crime or whatever - will be thirsty again. But those who drink the water Jesus gives them will never thirst. Indeed, the water Jesus gives them will become in them a spring of healing and strength and hope and love, which will never fail.

Too good to be true?

Now you might be thinking this sounds beautiful but if Jesus really knew what I’ve done and what I’m like, he wouldn’t be making that offer to me – he’d be throwing me out, or punishing me!
Well that’s what the Samaritan woman was thinking – but Jesus showed that he already knew EVERYTHING about her – you have had five husbands and the man you now have is not your husband – and yet he still accepted her and freely offered her this amazing gift, this new life which would not only meet her deepest needs for love, acceptance and safety, but would overflow from her into the lives of others and would never, ever disappoint or run dry.

This is God’s plan for you and me and every single human being too. May you know and receive this gift afresh today. Go and have the necessary conversations that society tries to prevent - and overflow with hope and love as you travel through enemy territory. And may you be able to say with confidence the words of the Samaritans:

“WE NO LONGER BELIEVE JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SAID; NOW WE HAVE HEARD FOR OURSELVES AND WE KNOW THAT THIS MAN REALLY IS THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.” (4.42)

John 4 Bible Study

Bible Study – John 4.1-42

In this study we are looking at the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.

First read verses 1 to 6.

Q1 Why did Jesus decide to leave Judea and return to Galilee at this time?

Q2 What do you know about the bad history between the Jews and the Samaritans? (For an explanation from the Jewish perspective, see 2 Kings 17.24-41).

Q3 We are told that Jesus “had to” go through Samaria to get to Galilee. In fact most Jews would take the longer route around Samaria, so how should we interpret verse 4?

Q4 Why was Jesus waiting at the well?

Now read verses 7 to 15.

Q5 Jews would not drink from a cup which had been touched by a Samaritan, for fear of becoming “unclean”. Have you ever experienced this kind of prejudice? What is the effect of Jesus’s opening request?

Q6 In what ways is physical thirst a useful analogy for spiritual thirst?

Q7 Jacob (also known as “Israel”, see Genesis 32.28) was an ancestor of both Jews and Samaritans. In what ways is Jesus greater than Jacob? How is the water he provides different?

Now read verses 16 to 42.

Q8 How significant is Jesus’s supernatural knowledge of the woman’s past and present life? (verses 16-18, 29, 39).

Q9 Thinking of our own lives, do you believe that God knows every detail and yet still loves and accepts us? If not, how would you put it?

Q10 Do you see any significance in Jesus’s words that salvation is from the Jews (verse 22)? (It might be helpful to refer to Genesis 12.2-3).

Q11 It seems that the Samaritans were also waiting and hoping for the Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour of the World (verses 25, 29, 42). How do you think Christians should relate to people of other faiths today? In what sense are we all waiting and hoping for the same thing?

Q12 What does this passage say about the evangelistic task – in terms of motivation, resources, approaches? In what ways are you challenged to see and do mission differently?

"Satisfied" - a song which expresses the Christian Universalist hope.

This song was inspired by Hannah Whitall Smith's understanding of Isaiah 53.11. I hope you enjoy it!



A day is coming soon
when you will see and be satisfied
your Father's justice and his mercy are one
and you will be satisfied

You came to save us all
allowed yourself to be crucified
your clear intention cannot be denied
and you will be satisfied

A day is coming soon
when all will see and be reconciled
your love is perfect and your justice is sure
and you will be satisfied

(C) Andrew Tweedy 2009

Sermon - John 3.1-17

John 3.1-17
• Today’s gospel reading is the famous “born again” passage. I wonder what that phrase conjures up for you… Depending on your background, it could bring either positive or negative memories to mind. “Born again Christian” is a label which many people wear with joy and pride, whereas other people use the same label as a criticism of unhealthy and insensitive religion.

• For me, being born again was a wonderful turning point at the age of 25. It came at the culmination of a time of questioning and anxiety about the many things which were wrong with me, with other people, with all the evil and disease and hopelessness and fear in the world in general.

• At just the right time for me, God revealed to me, through a little second-hand booklet – this one – that the problem was called sin, that the answer was Jesus Christ and that I needed to accept him as my saviour and my Lord and devote the rest of my life to being his follower.

• It really was like a new birth for me and millions of others could tell a similar story. Equally though, for millions of other Christians, maybe including you, they could not put their finger on a specific turning point when they were “born again”, but their experience of living this new life is no less valid or powerful. We can get a bit too obsessed about how or whether or when someone was “born again” when that is far less important than that they are in fact living in a new way! More of that later…

• First I want to go back to the story of Jesus and Nicodemus and ask questions of the text which might help us reach a better understanding of the gospel and of our lives as followers of Christ, “born again” or not.

Context – WHAT was at stake?
• My first question is “what was at stake in this strange conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus?” The context is the angry protest that Jesus had just made in the Temple, turning over the tables of the moneychangers and clearing out the pigeon sellers.

• Look again at OT scriptures like Psalm 84 to appreciate how precious and holy the Temple was to the Jewish people. (Look how important the “wailing wall” still is to Jews today). It was the place where God was present to his people. The central place of their identity as God’s people and the place that they would regularly come – especially for Passover – to seek God’s healing and forgiveness and to recommit themselves to be his people.

• We can understand why people would be disturbed and offended by Jesus’s protest – and yet many recognised the signs that he was a messenger from God, with an important message.

• We read that Jesus was angry that his Father’s house had been turned into a market. In the parallel accounts in the synoptic gospels he also says that his Father’s house was meant to be a house of prayer for all nations. He probably had passages like Isaiah 2.3-4 and 56.6-7 in mind.

• Nicodemus, a high ranking political and religious official recognised the challenge of Jesus and that’s why he came secretly to discuss it with him.

Born Again or Born From Above?
• The conversation begins strangely and Jesus and Nicodemus seem to be talking at cross purposes. This can be explained by the phrase which your Bible will have translated as either “born again” or “born from above”.

• Both are correct – “born from above” is more strictly accurate – and is what Jesus meant – but the phrase had also come to mean “born again” – which is how Nicodemus took it.

• So Nicodemus starts asking how an adult can get back inside his mother’s womb to be born again, but Jesus is actually talking about being born from above, and he is explaining his challenge to the temple system.

• Nicodemus’s implied question is – why did you do that? If you are, as you appear to be, a teacher sent by God, surely you would love the Temple and its ceremonies? How and where else is God present to his people and in his world? How else can we live lives that are pleasing to God and working with God’s purposes?

• Jesus’s answer is “you need to be born from above”. So far you’ve only been born of water (95% of a human body is water!) but you need to be spiritually born as well. And not so you can be part of a new spiritual elite or have a card to get you into heaven when you die, but so you can live a spiritual, God-directed life here and now. So that you can carry God’s life, forgiveness and healing to others.

• The end goal is not just to be born from above but to live from above. So just as God is present to people and to the world in the Son of Man who has come down from heaven, so he will be present in all who are born from above.

How can this be? (verses 9-15)
• Nicodemus may be starting to understand Jesus’s challenge but he still can’t grasp how this birth from above can happen.

• Note in passing how in verse 11 Jesus uses “we” rather than “I”, seemingly speaking as the trinity rather than just the son.

• The answer to the “how” question is to be found at the cross. Already at the Temple protest Jesus had referred to his own body as the Temple when he said “detroy this temple and in 3 days I will raise it up” (2.19). Now he refers more directly to the kind of death he will die, by reference to a strange OT story (Numbers 21.4-9).

• The Israelites were being bitten by poisonous snakes in the desert, because of their complaining against God. When Moses prayed for their forgiveness and healing, God answered by telling him to make a bronze snake and lift it up on a pole. Whoever looked at the bronze snake would be healed.

• Jesus explains that he, the Son of Man, is to be lifted up in a similar way, so that any who look on him may “have eternal life” (meaning “the life of the coming age”). He is not talking about an everlasting quantity of life, but a new kind of life which belongs to a new age and a new order; life from above!

God’s purpose (John 3.16-17)
• Now, at the climax of the conversation, we come to these verses which are probably quoted more than any others in the Bible as a perfect summary of the gospel.

• Actually 3.16 is usually taken on its own, especially by people who believe the good news consists of the salvation of a minority of people out of the world so they can go to heaven when they die, while everybody else goes to everlasting hell.

• But we should never read 3.16 without 3.17 “Indeed God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

• God’s plan, finally fulfilled in Christ, was always for the salvation of the whole world and all its people, never just a minority. That was the promise to Abraham and the purpose of God’s choice of Israel.

• Whether you believe God will succeed in his plan or not, we need to take 3.17 seriously. Some of the recent critics of Rob Bell (American pastor/writer who has a new book coming out in which he explores the biblical hope that God will succeed in saving everyone) have been too easily dismissive and should think again about verses like this.

• I have been studying this question and will come back to it in future sermons.

Challenge
• The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is important because it answers the question of how God is to be present to people and to the world.
• The answer is not to box God into a stone Temple and shut the world out, it is to be born from above. We need to be born from above so that we can live from above, so that we can overflow God’s saving love into all the world.
• We all need to work out what it means for each of us to “live from above” here and now, in a way which helps fulfil God’s purpose of salvation (John 3.16 AND 17).

Bible Study - John 3.1-17

Bible Study – John 3.1-17

The background to this famous conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is the cleansing of the temple and its aftermath. Begin your study by looking at the following passages in order to understand what the temple meant to the Jews and what Jesus was angry about:-

Psalm 84; Isaiah 2.3-4; Isaiah 56.3-8; John 2.13-25

It might be useful to write your own summary of what these passages have shown you and what was going on at the cleansing of the temple.

Now read John 3.1-17 and consider the following questions. It may help you to know that the greek words translated “born again” or “born from above” in your Bible can in fact mean either. “Born from above” is more strictly accurate, but in everyday usage, the phrase had also come to mean “born again”.

Q1 Do you consider yourself a “born again” Christian? What does this label mean in your experience?

Q2 Why do you think Nicodemus visited Jesus and why did he do so at night?

Q3 How are Nicodemus’s opening words connected with the protest Jesus had made in the temple (verse2)?

Q4 Why do you think Jesus responds in the way he does? In what way is he addressing Nicodemus’s concerns?

Q5 The kingdom of God has both present and future aspects. Which do you think Jesus is referring to in verse 5 where he says no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit?

Q6 How is the spiritual birth or birth “from above” that Jesus refers to related to the initiation rite of baptism?

Q7 Why is it important for followers of Jesus that they have been spiritually born / born from above? Does the manner or timing of their birth matter?

Q8 Why do you think Jesus’s words switch from singular to plural (from “I” to “we”) in verse 11?

Nicodemus cannot understand how this birth from above can take place. Jesus replies by making a comparison with Moses’ lifting up the serpent in the wilderness. Have a look at Numbers 21.4-9 to remind yourself of this incident. Jesus then tells Nicodemus that the Son of Man must be lifted up in a similar way, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (which means the life of the coming age).

Q9 How is Jesus’s death on the cross related to the possibility of people being born from above / spiritually born? How is this related to Jesus’s words about the temple being destroyed and rebuilt (John 2.20-22)?

At last we come to John 3.16-17, the climax of the conversation and a simple yet profound statement of the gospel.

Q10 What do these verses tell us about the purposes and motives of God?

Q11 How does John 3.16-17 help us understand the reasons for Jesus’s temple protest and answer the concerns which brought Nicodemus to Jesus?

Q12 How can we live as God’s people today and co-operate with God’s purposes?

Psalm 23 for Christians

The 23rd Psalm has always been one of my favourites, with its powerful picture of God's care and protection for those he loves. Recently though, I've been challenged to rethink verse 5a, where we read "You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies". The psalmist seems to envisage a situation where God serves a meal to him whilst his enemies look on, but are unable to harm him. There may even be a suggestion that the enemies have been defeated and captured by God and now, bound and gagged, they are forced to look on, humiliated, as God vindicates the psalmist once and for all. This is probably the kind of picture the writer had in mind and you can see how it would be an encouragement to an individual or tribe or nation suffering persecution.

But how does this sit with the teaching of Jesus and the apostles about how christians are to relate to their enemies?

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. Matthew 5.44-45

No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12.20-21

I've been challenged by verses like these to see that in a Christian version of Psalm 23, when God is feeding us "in the presence of my enemies", our enemies are not cowering in handcuffs but sitting at the table alongside us. What do others think?

Did God really say..?

I've been engaged in some interesting debates in recent days and a few times I've come across the comment... "Ah, but who was it who said 'Did God really say...?' - making reference to the snake in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3.1) as a way of shutting off discussion and sidestepping the other person's question.
I hope most readers agree that this is a very inappropriate tactic to use. It can be taken to imply that your opponent is evil, or indeed that all enquiry into the truth of God is inherantly evil. But the Bible clearly teaches us to love God with all our mind and also promises that the Holy Spirit will guide the followers of Jesus into all truth (John 16.13). So let's keep asking the tough questiona and seeking God's truth, in loving fellowship with our fellow-seekers and praying for the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Transfiguration Sermon Matthew 17.1-9

Matthew 17.1-9 The Transfiguration
• I’m grateful to all of you who have made your way up the hill to St George’s this morning. Also especially grateful to all who made their way up here to join in with our first 24 hour prayer meeting.

• I only went into the prayer room a few times, but each time the air was thick with the presence of God. It was beautiful and awe-inspiring.

• This morning I want to explore some of the links which the story of the Transfiguration has with (a) our attendance at this service and (b) our participation in the 24 hour prayer meeting.

A Strange Interruption to the flow of the gospel story.
• Jesus’ teaching and healing ministry has been progressing very well.

• So well that both friends and enemies are speculating about exactly who he is and what he is up to.

• Out of this speculation has come Peter’s declaration that Jesus is “the Christ (or Messiah), the Son of the living God.”

• After he confirms his identity and clarifies what this means for his future, we might expect Jesus to start his journey to Jerusalem straight away.

• But no. Instead we have a pause of about a week, at the end of which Jesus takes a walk up a mountain with three of his disciples. A strange meeting takes place, words are said, and then the four of them come down the mountain again with Jesus telling the disciples not to tell anyone what they have seen.

• The work of Jesus and the disciples then continues and it is not immediately obvious what the “pause” of the trip up the mountain was all about.

Why was the mountain top “pause” necessary?
• The clues are at the end of the previous chapter – in the sharp disagreement between Peter and Jesus, which came immediately after Peter’s declaration about the identity of Jesus (Matt 16.21-28).

• After confirming that Peter was correct, Jesus started explaining to his disciples what his being Messiah would entail and it was certainly not what they expected. He would be rejected by the religious leaders, executed and then raised to life.

• Peter, taking his duties as “The Rock” very seriously, immediately stepped in and reassured Jesus that he would never let that happen to him.

• Jesus ought to be grateful for this but no. He’s angry. Peter is no longer “The Rock” but a stumbling block worthy of the name “satan”.

• Bad enough to be rebuked for misunderstanding Jesus’ mission, Peter and the others are also told just how tough their own role as his followers will be (16.24-28). And it probably wasn’t exactly what they thought they had “signed up for”.

• Rather than being “cheer-leaders” for a popular rebel healer and teacher, they were going to be despised and hunted outlaws, associated with a disgraced and deceased enemy of the state.

• Life had been a fun adventure. Now they suddenly experienced that sinking feeling. They were confused, afraid. Their heads were spinning. But Jesus needed them to keep on following him. That’s why they needed the Transfiguration, but what about Jesus himself?

• Jesus needed it too. Not quite for the same reasons. He’d probably understood for a while that he was his life was to fulfil BOTH the prophecies of Messiah AND of Suffering Servant – linking these in a way no one had imagined possible.

• He could only do this as God made flesh, but he was fully human too and we should not underestimate the challenge to his faith as the prophesied events unfolded, and also the strength of his emotional tie with these followers who must give up everything. The Transfiguration was for Jesus too.

What happened on that mountain top?
• I’m not going to speculate on some of the details. In what sense was what happened “real”? Were Elijah and Moses physically present or was it a kind of group “vision”? How did the disciples know it was them – did they have name badges? Was the voice of God heard physically or in some other way?

• Interesting questions but we can’t answer them. But even though we can’t know what kind of reality it was, we can be sure it was a vital “reality check”.

• Somehow, hidden truths became visible to the disciples:-

• That Jesus was the fulfilment of the OT Law and Prophets

• That Jesus was the image of God and the light of the world, overflowing with glory and truth.

• That Jesus must be listened to and obeyed and followed

Thes things were revealed at the transfiguration, but could not be understood until after the resurrection, which seems to be the reason why Jesus told the three disciples to keep it to themselves until then.

• The disciples responded in two ways. First, a rather sweet desire to keep the moment, to build shelters so that the mountain top experience can continue.

• Secondly, at the sound of God’s voice they fall face down, overcome by fear. But they are immediately touched by Jesus, who helps them to their feet and reassures them that there is no need to be afraid.

• Finally they are left alone with him and the journey continues, back down the mountain and beyond...
What has it got to do with us?
• Sometimes life is just one big fun adventure, as it must have seemed for the disciples in the early days. But this can change suddenly and we can suddenly be aware of how fragile and dangerous life is.

• Is this a “reality check” or is it an indication that we need a reality check. And we can trust God to give us what we need.

• Coming to church for a service, even more so for a 24 hour prayer meeting, may seem like a strange and unnecessary interruption to the realities of normal life.

• Perhaps some of your friends and family tell you this. Perhaps part of you thinks it too.

• But sometimes what we need is a mountain top experience in the company of Jesus. This is where we can experience the reality of God’s complete and unconditional love for us and for all people.

• It is here that we can experience the touch of Jesus which takes away our fear, helps us to our feet and prepares us to go back down the mountain, full of his light and his love to share with others.

• If we are lucky enough to have a mountain top experience, we may want to hang onto it forever. Some of you may have experienced this in the prayer room yesterday. Some may even experience it in a church service.

• It is possible to spend our lives flitting from one Church to another, one conference to another, constantly seeking new “mountain top” experiences.

• But our mission is back in the world, not on the mountain top, and as we follow him, Jesus will lead us back down into the mess of life, where we are to reflect his glory and his love into even the darkest places...

The Rob Bell "Heresy Trial"

The controversy about Rob Bell's new book continues, even though it still doesn't come out for a few weeks. Some people want you to believe that Bell is a dangerous "heretic" who wants you to abandon the truth of the Bible and accept some wicked and untrue beliefs. Unfortunately the one thing these critics all have in common is that they haven't read the book yet! Sadly, many of their comments also seem to lack both love and humility.

Well, here at last is a balanced and sensible review of the book by Greg Boyd, who has actually read the book! Thank you Greg.

And here is a great post by Robin Parry on the subject, which offers wise counsel on how Christians should discuss controversial issues. Thank you Robin.

One thing the premature critics have achieved is to ensure that Rob's book will be a massive best seller. I'll certainly be getting a copy... and reading it!

Matt 17 Transfiguration Bible Study

Bible Study - Matthew 17.1-9

Q1 What can we learn from the context of this passage within Matthew’s gospel?

Q2 Why do you think Jesus took the three disciples up the mountain with him at this time?

Q3 What do the changes in Jesus’s appearance tell us?

Q4 What is the significance of the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus?

Q5 What do they each represent and what connection do they have with the mission of Jesus?

Luke tells us what Moses and Elijah talked about with Jesus. See especially Luke 9.31 where the word translated ‘departure’ is actually the word ‘exodus’ – an unusual word to use about someone’s death.

Q6 What are the similarities and differences between the Old Testament exodus and the exodus that Jesus achieved through his journey, his death and his resurrection?

Q7 What do you make of Peter’s suggestion in verse 4? How does this relate to spiritual high-points in our own lives?

Q8 How do the words of God and the actions of Jesus address the disciples? You might want to compare Ezekiel 1.25 to 2.3, Acts 9.1-6 and Revelation 1.12-18.

Q9 Why do you think Jesus instucted the instruction of verse 9 “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead”? How could they understand what he meant?

Q10 What was the significance of the transfiguration (a) for Jesus, (b) for the disciples and (c) for us? It may help to look at 2 Peter 1.12-18.