Mountain Top Living for the Valleys of Life

Transfiguration:

“Mountain Top Living for the Valleys of Life”

All of us have struggles in life. All of us go through some dark valleys. Life is full of them. Jesus Himself faced some dark valleys. In fact he was about to face the biggest valley of His life – the cross! But before the crushing cross came a mountain top experience with the Father. What took place as recorded by Matthew at 17:1-13 is called “The Transfiguration of Jesus.” The word translated “transfigured” gives us our English word “metamorphosis.” A metamorphosis is a change on the outside that comes from the inside. The word is related to the word “transform.”

On the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus received an encouraging visit from some Old Testament saints and the Father’s encouragement and confirmation to fulfill His mission on the cross. It is the mountain top experiences with God and other believers that make walking through the valleys of life more than tolerable, but actually joyful! This Sunday, March 13^th we will explore Jesus’ transfiguration and what that means for us in our daily lives. You can find this Sunday’s text below. The mountain top times with our heavenly Father and with God’s people do give us fresh perspective on who we are (identity), where we are (status), and what we are doing (activity).

We invite you to worship with us this Sunday at Carrollwood Baptist Church where all are welcomed! Come prepared to Glorify God and be transformed by the risen Christ. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. CBC is located at 5395 Ehrlich Road, just one mile east of the Veteran’s Expressway.

Look forward this Sunday to transformative worship in God’s presence and with God’s people!

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

             

Matthew 17:1-13, New International Version (NIV)

The Transfiguration
¹ After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ 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.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.