Mark 9:2–13 (NLT)

² Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, ³ and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. ⁴ Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, 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.” 

⁶ He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.

⁷ Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” ⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.

⁹ As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”

¹¹ Then they asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”

¹² Jesus responded, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt? ¹³ But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.”

1. Come with me to be alone.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. ⁵ For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:4–5 (NIV)

2. Come with me to understand who I am.

Then Elijah and Moses appeared … and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.”

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, ¹⁶ and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. ¹⁷ To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. ¹⁸ Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Exodus 24:15-18 NIV

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV)

3. Come with me to do my work.

“When they returned to the other disciples,

They saw a large crow surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law are arguing with them. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk… So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” … Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” Mark 9:14-30 (NLT)

◾ Establishing and nurturing a relationship with God through Jesus.

God, thank you for showing yourself to me. Jesus, I turn to you, admit I need you, and ask you to enter my heart by faith. By your Spirit, restore my heart with your forgiveness; help me to hear your voice and know your love. Gather me with others to worship and serve you; to nurture our faith and shine your light in the world. Thank you for calling me your child. Amen.

For next week: Read Mark 10 and journal on the transfiguration in Mark 10:13-16. Follow the format of Observation, Reflection and Prayer as outlined on the Come With Me card and using your Mark journal. Download the Filament App for Mark as you study the passage in your time alone with God each day.

REFLECT TOGETHER ON SUNDAY’S MESSAGE

• Gather together with prayer and time of conversation, sharing, or even an ice-breaker.
• Review the main points from the sermon outline.
• Share with one another, using these prompts only as suggestions: 
• Which point in the outline did you most identify with?
• How has Mark 9:2-13 and the message on Sunday shifted your understanding? 

CONNECT WITH GOD (Try the below practice or choose a practice from a previous week.)

Breath Prayer with Movement - an invitation to remember that God is closer than breath! 

• This week we add movement to pray with your whole being: mind, heart and body.
• On your inhale pray: “Help me listen,” touching your ears as
• you inhale.
• On your exhale pray: “Help me trust,” with arms palms up in a gesture of receiving
• Continue on for a few minutes, making space for a growing awareness of the Holy Spirit. 

Centering Prayer - a simple practice that helps you become more attentive to God’s activity in your life. We quiet our minds, cease striving and make room for God’s deep work in us. 

• Take a moment to breathe, slow down and be attentive. 
• Choose a sacred focus for your prayer time: a name for God or simply “Lord, I am Yours.” Or imagine Jesus’ loving look or Jesus calming the sea. Or focus on your breath. 
• Using your sacred focus, quiet your mind. When your mind wanders, return to your sacred focus, trusting that the Holy Spirit is at work in you.
• After the allotted time, thank the Holy Spirit for working in you.

CONNECT WITH SCRIPTURE (As a reminder: this is the Bible passage for Sunday, April 218.)

• Read together: Mark 10:13-16 and use the “Come with Me” card, along with your Mark Bible Journal to engage with the Scripture passage for the coming week. 
• Observe. 
• Meditate: Slow down. Journal. 
• Pray: What prayer of praise, gratitude, or confession arises from your heart and mind as you meditate on this passage? 
• Reflect together (in pairs): Spend time sharing your reactions and reflections of Mark 10:13-16 using this prompt as a guide.
• What does this passage teach you about your own dependence on God?
• How do you connect to this passage in our contemporary world? 

DIG DEEPER  (Select 1-2 questions or customize the questions for your group.) 

• As far as you know, how were children viewed and treated in the
• first-century? 
• How do the disciples respond to the children touching Jesus? Why?
• In what way does this passage reveal the disciples’ continued misunderstanding of the kingdom of God? 
• …But how does Jesus respond to the children?
• How does this brief passage connect to what’s come before it in chapter nine and ten? 
• In our society who are the ‘least of these’?

NEXT STEPS 

• Follow along with the “Weekly Readings” guide in the front pages of your Mark journal over the coming weeks.

PRAYER 

This spring session, we will spend time praying for our co-pastor nominating committee and our whole church in the midst of big transitions.

For the CPNC: Pray for discernment, mutual forbearance, and wisdom. Pray that the whole process be further evidence of God’s movement among us. Pray that Jesus is at the center of each conversation, each question asked and all decisions made throughout the process.

For SBPC: Pray for the Holy Spirit to infuse hope, energy, and love throughout this transitional journey. Pray for us to move as one people, becoming witnesses of God’s love in times of both clarity and uncertainty. Pray that we witness to the risen Christ as His body in the world.