Lesson #13 Revelation and the Mount of Transfiguration

Matt 15:21-17:9

Beginning with Matt chapter 16, we see and interesting process of learning how to receive revelation and why it is so important to Christ’s church.

To go through this process we must put ourselves in Peter, James and John’s shoes.  So let’s first do a quick recounting of all the miracles they have witnessed and things they’ve experienced while literally following Jesus.

The Sadducees and Pharisees have set aside their differences to come together against Jesus is indicative of the great opposition mounting against the Savior.  They asked Jesus for a sign.  To which Jesus retorted that these two groups find signs in the evening and morning atmosphere to predict the weather patterns, but cannot accept the signs already given concerning the Messiah and tells them they will have the same sign as given to Jonah: swallowed up for three days then resurrected.

Then Jesus addresses his apostles telling them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.  They "reasoned among themselves" thinking he was rebuking them for not having brought bread with them.  But Jesus actually rebukes them for reasoning among themselves. There are a few reasons why:

• Coming up with a reason and calling it the will of God, or truth, when they didn’t think to ask.
• They were focusing on material things and not the spiritual meaning of his saying.

So, as far as revelation goes, the apostles learn that the answer doesn't come from their reasoning along, but their reasoning checked by divine reasoning.

Then Peter, James and John are asked "Whom do ye say that I am?" and Peter answers, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  To which Jesus replies "Blessed are though Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven."

Peter learns that revelation comes through the Spirit only, who is the messenger of the Father.  Peter's testimony is confirmed by this admission.

In Matt 16:18-20, Peter learns that it is in fact revelation that the church will be built upon, that is to say, direction from Jesus Christ.  In fact, in vs 18 when Jesus says "upon this rock shall I build my church" there is a footnote to rock that says "Here is a subtle wordplay upon “Peter” (Greek petros = small rock) and “rock” (Greek petra = bedrock). Christ is the Stone of Israel."  Peter is a small rock, just like we are all small rock with our own callings and testimonies.  Christ is the bedrock of the church, of our salvation, the author of revelation.  Peter further learns that he will be given the sealing keys, further revelation for the work of the Lord.

The Lord then begins to educate his apostles about his coming death.  To which Peter responds with dismay, not wanting Jesus to leave him (also that is not what their Messiah is supposed to do - he should save them , not die!).  Jesus says to Peter: Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou ^asavourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then tells them that those who follow him, should take up their cross and deny himself.  Peter learned of revelation here too, that the will of God should be savoured more than the will of men - even if it seems something righteous like not wanting Jesus to leave his presence.

Peter, James and Jon, then receive the greatest revelation to confirm their testimony of Jesus the Christ, upon the Mount of Transfiguration.  They receive an education from Moses and Elijah and Jesus about His death and resurrection and they also receive Priesthood keys.  I'm going to post the puzzle piece about this story from Matthew, Mark, and Luke below.

Puzzle pieced Mount of Transfiguration

Mount of Transfiguration: Basic Text from Matthew 17:1-9 

Text from other gospels as indicated:  Luke            Luke JST            Mark

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart to pray.

2 And as he prayed [He] was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light white and glistering shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

3 And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias who appeared in glory talking with him and spake of his decease and also his resurrection which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

4  And it came to pass, as they departed from him Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias for he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and they feared as they entered into the cloud and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, May 1977 Ensign, “We Beheld His Glory”.

Perhaps Jesus felt not only a sense of the heavenly calm which that solitary opportunity for communion with His Father would bring, but even more, a sense that He would be supported in the coming hour by ministrations not of this earth. He was to be illuminated with a light which needed no aid from the sun or the moon or the stars. He went up to prepare for His coming death. He took His three apostles with Him in the belief that they, after having seen His glory—the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father—might be fortified, that their faith might be strengthened to prepare them for the insults and humiliating events which were to follow.

We learn from what has been written that the Savior, finding a secluded place, knelt and prayed; and as He prayed to His Father, He was elevated far above the doubt and wickedness of the world which had rejected Him.

We can be elevated above the world to by asking for revelation from our Divine Father in Heaven.

#12 I am the Bread of life

John 5-6   Mark 6:30-44   Matt 14:22-33

This post is not going to be long because there is just one thing that really sticks with me and I'm still pondering it.  It concerns the event when the Savior walks on water and he bids Peter to come to him (Matt 14:22-33 also in John 6).  When I've read this story I've always focused on Peter, and likened him to me.  Sometimes I feel chastized, as perhaps Peter did for not having enough faith.  But when I read it through this time, I focused on what the Savior did.  When Peter started to walk out to Jesus on the water, he actually did walk on water as he kept his eye on the Savior.  When he paid attention to the circumstances around him, he started to sink. What did Peter do first? "He cried, Lord, save me."

"AND IMMEDIATELY JESUS STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND AND CAUGHT HIM."

Then He said to Peter, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Jesus said to Peter, he had only a little faith and asked why he doubted.  BUT THE SAVIOR STILL STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND AND CAUGHT HIM!!  Even though he only had a little faith, it was at least enough to ask the Lord for help and the Savior saved him.
 Maybe the Savior saying "O thou of little faith" wasn't the rebuke.  It was a statement. A fact that men have little faith, but that's OK.  A little is sometimes enough.  The rebuke is: why did you doubt?  And when I say rebuke, I mean the Savior is teaching him not to pay attention to the circumstance, only to keep focused on Him.

#11 He spake many things unto them in parables

Matthew 13

Why does the Savior teach in parables?

·      Teaching with imagery gives something to relate to

·      A parable is a call to investigate the truth

·      Weed out those who don’t/won’t/aren’t ready to understand

·      Mercy – so those who aren’t ready, aren’t accountable yet

·      Conceals messages from those who now strongly oppose Him

The first parable in Matthew 13 is the parable of the sower (vs 1-9) He told them the parable then after they asked about why he spake in parables, he gave them the interpretation of the parable.

So, when He was alone with the apostles, he told them the meaning of the parable.  Note that the only requirement for being taught further is to want to be taught.  They didn’t have any special designations or privileges to merit an interpretation; they just wanted to know more.

There are many different types of soils, but only one seed (the gospel) and only one sower (the Savior).  When I was a missionary we used this passage of scripture a lot (actually read from the gospel of Mark) to forewarn investigators that after they committed to be baptized, they will be bombarded by temptations and persuasions to not be baptized.  So, I associate this passage with missionary work and converts.  But as I read this passage, this year, I realized that at different times in my life my soul has been different soils.  There are times when I have not wanted to do things spiritual, and other times when I couldn't get enough of the doctrines of the gospel.  There are times when I went to church just because I felt I had to and time when I couldn't wait to get back to learn more.  There are times when I have not listened to promptings and others when I have.  But the great thing about soil is, you can always change it.  Even the rotten "soil" in Nevada, you can nurture and enrich so that you can actually grow things you can eat!  

Cultivating our soil or souls in a continual process.  There will always be rocks cropping up, there will always be weeds wanting to grow, there will always be pests wanting to take away nutrients.  But we have control over how fertile our soil or soul is.  It is a great comfort that the seed and the Sower never change.

Other parables in Matthew 13: the wheat and the tares which is a great example of patience.  The Savior shows us that it is necessary for good and bad to grow together, but He must wait until the crop is ready to harvest to tell the difference between what will be saved and what will be burned.

The parables of the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price teach us that sacrifice for the gospel is required in order to gain the benefit thereof.

Lesson #10 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me

Matt 11:28-30   Matt 12:1-13   Luke 13:10-17   Luke 7:36-50

I really love this passage of scripture (Matt 11:28-30) "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I love this because it's so personal, so individual, so active.  Here is what this passage implies to me:

1. The Savior is already carrying our yoke or our burden.  We sometimes think that we are carrying it alone.  But if we even just acknowledge him as a possible partner, our burden will begin to be lighter.
2. The Savior will give us rest.  He will give us rest in the eternities by virtue of using his atonement.  He will give us rest now by offering empathy, by offering ideas, by offering support spiritually through him and through other people he sends.
3. If we take the yoke He is carrying AND learn of him we will find rest to our souls.  He offers us his yoke.  He offers to work with us. He offers to be our partner through all our burdens.  He doesn't take away any yoke or burdens.
4. We can still have rest WHILE carrying the yoke!
5. He is meek and lowly in heart.  He is a worker.  He is not a dictator, magistrate or an aristocrat.  He works WITH us. He is willing to share, to give and take. He won't tell us what to do, but help guide us.
6. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. Why? Because he has done it all. He has experienced everything.  Most things are easier the second time around.  AND most things are easier when you have somebody helping.

What great imagery.  I think I'm going to find a picture of a yoke and hang it in my house.