Audio Messages

We can not come to God thinking we can barter or negotiate with God for
life in the kingdom. We would missing the point if we thought that. We
may say “God I will be good for the rest of my life if you will let me
in” or “God you know I have been a decent person, perhaps even a good
person and I deserve to be in”- Neither way will work!

We must come before God like a baby - with nothing to give - with nothing
to offer - and at the same time very content to be reliant upon Him. Its
both don’t you see. When we realize we are helpless, it’s in our
helplessness that we receive grace and God’s help. We are simply
delighted that He picks us up and spiritually holds us in his arms of
salvation. But only when we come as the helpless children that we are.

The painting you see on the screen is by the master painter Raphael. It is entitled- The Transfiguration and was his last painting before his death at age 37. In fact this painting was not completed at his death in 1520 but was finished by one of his students.  One thing that strikes me in this masterpiece is how Raphael ties the two episodes together. On top is the glory of Christ revealed- notice how light and the glory of Jesus dominate the top portion. The disciples are covering their eyes because it’s so bright. On the bottom scene all eyes are on the boy possessed by a spirit. It is a scene of turmoil, trouble and darkness. Raphael tied these two themes together as one and so does Mark in his gospel. If we are to glean the message of today’s gospel we must remember the context of the transfiguration.

The two scenes in Raphael’s painting stand is stark contrast yet are part of the same painting. This is a picture of life of the Christian. For as Peter, James and John had been given the gift of the glimpse of the glory of God they were also called to ministry in a fallen world. Jesus took them off the mountain into turmoil and chaos. One reason clearly was so they could go a minister and care for those in the grips of sickness and Satan.

This is a very interesting text. Why would God choose to heal this man’s sight in stages: For surely He could have taken this man from complete blindness to perfect sight in an instant but in this case he chooses not too. I believe Jesus wants us to see a spiritual lesson in His actions. As Charles Spurgeon remarked, The miracle before us portrays the progressive healing of a darkened understanding.