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Post by Josh on Feb 8, 2007 20:38:58 GMT -8
12/12/05:
Transfiguration: I have often thought how cool it is that Moses, who was not allowed entry into the promised land on account of his mistakes, now saw the truest fulfillment of his desires, standing on a mountain within the Promised Land, discoursing with the epitome of his every hope.
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Post by michelle on Feb 9, 2007 18:17:43 GMT -8
12/05: 1After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4Peter 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." 5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" For some reason this depiction makes me think of Joseph Smith's "vision". I wonder if this played any part in how his "vision" was formed. This also reintroduces Josh's question about how we can test the validity of the Bible's visions and Joseph Smith's visions. How do we know the disciples weren't crazy and making this stuff up? I think we can look at what they had to gain versus what JS had to gain and their respective recorded characters to find those answers. 20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
I think this speaks volumes. The disciples had almost no faith if all it takes is the faith as small as mustard seed to move a mountain. I can sense Jesus' frustration (though not an angry frustration, more of a loving frustration that they just weren't getting it) with them. It makes me wonder if that is how God feels about me when I just don't get it.
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Post by michelle on Jun 14, 2007 20:24:57 GMT -8
I'm really beginning to love Peter. He always seems to be stumbling in his faith (the walking on water incident, denying Jesus, falling asleep at the garden while Jesus is praying and the list goes on) and falling short of perfection. But he is still one of the most beloved of the disciples. He is so beloved by Jesus that he is 1 of 3 disciples that gets to see the transfiguration of Moses and Elijah. What a faith booster that must have been for the disciples. And although Peter denies Jesus 3 times, every other depiction we see of him, he is demonstrating such loyalty to and protectiveness of Jesus. I just find it so comforting that Peter, who was one of the most rebuked disciples, was also one of Jesus' most beloved disciples who went on to be such an amazing disciple after Jesus' death. I know that even though I may fall as short as Peter did, Jesus still wants to have an intimate relationship with me. It is such a great reflection of Jesus character (and how we should be as Christians) that no matter how many times Peter "failed", Jesus never saw him differently and never loved him any less. I will say, though, that I became a little disappointed with Peter in 1 Peter 3:7...but I'm willing to forgive him that.
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