Pastor Marshall Ochs | February 25, 2024
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Luke 9:28-62. These verses cover the transfiguration and the disciples inability to cast out a demon form a young boy. These two important stories are followed by the journey to Jerusalem. This message looks at what happens when Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem and the impact it has on anyone who follows Christ.
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In Luke 9:28-36, we witness the transfiguration of Jesus, where Moses and Elijah appear, conversing with Him. This event is significant because it underscores that the entirety of Scripture, including the Law and the Prophets, ultimately points to Jesus. They serve as arrows, directing us toward the fulfillment found in Christ. Jesus fulfills all that the Law and the Prophets anticipated. Jesus is our Redeemer.
When faced with conflicts between our feelings, traditions, or experiences and the teachings of Jesus, there's only one course of action – listening to Jesus. His words carry unparalleled authority and wisdom. If our emotions or experiences clash with His teachings, we prioritize His Word above all else.
We see in Luke 9 that, like many of us, the disciples were prone to moments of inadequate faith and astonishment at the majesty of God. Despite witnessing miracles and experiencing divine encounters, they faltered in their belief when faced with challenges. (It bears a bit of resemblance to what we've recently read about the Israelites) How often do we find ourselves in similar circumstances, marveling at God's glory in special moments yet struggling to maintain faith when things don’t make sense to us?
As we read further, Jesus revealed the truth that He would soon face death. This truth was difficult for the disciples to grasp. How could it be that their Messiah would face death? That was not how it was supposed to be - He was the Messiah, the King of Kings. He was here on earth, surely to conquer evil, and it couldn't possibly come in the form of His death. How many times have we experienced hard things and thought the same thing? This is not how it is supposed to be.
Surrender is essential in following Jesus. Just as Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem, we are called to fix our eyes on the road ahead, letting go of earthly attachments, distractions, and concerns. What distractions are we allowing to divert our gaze from Jesus? The path we are called to walk is the narrow road of surrender and death to self.
In a world filled with noise and distractions pulling at us from every direction, may we choose to fix our eyes on Jesus and the road of surrender. Surrendering is a daily activity; we will never be done until we meet Jesus face to face.