The Danger of Walking in the Light
Commentary
In both the Old and New Testaments light is always associated directly with God. This light is not sunlight but light which enlightens, reveals, makes clear, searches, rebukes the darkness of the spirit and mind, etc.
It is important to remember that in Genesis 1 the light is created before the sun. This is no ancient error or ignorance. These sophisticated writers knew exactly what they were writing. God is the source of all light. Even the light of the sun has its source in him. Genesis i is no story of creation; it is a declaration that God was there with purpose and intent. He who creates can re-create. He who gives life saves life.
Of course, there are forces that do not want the light (truth, insight, wisdom, knowledge, revelation) to shine. See John 3:16-21. It is not to their advantage. They can readily generate hostility to anyone who becomes an instrument or agent of GodÕs light.
Such are the power mongers, the hoodwinkers, the charlatans, the vested interests of the world.
Those who dare to let the light shine in, challenge the status quo, enable people to break free, stand over against vested interest will soon discover who those are that would quell the truth and hide the light.
The promise of God is that we can become bearers of the light. See Matthew 5:14-16. But watch it! Someone is going to try and break your lantern.
OUTLINE I
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
2 Kings 2:1-12a; 2 Corinthians 4.3-6; (3:12--4:2); Mark 9:2-9
Intoduction: Point out that all three scripture selections share something of the wonder of basking in the light (enlightenment, revelation, insight, etc.) Elisha must have been thrilled to discover that he had ElijahÕs power. The faithful at Corinth were overjoyed that they were privileged to share the good news. The three disciples on the mountam were so excited they wanted to build three temples on the mountain and stay up there where the wonder was.
1) We, too, are a people seeking mountaintop experiences. Discuss the current revival of charismatic and ecstatic experiences in the church. There is no need to judge or demean them, but there is a need to be careful. There are those who conclude that because they have never had such experiences they are not Christians, or, that unless they are on a spiritual high all the time, something is amiss in their spiritual life.
2) Return to the scriptures. Right away Elisha is faced with the problem of polluted wells. Paul will not be long in getting around to the difficulties he encountered as he sought to carry out his mission. (See 2 Corinthians 6:3-10.) Read all of the Transfiguration Story. Read Mark 9:9. "And as they were coming down from the mountain ..." Jesus would not let them tarry at shrines. The work of the world awaited them.
Conclusion: Remind the congregation that both the Old and New Testaments work hard at keeping our feet on the ground. There is always a "meanwhile, back-at-the-ranch" aspect of our lives. That is where we live. That is where we are called to be faithful. God will not long let us bask in high places.
OUTLINE II
The God Who Is Never Without a Witness
2 Kings 2:1-12a
Introduction: You will probably have to do some considerable orientation as to who Elijah and Elisha were. These days the ordinary church member probably has heard little or nothing about these Old Testament characters. Elijah is a central character in the First and Second Kings drama. Especially read again the events of 1 Kings 18 and 19 as preparation. 1 Kings 19:15, 16 ushers Elisha on stage.
1) There are many things about these old stories that are not quite credible and of little use to most inhabitants of the pews these days. Such things as persons being taken up to heaven bodily, or seemingly having the power to materialize here and there and being able to pull off quite impressive feats of magic smack too much of space-travel movie images to be very real to us. So, deal with them as they are. Let the congregation understand that from the understanding of the world of those people of the tenth and ninth centuries B.C. these were real possibilities.
2) Then get at the kernel of truth that is here. In Acts 14 Luke writes, "In past generations he (God) allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways; yet he did not leave himself without witness ..." The writer of Hebrews put it, "In many and various ways God spoke to our fathers by the prophets ..." The point is that these men were representatives of God in their day. The great powers and the great acts ascribed to them were designed to declare that God worked through them and that none ought dare challenge, not them, but the power of God that was behind them.
Conclusion: The entire Bible is the story of the ways in which God makes himself known among his people. Surely how he does it now is different. Discuss ways in which we perceive his presence and activity in our own day and make the point that it is no less real now than then.
OUTLINE III
How to See Jesus as He Truly Is
Mark 9:29
Introduction: Point out that there are many places of interest in this text. One could discuss the meaning of the appearance of Moses and Elijah (the witness of the law and the prophets), or the light, or the voice. This can be made into a text of wonder that separates it from the real world. It can be made to sound as if Jesus had some special access to heaven not available to the rest of us. One has to be careful how far the text is driven in this direction.
1) There is no doubt that the writer of Mark is reporting about an event that made a mighty impression on those who accompanied Jesus that day. Many believe that the gospel of Mark is based on interviews with Peter. Everybody knows Peter as the brash exaggerator among the disciples. He must have waxed eloquent as he told of this great moment in his life. There is no doubt that it is one of the ways the early church meant to express the connection of this new faith with the heritage of the Jews who were a part of it. And there is no doubt that it was a part of the way they meant to validate Jesus as the Messiah.
2) There are those who are always hoping for a mountaintop experience which will once and for all convince them. Others want to be knocked down by the truth. Relate this expectation to the entire context of the Gospel of Mark. Never does he blatantly come out and declare openly who Jesus is. Always he invites with questions. (What is this? 1:27) (Who can forgive sins but God alone? 1:7) (Who is this that even wind and sea obey him? 4:41) (Where did this man get all this? 6:2) (Who do you say that I am? 8:29)
Conclusion: As the reader of MarkÕs day had to shape an answer to these questions, so do we. Mark invites us to answer in a way that affirms him as the Christ. Only when we so affirm do we begin to see. Only then is he transfigured and does he become the Christ for us.
It is important to remember that in Genesis 1 the light is created before the sun. This is no ancient error or ignorance. These sophisticated writers knew exactly what they were writing. God is the source of all light. Even the light of the sun has its source in him. Genesis i is no story of creation; it is a declaration that God was there with purpose and intent. He who creates can re-create. He who gives life saves life.
Of course, there are forces that do not want the light (truth, insight, wisdom, knowledge, revelation) to shine. See John 3:16-21. It is not to their advantage. They can readily generate hostility to anyone who becomes an instrument or agent of GodÕs light.
Such are the power mongers, the hoodwinkers, the charlatans, the vested interests of the world.
Those who dare to let the light shine in, challenge the status quo, enable people to break free, stand over against vested interest will soon discover who those are that would quell the truth and hide the light.
The promise of God is that we can become bearers of the light. See Matthew 5:14-16. But watch it! Someone is going to try and break your lantern.
OUTLINE I
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
2 Kings 2:1-12a; 2 Corinthians 4.3-6; (3:12--4:2); Mark 9:2-9
Intoduction: Point out that all three scripture selections share something of the wonder of basking in the light (enlightenment, revelation, insight, etc.) Elisha must have been thrilled to discover that he had ElijahÕs power. The faithful at Corinth were overjoyed that they were privileged to share the good news. The three disciples on the mountam were so excited they wanted to build three temples on the mountain and stay up there where the wonder was.
1) We, too, are a people seeking mountaintop experiences. Discuss the current revival of charismatic and ecstatic experiences in the church. There is no need to judge or demean them, but there is a need to be careful. There are those who conclude that because they have never had such experiences they are not Christians, or, that unless they are on a spiritual high all the time, something is amiss in their spiritual life.
2) Return to the scriptures. Right away Elisha is faced with the problem of polluted wells. Paul will not be long in getting around to the difficulties he encountered as he sought to carry out his mission. (See 2 Corinthians 6:3-10.) Read all of the Transfiguration Story. Read Mark 9:9. "And as they were coming down from the mountain ..." Jesus would not let them tarry at shrines. The work of the world awaited them.
Conclusion: Remind the congregation that both the Old and New Testaments work hard at keeping our feet on the ground. There is always a "meanwhile, back-at-the-ranch" aspect of our lives. That is where we live. That is where we are called to be faithful. God will not long let us bask in high places.
OUTLINE II
The God Who Is Never Without a Witness
2 Kings 2:1-12a
Introduction: You will probably have to do some considerable orientation as to who Elijah and Elisha were. These days the ordinary church member probably has heard little or nothing about these Old Testament characters. Elijah is a central character in the First and Second Kings drama. Especially read again the events of 1 Kings 18 and 19 as preparation. 1 Kings 19:15, 16 ushers Elisha on stage.
1) There are many things about these old stories that are not quite credible and of little use to most inhabitants of the pews these days. Such things as persons being taken up to heaven bodily, or seemingly having the power to materialize here and there and being able to pull off quite impressive feats of magic smack too much of space-travel movie images to be very real to us. So, deal with them as they are. Let the congregation understand that from the understanding of the world of those people of the tenth and ninth centuries B.C. these were real possibilities.
2) Then get at the kernel of truth that is here. In Acts 14 Luke writes, "In past generations he (God) allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways; yet he did not leave himself without witness ..." The writer of Hebrews put it, "In many and various ways God spoke to our fathers by the prophets ..." The point is that these men were representatives of God in their day. The great powers and the great acts ascribed to them were designed to declare that God worked through them and that none ought dare challenge, not them, but the power of God that was behind them.
Conclusion: The entire Bible is the story of the ways in which God makes himself known among his people. Surely how he does it now is different. Discuss ways in which we perceive his presence and activity in our own day and make the point that it is no less real now than then.
OUTLINE III
How to See Jesus as He Truly Is
Mark 9:29
Introduction: Point out that there are many places of interest in this text. One could discuss the meaning of the appearance of Moses and Elijah (the witness of the law and the prophets), or the light, or the voice. This can be made into a text of wonder that separates it from the real world. It can be made to sound as if Jesus had some special access to heaven not available to the rest of us. One has to be careful how far the text is driven in this direction.
1) There is no doubt that the writer of Mark is reporting about an event that made a mighty impression on those who accompanied Jesus that day. Many believe that the gospel of Mark is based on interviews with Peter. Everybody knows Peter as the brash exaggerator among the disciples. He must have waxed eloquent as he told of this great moment in his life. There is no doubt that it is one of the ways the early church meant to express the connection of this new faith with the heritage of the Jews who were a part of it. And there is no doubt that it was a part of the way they meant to validate Jesus as the Messiah.
2) There are those who are always hoping for a mountaintop experience which will once and for all convince them. Others want to be knocked down by the truth. Relate this expectation to the entire context of the Gospel of Mark. Never does he blatantly come out and declare openly who Jesus is. Always he invites with questions. (What is this? 1:27) (Who can forgive sins but God alone? 1:7) (Who is this that even wind and sea obey him? 4:41) (Where did this man get all this? 6:2) (Who do you say that I am? 8:29)
Conclusion: As the reader of MarkÕs day had to shape an answer to these questions, so do we. Mark invites us to answer in a way that affirms him as the Christ. Only when we so affirm do we begin to see. Only then is he transfigured and does he become the Christ for us.
