2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Sometimes it is hard to let go and move on. There are times when we have been blessed by a person or a place or an event, and it's difficult when it is time to move on. Sometimes a place can become significant to us like that. Perhaps God has blessed us by the beauty or the peacefulness of a place. Perhaps the people of place have blessed us. And, when the time comes, it is hard to leave.

When I was in high school our youth choir used to go to Lake Junaluska. Those weeks in the mountains were wonderful! I loved music and music was all we did those weeks. Youth choirs from all over the southeast would gather to sing. We would learn new songs and sing old ones. And if you have ever been to Lake Junaluska you know the beauty. It's a small lake surrounded by mountains in North Carolina. In the mornings you can see the clouds resting on the mountains and above the lake there is a large lighted cross that can be seen from all over. Lake Junaluska is an assembly run by the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. It's almost like the whole town is Methodist. Can you imagine a church the size of a town - well that's it. And of course there was the fellowship. 50 youth went with us each year. And we all stayed in one house with the girls upstairs and boys downstairs. Somehow I felt close to God in that place. I don't know if it was the Christian atmosphere or the thin air. But it was like heaven's doorstep.

But as is always the case the time came to leave. The last night we would all go up to the cross and sing until we were hoarse and then we would go back to the lodge and pack. It was hard to leave. But moving on is part of life. Whether it is leaving home or leaving a job or leaving school.

That's where Elisha is when we meet him. Elisha had been Elijah's companion in ministry. You have to go all the way back to 1 Kings 19 to find when they started traveling together. In a way Elijah had been Elisha's mentor. Elisha had seen the power of God at work in Elijah. He had seen miracles and wonders revealed through Elijah's ministry. Being with Elijah and watching him must have seemed almost like being with God himself.

But chapter 2 of 2 Kings opens by saying that the time was near for Elijah to be taken away. But Elisha can't seem to let go. Three times Elijah asks Elisha to stay in a place while he goes on a little further. But Elisha refuses. He vows to stay with Elijah to the bitter end. Twice companies of prophets ask Elisha to stay and let Elijah go on to his reward. But Elisha's response is, "Just be quiet!"

Finally Elijah comes to a stream and he rolls up his cloak and parts the water much in the way that Moses parted the red sea and Joshua parted the Jordan. It is as if Elisha has not only crossed over to the other side of a river but to the "other side" and escorted Elijah to the very gates of heaven. Elijah knows and Elisha knows that God will come and get him soon. As they are waiting Elijah asks, "What do you want Elisha?" Almost like a father speaking to a child right before a long business trip away. The father says, "What should I bring you," and the child names something that will make them happy. Elisha says, "I want double the presence of God I have known while I have been with you." He asks a lot but Elijah says "If you see me taken away you will know that presence." And the chariots of God come and take Elijah away and Elisha cries, "Father Father," and tears his cloak in grief. Then he picks up the mantle that represents Elijah's calling and parts the water of the Jordan.

It makes me think of the situation Jesus' disciples faced in the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus had taken them to the very gates of heaven. There they stood on the Mount with Jesus transfigured; glowing with an unworldly glory. They were surrounded by the glory of God. Moses and Elijah were standing there with them. And what did Peter say? "Let's set up camp."

I am sure he wanted to stay there. Everything was so clear. Jesus was there with Moses the giver of the Law and Elijah the greatest prophet. They had the glory of God and anything else they needed. So Peter couldn't let go.

God didn't need to ask what Peter needed. The Father knew. And God said, "This is my Son, listen to him." God knew they needed the glory and the presence that they were seeing in Jesus. So God just told them, "You have Jesus. That's all you really need."

These two stories of glory and divine presence teach us some very important lessons. First of all, it is hard to let go sometimes. It is difficult to move on from some happy or blessed event. When a family member dies or a chapter in our lives end, it is painful. We mourn the things that are left behind. We sorrow to leave the memories.

And that's O.K. God understands. God understood Elisha and God understood Peter. God didn't chide Elisha for not heeding the prophets' advice or criticize Peter for saying, "Let's set up camp." God understands. And Elisha mourned the loss of Elijah who had been like a Father to him.

It's the same for us. God doesn't blame us for not wanting to go on. And God understands the pain of our loss.

Which brings us to the other lesson these stories teach us. God not only understands but God gives us what we need to go on. Elisha had seen the presence of God working through Elijah. He needed that presence to remain with him. So through Elijah God gave Elisha twice what he needed, a double share of his Spirit. And God enabled him to part the waters that blocked his path.

Peter, James, and John had seen Moses and Elijah and the glories of heaven. They needed some of that glory to help them make it back down the mountain. They couldn't just leave that place. So God told them, "Here is my Son. Look to him." And they could know that they were not leaving that glory behind. God's glory in the flesh would be walking down that mountain with them.

And so God goes with us. Because God understands, God goes with us as we move on. God's presence in the living Christ and the Holy Spirit comfort and strengthen us as we head into the valleys of this life. And God is at work removing the obstacles to us moving on, parting the rivers that stand in our way.

I don't know where you are in your journey through life today. You may be facing some time of change and loss. I am sure there are people hearing my voice in all sorts of situations. Some may be trying to move on from the loss of a loved one. Some may be leaving school or family or home or may be facing difficult decisions. Some may be facing the imminent loss of health or loved ones or life.

No matter where you are, headed toward change or moving on from it, God is with you. God knows your pain and fear and God understands. But more importantly God knows what you need to move on and God has already provided it. What you need is God's glory and presence to be with you.

So to all who are facing moving on and may be having trouble doing it, I present to you Jesus the beloved Son of God. Look to him! See his glory and know that Jesus the Son of God is with you wherever you go.

Mark 9:2-9

We human beings are a strange mixture of belief and doubt. We say we believe something, but there is always doubt present. I guess it is part of being human. The Bible says we see only in part now as through a dark glass. We can't understand everything in the world around us. So we are always questioning what we believe to be the truth. I guess faith and doubt are like two sides of a coin. Without one the other would be meaningless.

But thank God we still venture to believe despite our doubts. Even though we can't see God, some of us still believe that God exists. Despite all the evil in the world we still believe that God is in control and that God is good. If we do not admit however that we have doubts, then we are fooling ourselves.

One day a man came to Jesus. His son was sick and he wanted Jesus to be heal him. Jesus asked him if he believed. He said, "Yes, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."(Mark 9:24) He was honest with Jesus and we should follow his example. We need to admit that we are all a mixture of doubt and belief.

Jesus' disciples were no different. They believed and yet they doubted also. One day Jesus asked them who people were saying he was. They said, "Some say Elijah or John the Baptist come back." Then Jesus said, "Who do you say I am?" And Peter said, "You are the Messiah." He believed in Jesus and was the first disciples to say so out loud.

But then Jesus started saying that he must go to Jerusalem to be rejected and killed. Peter didn't like the sound of this. He probably began to doubt not only Jesus' divinity but his sanity as well. Mark says that Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him. He didn't merely ask for a clarification of something he had trouble understanding. He rebuked Jesus and told him he was wrong. If Peter believed without a doubt that Jesus was the Messiah, he would have accepted whatever Jesus said as the Gospel truth. But he questioned what Jesus told him and doubted.

This incident demonstrates that Peter, the chief apostle, was a mixture of belief and doubt. Don't misunderstand. Peter did believe. He honestly believed that Jesus was the Messiah. But at the same time he doubted. He questioned the truth of Jesus' teaching when it didn't make perfect sense to him.

Peter and the other disciples had to live with this mixture of faith and doubt just as all humans do. So Jesus took them on a journey to help them grow in faith. It took six days of walking to reach the destination: a mountain. Then Jesus took three of the disciples: Peter, James and John up a mountain to pray. Some scholars believe that this mountain was Mt. Hebron. Mt. Hebron is 9200 feet up and its summit is always covered with snow.

So it was quite a hike to the top. At the top something happened. Jesus was transfigured. His clothes became an unearthly white and his face glowed. Moses and Elijah were standing there with him as a testimony to Jesus' holiness. Then a voice came from heaven and said, "This is my Beloved Son, do as he says."

I believe that this happened to confirm their faith. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah but at the same time they probably wondered if he was not mistaken about going to Jerusalem to die. But despite their doubt they followed Jesus to the mountain. They even hiked to the top of a high cold mountain. And God showed them that Jesus was the Messiah, and their faith was strengthened.

Like the disciples you and I are a mixture of belief and doubt. If we are honest with ourselves we can all join that man in saying, "Lord I believe. Help my unbelief." Even faithful people, like the apostle Peter, have doubts. "Lord I believe. Help my unbelief." That is the prayer of a true disciple. Anything less is a failure to be honest with ourselves and with God.

We all have doubts, and one of the main areas of doubt is that Jesus actually is the Son of God. Like Peter, people say Jesus is the Messiah, but they doubt at the same time. Many people say they believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but they have never committed their lives to him. They accept the historical premise that Jesus is God's Son. But they are unwilling to live their lives based on that. Many who say they believe Jesus is the Son of God are unwilling to set aside the time to worship him on a regular basis. They believe, but not enough to give up an hour a week for study and worship, or to give some time to him in prayer or service. But all of us have some level of doubt. Even those who have committed their lives fully to Christ have room to grow. No matter how deep our faith in Christ is, there are always new depths to discover.

And yet Jesus' sonship is at the cornerstone of our faith. Maybe that is why people have doubts about Jesus from time to time. After all if he was only a great moral teacher and not the only begotten Son of God, then his teachings are no more important than any other's. There were many healers in Jesus day. If he was not God's Son, then he was just another healer. If he was not God's Son than he could not have died for our sins and we would have to rely on our own moral ability and good works to save us. And we know no one is saved by works. Perhaps people doubt Jesus' divinity because it is so central to our faith.

We all have doubts. When you have doubts, just follow Jesus anyway. There are some people who believe they should just sit still until they get it all figured out. They say they will start going to church after they are finished reading the Bible and understand it. Or they won't make a commitment to Christ until they are free of all doubts. It'll never happen!

That's not the way Jesus works. When Jesus called Peter and the others, he didn't say come and I will explain everything to you then we will minister. He said, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." Christians learn on their feet while they walk. Jesus believes in on-the-job training. Every Christian needs to take classes, but we also need to sign up for an internship. We must follow to learn and grow. If we try to learn it all then follow, we will never learn a thing.

Have you ever heard the saying, "If you want faith, act as if you have it." That doesn't mean that you should put on a religious show as if you had faith. It is saying that we should step out in faith especially when we doubt. Because it is only when we step out in faith that our faith is verified and our doubts are quieted.

Step out in faith like Peter, James and John. They doubted, yet they followed Jesus up that mountain and their faith was confirmed and strengthened. In the same way follow Jesus up the mountain. Even though it seems an uphill struggle and your doubts nag at you continue to step out in faith. And you will see for yourself that Jesus is the Beloved Son of God, and you can listen to him.

Mark 9:2-9

Have you ever had a secret that you had trouble keeping? Some Secrets are easier to keep than others, and some people are better at keeping them than others. When you are planning a surprise birthday party there is always someone who spills the beans. But you can't blame them for not being able to keep some secrets. Some secrets are just burning to come out. When you care about someone and you know something that will make them happy you want to tell them. And sometimes that good news just comes bubbling out.

There is that danger that we will let a secret slip out unwillingly. This is even true for those of us who are good at keeping a secret. Let me show you what I mean. There was this family and they had bought an old car for the oldest daughter to drive to college in the next year. Now the whole family knew about this car but the oldest girl. They were keeping it a secret from her until her birthday later that week. It was the talk of the family at any time except when she was in the room. A few days before the girl's birthday the oldest daughter was working her schedule for the next week. She was asking when she could have the car to do this or do that. The parents were playing along with her so as not to let on about the car. Then all of a sudden one of the younger children burst in without thinking and said, "You can use your new car to do that." Sometimes it is even more subtle than that. Even if we don't consciously give the secret away our actions may do it for us. You see when we are party to some knowledge that knowledge governs our actions. We act based upon what we know. There is always the danger that we will do or say something that assumes the knowledge that we are trying to keep secret.

In short knowing something others do not know changes the way we act around them and toward them.

I have spent all this time talking about keeping secrets because that is the situation these three disciples in our lesson are in. You see on the mount of transfiguration Jesus showed James, John and Peter something marvelous, but then he told them not to tell anyone about it. How could someone keep secret the things they had seen? Jesus, their master, had been part of a wonderful miracle that took place before their eyes. They had seen the great prophet Moses and the prophet Elijah. These were people that they had only heard read about in the Scriptures. They had seen these holy people standing before them. And then they heard the voice of God. This kind of thing didn't happen every day. It didn't even happen every millennium. And they had seen it.

This was one of those secrets that just burns to be let out. Not just because of how marvelous it was, but because of what it showed them about Jesus. This event confirmed their suspicions about Jesus. And the voice of God quelled their doubts. It was the very thing that the other disciples needed to give them strength. You see only six days before Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Messiah. And he and James and John and the other disciples probably believed that. Then right before their eyes Jesus appears in a heavenly white robe. And Elijah and Moses are standing with him. And God proclaims from heaven, "This is my beloved Son." This confirmed and strengthened the belief they already had in Jesus. It was such a mountain top experience that Peter wanted to built three tabernacles right there so that they could all worship. As they headed down the mountain I am sure their first thoughts were to tell the other disciples. Out of love they wanted to bring this good new to their brothers because of the joy it would bring them. But Jesus told them to keep it a secret until after the resurrection. I am sure that was a hard secret to keep.

Secrets are hard to keep, but they sometimes have their reasons. Why did Jesus tell them to keep what they had seen a secret? This knowledge had strengthened them, and it would surely strengthen the other disciples. It had made Peter and James and John's faith strong it would strengthen others and even bring people to Christ. But yet Jesus told them to keep it a secret. I guess it was not yet the right time for the rest of the world to know who Jesus really was. God had a big surprise for the world. And if Peter and James and John spilled the beans before Jesus' resurrection it might ruin the surprise.

The three disciples Jesus took up on the mountain had to keep a secret, but I am sure that secret changed the way they acted after that. How could it have not changed them? They may not have been transfigured like Jesus but I am sure their faces glowed with a holy light. The secret they shared probably also set them apart from the other disciples. They probably seemed standoffish to them. I can imagine Matthew or one of the other disciples saying. Peter and those Zebedee boys aren't the same anymore. They think they are something special ever since they went up on that mountain. So what if Jesus asked them to go up on that old snowy mountain to pray. That doesn't make them any different from us. But it did! What Jesus showed them on the mount of transfiguration changed them. It gave them a new perspective on life. They had seen God's glory in Christ and they would never be the same.

James, John and Peter I am sure never told about this event until after the resurrection just as the Lord instructed them. But they couldn't help but let their actions proclaim it loud and clear. I am sure that their strengthened faith in Jesus was as plain as the nose on their faces.

In many ways we are like those three disciples. There are times in our Christian pilgrimage when we have mountain top experiences. Jesus takes us by the hand and leads us up on a mountain. And there we see the glory of God reveled in Christ.

Like the disciples we yearn to share the great news we have learned. We know that it has strengthened us. And we know that those we love will be strengthened by it.

And like the disciples this experience of the glory of God changes us. We come down from those mountains and our faces radiate a heavenly glow. Others may think us standoffish. They will say, "he thinks he is something special since he got saved." Or, "She thinks she is different since that religious experience of hers." And the truth is that: when Christ encounters us we are changed, and when we accept salvation from God we are something special in God's sight.

I said that we are like the Disciples. We are like them in that God shows each of us His glory through forgiveness. And as a result we want to tell of this good news. And this new knowledge changes us.

But in one important way we are different from the disciples. We don't need to keep what we have seen a secret. We can tell the world of the glory of God that has been revealed to us in Christ.

If at some time in you Christian journey you have experienced God's forgiveness or grace. If in some way, no matter how small, Christ has taken you up on a mountain and shown you God's glory. Then tell about it. There is probably some disciple who needs to hear your story to strengthen their faith.

"Keeping a Secret"

Mark 9:2-9

Have you ever had a secret that you had trouble keeping? Some Secrets are easier to keep than others, and some people are better at keeping them than others. When you are planning a surprise birthday party there is always someone who spills the beans. But you can't blame them for not being able to keep some secrets. Some secrets are just burning to come out. When you care about someone and you know something that will make them happy you want to tell them. And sometimes that good news just come bubbling out.

There is that danger that we will let a secret slip out unwillingly. This is even true for those of us who are good at keeping a secret. Let me show you what I mean. There was this family and they had bought an old car for the oldest daughter to drive to college in the next year. Now the whole family knew about this car but the oldest girl. They were keeping it a secret from her until her birthday later that week. It was the talk of the family at any time except when she was in the room. A few days before the girl's birthday the oldest daughter was working her schedule for the next week. She was asking when she could have the car to do this or do that. The parents were playing along with her so as not to let on about the car. Then all of a sudden one of the younger children burst in without thinking and said, "You can use your new car to do that." Sometimes it is even more subtle than that. Even if we don't consciously give the secret away our actions may do it for us. You see when we are party to some knowledge that knowledge governs our actions. We act based upon what we know. There is always the danger that we will do or say something that assumes the knowledge that we are trying to keep secret. In short knowing something others do not know changes the way we act around them and toward them.

I have spent all this time talking about keeping secrets because that is the situation these three disciples in our lesson are in. You see on the mount of transfiguration Jesus showed James, John and Peter something marvelous, But then he told them not to tell anyone about it. How could someone keep secret the things they had seen. Jesus, their master, had been part of a wonderful miracle that took place before their eyes. They had seen the great prophet Moses and the prophet Elijah. These were people that they had only heard read about in the Scriptures They had seen these holy people standing before them. And then they heard the voice of God. This kind of thing didn't happen every day. It didn't even happen every millennium. And they had seen it.

This was one of those secrets that just burns to be let out. Not just because of how marvelous it was, but because of what it showed them about Jesus. This event confirmed their suspicions about Jesus. And the voice of God quelled their doubts. It was the very thing that the other disciples needed to give them strength. You see only six days before Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Messiah. And he and James and John and the other disciples probably believed that. Then right before their eyes Jesus appears in a heavenly white robe. And Elijah and Moses are standing with him. And God proclaims from heaven, "This is my beloved Son." This confirmed and strengthened the belief they already had in Jesus. It was such a mountain top experience that Peter wanted to built three tabernacles right there so that they could all worship. As they headed down the mountain I am sure their first thoughts were to tell the other disciples. Out of love they wanted to bring this good new to their brothers because of the joy it would bring them. But Jesus told them to keep it a secret until after the resurrection. I am sure that was a hard secret to keep.

Secrets are hard to keep, but they all have their reasons. Why did Jesus tell them to keep it a secret? This knowledge had strengthened them, and it would surely strengthen the other disciples. It had made Peter and James and John's faith strong it would strengthen others and even bring people to Christ. But yet Jesus told them to keep it a secret. I guess it was not yet the right time for the rest of the world to know who Jesus really was. God had a big surprise for the world. And if Peter and James and John spilled the beans before Jesus' resurrection it might ruin the surprise.

The three disciples Jesus took up on the mountain had to keep a secret, but I am sure that secret changed the way they acted after that. How could it have not changed them. They may not have been transfigured like Jesus but I am sure their faces glowed with a holy light. The secret they shared probably also set them apart from the other disciples. They probably seemed standoffish to them. I can imagine Matthew or on of the other disciples saying. Peter and those Zebedee boys aren't the same anymore. They think they are something special ever since they went up on that mountain. So what if Jesus asked them to Go up on that old snowy mountain to pray. That doesn't make them any different from us. But it did! What Jesus showed them on the mount of transfiguration changed them. It gave them a new perspective on life. They had seen God's glory in Christ and they would never be the same.

James, John and Peter I am sure never told about this event until after the resurrection just as the Lord instructed them. But they couldn't help but let their actions proclaim it loud and clear. I am sure that their strengthened faith in Jesus was as plain as the nose on their faces.

In many ways we are like those three disciples. There are times in our Christian pilgrimage when we have mountain top experiences. Jesus takes us by the hand and leads us up on a mountain. And there we see the glory of God reveled in Christ.

Like the disciples we yearn to share the great news we have learned. We know that it has strengthened us. And we know that those we love will be strengthened by it.

And like the disciples this experience of the glory of God changes us. We come down from those mountains and our faces radiate a heavenly glow. Others may think us standoffish. They will say, "he thinks he is something special since he got saved." Or, "She thinks she is different since that religious experience of hers." And the truth is that: when Christ encounters us we are changed and when we accept salvation from God we are something special in God's sight.

I said that we are like the Disciples. We are like them in that God shows each of us his glory through forgiveness. And as a result we want to tell of this good news. And this new knowledge changes us.

But in one important way we are different from the disciples. We don't need to keep what we have seen a secret. We can tell the world of the glory of God that has been revealed to us in Christ.

If at some time in you Christian journey you have experienced God's forgiveness or grace. If in some way, no matter how small, Christ has taken you up on a mountain and shown you God's glory. Then tell about it. There is probably some disciple who needs to hear your story to strengthen their faith.

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