Mark 9:7-8 - And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son; listen to Him." And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
"Come on, Ken, let's get that old radio out to the garbage." My dad was referring to an antique radio that had been cluttering up the basement since before I was born. Almost five feet tall, the massive 1930's radio featured turned wooden legs and sliding doors—quite a work of cabinetry.
Nevertheless, powered by tubes and unable to get FM radio, the aging behemoth served no function other than to take up space. I know those who keep everything will shudder to hear that my dad and I carried the radio out to the curb for trash pick-up, but the garbageman never got it. Before a half hour had gone by, a truck pulled up and two men briskly loaded the radio onto their flatbed and disappeared. They knew the value of that tower of vintage radio tubes; our trash had become their treasure.
When you look at Jesus, what do you see? When Jesus walked the dusty paths of Palestine, there were those who saw Him as some kind of prophet. Are you among those who would limit Jesus in this way? Some still do, you know. They see Jesus only as a religious leader, a grand philosopher like Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, or Zarathustra. To them, His words are ... spiritual suggestions.
Others see Jesus as a spare tire they keep in the trunk of their life. He should always be there, ever ready for an emergency. Some authors see Jesus' Name as a scorching expletive, a way of shocking folks with "delicate" sensibilities. Some candidates see the Savior as an unpaid volunteer in their campaigns as they talk about Christian values. Some comedians think of Jesus as the ideal target for foolish or rude jokes. And others see him as "Mr. Goody Two-Shoes," the poster boy for all that's narrow-minded and old-fashioned.
If that's the way you see Jesus, you are making far less of Him than He is. He—who should be your greatest treasure—is thus being reduced to something a little better than a relic you can take or leave. The simple fact is you and I were destined for the curb and the trash heap of eternity. But Jesus knew the value of your soul, of my soul, and out of love He went the way of the cross to redeem you and me to make us His for eternity.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, thank You for reclaiming my life through Your death and resurrection. Amen.
From "Seeing Jesus," a devotional message by Rev. Dr. Kenneth Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever put something out to trash that someone gobbled up almost immediately? What was it?
2. Do you think if more of us audibly heard from God the Father, "This is My beloved Son; listen to Him," the world would be in better shape?
3. Do you ever look at Jesus as your "right-hand man" and not as your Lord and Savior? How do you resist the urge to do that?
Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 8-10 1 Timothy 5
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