Pastor Ray Park

Hebrews 11:7 and Genesis 6
Faith is often viewed as a mean or avenue to get what we want instantly. Noah demonstrated that faith is life. He simply wanted to save his family, however he was considered as one of the heroes of faith because of his commitment and obedience. He knew that the salvation belonged to God. He committed his time, money, energy, and even his entire family in building the ark.

Amazing!!! I wish I could preach like this.

Passage: Mark 9:9-13
1And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

8Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

11And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

12Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Reflection:

I never saw it until now.  I thought that only people who experienced the transfiguration were those three disciples, but according to Acts 1, many people–about 500–experienced it as well.

There are definite parallels between this passage and Acts 1 account.

1. Mark 9:1, “Some of you will see the Kingdom of God come with power.”  The power refers to the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8.  “But you will receive the power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”  It is the power to be a witness of Jesus Christ.  The person who has seen the Kingdom of God come with the power will be a Jesus’ witness.
2. Mark 9:4, “There appeared before them Elijah and Moses…” Acts 1:10, “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.”  Elijah represents the prophets and Moses the law.  Which means, Jesus was a perfect fulfillment of the prophecies and the law.  He is the Messiah, the “Son whom God loves,” and God Himself.
3. Mark 9:7, “Then a cloud came and enveloped them…”  Acts 1:9, “After He said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”  Both times, God covered with a cloud. Whenever there is God’s presence being filled, a cloud appears.  It was so when Moses was meeting with God at Mt. Sinai.