When Life Knocks You Down

 A Series on Lent
 (Use the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 17:1-11

[As we approach Easter, consider the example that Jesus set by spending forty days alone in the wilderness to prepare for his ministry and his ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Lent is a forty day period with a focus on spending some time with Jesus; to meditate on who he is and what he did for us. This Lenten series is about people who spent time with Jesus; and as a result, their lives were changed forever.]

 

When life knocks you down, how do you respond?

 

You have lots of choices. You might feel sorry for yourself, blame others or resort to self-destructive behavior. You might lash out at others. Or maybe you’re the type of person that turns inward and gets very quiet; blaming yourself and feeling like there is something inherently wrong with you.

 

It doesn’t have to be some terrible circumstance either. It can be a harsh, thoughtless word spoken by someone close to you. It can be a condescending remark of a teacher or coach in front of the class or team. It can be feeling left out of a social activity. There are lots of ways that life can knock you down.

 

The story from Matthew 17 is an example of this. Peter, James and John didn’t suffer from adversity, but life knocked them down just the same.

 

⁵ While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.   NIV

 

How Jesus responded to them is significant. He gently touched them and encouraged them with his words. Although this was a fairly minor setback, Jesus knew how difficult life was going to get for his disciples in the near future. He knew they would experience some serious knock downs from life.

 

As I began to write this blog, I asked myself, “When did life knock me down”? Included in my list was when my fiancé unceremoniously dumped me. It includes our first born child that was still born. It includes a period of a few short years when my Mom and my wife’s Dad, sister and brother all died.

 

And how did I respond? With the comfort and support of friends and family, I eventually survived these events. But also, I experienced strength from the gentle touch of my

Heavenly Father, and the comfort of his words saying, “Get up. Don’t be afraid. You are my son and I love you”.

 

⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

 

 

 

 

 

The Mountaintop

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Luke 9:28-36

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209%3A28-36&version=NIV;NLT

  

When I was in college, our church would hold a retreat for all the students.

We would be gone for forty-eight hours, and during that time we had a speaker, singing, games and fellowship. Usually, I would come home excited about my Christian faith. It was a mountaintop experience; but nothing like the one Jesus had.

 

² …Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³⁰ Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. ³¹ They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.   NLT

 

Although Peter, James and John were there, they had fallen asleep. When they woke up, Peter started talking without thinking, and suggested building a memorial for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. What happened next was nothing short of miraculous.

 

³⁴ While he (Peter) was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”       NIV

 

Consider this interpretation of the story.

Jesus knew that he was about to go to Jerusalem; he knew what would happen to him there; he knew that he was about to experience the most painful part of his life. He also knew, that this was why he had been chosen.

But before going, he asked his closest disciples, and friends, to pray with him on a mountain. He wanted them to be with him; and he needed to be with his Heavenly Father. While there, he was transformed physically, emotionally and spiritually. It was a mountaintop experience; a milestone in his life.

Now he was ready to face whatever waited for him.

 

I’ve never come away from a retreat where my face has been transformed or my cloths became dazzling white. But I have come away knowing that I have been in the presence of God; feeling stronger in my faith; sensing greater purpose and mission in my life; and being ready for whatever was in my future.

 

You don’t have to go on a retreat to be in the presence of God.

 

 

But it’s important for us to make time to go to the Mountaintop; to spend extended time in His presence; to listen to His still, small voice; and to be transformed.