THE SEVENTH DAY

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 

Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Definition- Transfigured: Transform into something more beautiful or elevated

I'm one of those people that believe everything in the Bible is there for a reason, even those little things we often believe to be insignificant. In reading this passage, it never struck me before now that Jesus led Peter, James and John up to a mountain to have Church AFTER THE SIX DAY; in other words the SEVENTH DAY; the day that traditionally we've come to accept as being a good day to have Church! That being said, and upon reading what follows, we get a great example of what God considers to be real, down-to-earth Church.

1) God's heart is for it to be characterised by the spiritual, not physical. When Jesus had gotten the three disciples by themselves, immediately He was transfigured before them; giving them a clearer vision, revelation and understanding of the spiritual revelation of the person of Jesus Christ. Then Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus, because the entire Word of God (Old and New Testament) is to be listened to and conversed with in order for us to grow in our love and knowledge of Him. 

2) The focus is to be on Jesus Christ alone. Not only is ONLY Jesus transfigured (there was no beautification of the disciples in His presence), but He is also the only one who we are told is to be listened to and focused upon: 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

3) The transforming beauty of the Church is Jesus Christ alone. There were no things from the culture of the day to beautify that Church meeting! Far from it- instead, Jesus took the disciples as far away as possible from everything that could clutter up such a time, and distract from what was important- taking them to a high place on a mountain! 

4) Our eyes are not supposed to be on the house and the place, but on Christ. Peter wanted to create a physical place of worship and build a shelter, but God didn't recognise their place, and seemed to make a point of turning Peter's attention away from such an idea, onto what really mattered; a focus and listening to Jesus. Jesus never said my sheep go to Church, but 'my sheep hear my voice,' and 'a stranger they will not follow.' Christianity is in the following and listening to Christ, not in the places and shelters of men's Church buildings. There is nothing wrong with a Church building, and a place to meet as the people of God, but God's desire is to constantly turn our attention on what matters. If he has to interrupt us in our ideas and visions about Church, He'll do that, just like He did to Peter. Christ is to important for us to focus on those things that don't matter! 

5) The place of Church is a fluid thing; it is meeting with Christ and two or three others, for 'where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them'. It is an incredibly simple thing: focus on Jesus, listen to Him, listen to His Word, and converse together about it. 

6) The transfiguration of this Church meeting was what the Spirit did to open their eyes to the beauty of Christ. We as a Church must take careful note of this. The Spirit's desire, when we come together in His name, is to open our spiritual eyes to just how beautiful our Lord is. In order to do this, He purposefully brings us apart from everything that could distract us or clutter up this beautiful vision of Jesus. The Spirit knows how apt we are to become distracted by physical things and our own ideas and visions for spiritual worship, so He reminds us here about what our focus should be. 

7) There were no complaints from the three disciples about the kind of Church meeting they, and they'll be no complaints from us if we learn to trust that the Spirit of God is more than enough for us! 

This was one of the most beautiful and special Church meetings that has ever taken place, and God ran the whole thing! This took all the burden off of the disciples to set up anything special, and to do any special, and they simply listened to Jesus, focused on Him and listened to what the Word was saying. So simple! So special! No special effects needed, no shelters needed, no props of culture or palaces, no adornings or special programs running; just small, simple and straight forward. The best kind of Church always was this, and always will be this. Praise God!