St. Mark’s Adult Education Meeting Summary
Today’s Scripture Lessons
An In-Depth Discussion Led by the Rev. Mike Kreutzer
Sunday, March 6, 2011
FIRST READING: Exodus (24:12-18)
The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
> The Lord will give Moses the law and commandments.
> Took place on Mount Sinai (Mount Horab)
> Put Aaron and Hur in charge — very questionable
> Symbolism of seven days and forty days… a very long time
Psalm 99
1 The Lord is King;
let the people tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; *
he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
he is the Holy One.
4 “O mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
”5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and fall down before his footstool; *
he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests,
and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 “O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them,
yet punished them for their evil deeds.”
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill; *
for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
> Annual enthronement ceremony
> Declaration that our God reigns over heaven and earth
> God is on who establishes justice and righteousness
> God spoke with some of the great people of our history: Moses, Aaron, and Samuel
> Worship the God who is enthroned in his temple in Israel
SECOND READING: II Peter (1:16-21)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
> Latest book written in the New Testament (c. 120 AD)
> Written on behalf of the original author, Peter
> Battling against distortions of the Gospel that had happened over the years
> Still anticipating the second coming of Christ, but realize it may be a while
> The testimony is written by people inspired by God
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (17:1-9)
Six days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
> In chapter 16, at Caesarea-Phillipi, Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah
> Six days after the recognition, Jesus takes him up a high mountain (parallels Moses)
> Jesus takes his inner circle with him
> Jesus shines like the sun, which is God’s confirmation he is the true Messiah
> Moses and Elijah appear, but Jesus is passive here as God does the revelation
> A cloud appears similar once again to Moses’ experience
> The disciples are overcome by fear but Jesus puts out his hand to calm them.
> The disciples are then brought back to reality again after seeing Jesus in that light.
> Jesus tell his disciples not to mention this vision until after his resurrection.
> Perhaps there is concern that no one would believe them.
