Bible Study – Epiphanies
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Epiphany means several things: a gift is received; the gift must be shared. Jesus appears to be suggesting a rhythm, a balance to our lives. We go inward to be with God, to receive; we go out in the world to share what we have been given – still with God. We are called to balance the pouring out of our love with the resting in God. We are called to heal by just showing up, by laying on hands, by sharing what we have. This good news that was for the few people who heard it up close and personal is ours because they reached out and shared it. It will belong to those who have not yet heard, if we accept our call to share the story by how we live out our lives and as St. Francis said, “with words, if necessary.”
Jesus' status as Messiah is confirmed by the divine testimony that he is God's beloved Son (9:7) and is anticipated by the shining white garments of Jesus. The three that see the transfiguration are also those who witnessed the healing of Jairus's daughter (5:37) and will witness his agony in Gathsemane (14:33). Although this group of disciples have seen the healing and the transfiguration, they do not seem to demonstrate exceptional insight or fidelity.
The transfiguration story is a form of an epiphany, a sudden manifestation of the divine and when humans see or witness an epiphany, they generally have an ah-ha moment, followed by confusion (now what) or fear (what does this mean?) Peter (once again) demonstrates that he doesn't "get it" and Jesus once again has to explain his death and resurrection.
Opening Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, thank you for being with us today. Help us to get to know you better as we explore how we can see you, hear you and experience you in our lives. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Mark 9:2-10 and read or read the scriptures below.
Mark 9:2-10
The Transfiguration
2 After 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. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter 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.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As 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. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
Questions:
- What did you like most about this story?
- The story of the transfiguration begs the question, how do we see God?
- Do we see God in other people like Jesus encountered God in Elijah and Moses?
- Do we see God in the light like Jesus encountered as everything was transfigured around him?
- Do we see God in what comes after the light like Jesus saw God in the life and community around him?
- Do we see God in experiences we have like Jesus saw God in the transfiguration and in the cloud that descended upon them?
- Also look at this question: How do we respond to Jesus? God clearly tells the disciples to listen to Jesus, so how are we to do the same?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
Mark 9:2-10 (The Transfiguration)– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIob8fzkQtM or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QM_rvjT4sM
Gospel of Mark Summary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGHqu9-DtXk
Song: Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hVjB_YziwU or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RpbGLW5hAc&list=RD-RpbGLW5hAc&start_radio=1
Activities:
How Do We See God? After the disciples saw Jesus be transfigured, they respond in awe. God comes to them and tells them to listen to Jesus. How do we see to God? How do we listen to God? How do we listen to Jesus? How do we respond to the Holy in our lives?
Reflect on these questions one at a time, and then respond to the questions by creating “God collage” that displays the ways in which you can see, listen and experience God in their lives. You can find pictures from magazines, photographs, fabric etc. and glue them on a 9 x 12 poster board or piece of paper.
Mountain Thumb Prints: Draw some mountains on a piece of paper and use your finger or thumb to make prints from ink or paints to represent Elijah and Moses on the mountain. You could also make thumb print figures for John, Peter and James as well.
On the Mountain Top - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/mountain-top
On the Mountain Top - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/mountain-top-2
On the Mountain Top – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/mountain-top-1
On the Mountain Top - Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/mountain-top-4
Ash Wednesday is February 14, 2024. It is the first day of Lent which is a 40 day season (excluding Sundays) before Easter. Lent is a time for praying daily and giving of our time and service for others. During the Ash Wednesday service, church members receive ashes on their foreheads with the words “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration. Please use the 40 Day Lenten Calendars below during Lent.
Prayer: Glorious God, we have seen your transfiguration and wondered how we are to see you in our lives today. Be with us as we go into the world, guiding us in your light and opening our eyes to your presence. (We especially pray for ____). Amen
