Building Tents

Sometimes, we want to be like Peter, who when he saw Jesus transfigured as the Son of God talking with Elijah and Moses on top of the mountain, wanted to build tabernacles to house the glory of God.

Sometimes, we want to stay on the mountain top where we can see Jesus clearly and where the stench of humanity cannot reach us.

But if Jesus had to come down from the mountain and face humanity again, so must we. How quickly He had to leave the fellowship of heaven and be reminded of those who still needed Him on earth.

He soon came upon a group of people comprised of His disciples, some scribes, bystanders and a person in need. When they saw Him, they were amazed, and came running to Him. No doubt He was still glowing from His encounter with the cloud of God's approval and glory.

He asked the scribes,"What are you discussing with them?" One of the crowd answered Him and said, "I brought my son to you. He has a mute spirit. Whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth and gnashes his teeth and gets completely rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out this demon, but they couldn't do it."

Sometimes, its hard to come down off the mountaintop, even for Jesus. He said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me." His taste of heaven had been rudely interrupted by the lack of faith of the people He had put in charge to handle these things while He went up the mountain, and I think He was disappointed in them and weary of humanity, and who can blame Him.

When the boy was brought to Him, the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, tossing and turning and foaming at the mouth. Jesus took some time with this situation. "How long has he been like this?", he asked the father. "From childhood," he replied. " And sometimes, he has been nearly destroyed because he is thrown into the fire and into water. But please help us, if you can do anything."

Jesus said to him,
"If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
I love this man. He cried out with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief."

Jesus saw that alot of people were starting to run to the scene, and He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" The spirit cried out and convulsed him, and came out of him, and the boy looked dead.
But Jesus reached down and took his hand and lifted him, and the boy got up.

We can imagine the joy in the household and village.

The disciples later asked Him why they couldn't cast out the demon.
He said,"This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

I was thinking about this today.

Perhaps we shouldn't be looking for ways to house His glory.

Perhaps we should be praying and fasting to prepare
the way for His kingdom and power to be revealed on earth.

He has already given us His authority to do His wondrous works.
Perhaps we should humble ourselves and seek His face and turn our backs
on our own wicked ways.

Perhaps we should obey the already illumined Words of God.

Perhaps then, we would see Him transfigured in the valley.


(Mark 9:14-29-NKJV)