Blog Layout
Oprah, Tom Brady and Jesus
Joe Killian • Aug 03, 2017
How do you think Jesus, if he were present in human form, would be covered in the media compared to the transcendent figures of today? I just read online articles about two of today's most well-known individuals. Oprah Winfrey and Tom Brady have experienced sustained success at the top of their professions for decades. Oprah has achieved a level of success that her first name alone is recognizable worldwide. And Tom Brady just won his record-setting 5th Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, at the age of 39! In the Gospel today we see Jesus in a "transcendent" moment.
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus' inner circle got an unprecedented look at history. Two of the most famous figures of their storied past appear beside the transfigured Jesus. And if that wasn't enough, the voice of God Himself speaks of His Son. The disciples were overwhelmed to the point of falling face down on the ground in fear.
I can't say I blame them. What happened next was, to me, the most surprising part. Jesus instructs the disciples not to say anything. No Tweets! No Instagram posts!! Nothing!!! Imagine their thoughts. "We have to wait to say anything about who we saw? Whom we heard?? Who you are, Lord???" How utterly antithetical to today's culture. Jesus didn't need nor want a PR machine promoting who He was. In fact, He often sought to move around somewhat anonymously. In spite of this, the crowds still found Him. Word still got around about this amazing person.
That is the difference. Like Oprah and Tom Brady, Jesus was an amazing person. And as all humans eventually do, He died. But Jesus' life was just the beginning. Unlike the transcendent of today, His death, resurrection and ascension are what ultimately matter. What the disciples saw on the mountain that day long ago prefigured THE truly transcendent figure who is alive today and forever. You and I need to share that news as often as possible.
The story continues...I'm still working on the pondless waterfall in our front yard. I shared this project with you two weeks ago in Playin' In the Dirt. Since then I've had to rework sections of the stream three different times because we were losing too much water. I am now an expert on evaporation rates and excessive splash, two causes of water loss. This morning I tore the whole thing apart and I'm starting over.
Have you ever watched DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda? I stumbled across it recently and thoroughly enjoyed Jack Black's performance as a bumbling, noodle selling, kung fu enthusiast, giant panda named P o. Set in ancient China, it is more than a humorous slapstick comedy. The core message of the story jumped out at me as I have been focusing recently on the concept of being. Po is shockingly identified as the Dragon Warrior and he reluctantly enters training. The goal of the training is to receive the Dragon Scroll, which is believed to hold the secret to limitless power. Now I don't want to spoil the big reveal but I will say that what Po realizes is the same as what I speak to in the concept of being and authentic identity. So, where do we find the secret to our "power?" I praise You, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works! My very self You know. Psalm 139:14 God knows it; and we must seek Him with all of our hearts in order to find it. As it was in the movie, the answer is stunningly simple. Our authentic identity is already within us. The challenge for Po in the movie was in seeing himself accurately and not the way others saw him. Even his teacher scoffed at the idea that Po was anything more than an underachieving dreamer who overate when he was anxious. Po's problems are rooted in the fact that he believes the lie of his false identity much more than he does his authentic one. Is it possible that you do the same? Who could have imagined that beneath all of Po's girth lived the Dragon Warrior? What's hidden from view in you? Seek God for understanding as to who He created you to be. Spoiler Alert: the secret of your limitless power is already in you. God placed it there and He wants you to be who He authentically created you to be.
Maria and I have been playing in the dirt a lot recently. First we replaced our French drain and then we embarked on a creative project intended to change the entire look of our front yard. My brother Jeffrey and I installed a new front step.
