“God’s Beloved Son” (Mark 9:2-13)
GOD’S BELOVED SON
(Mark 9:1-13)
INTRODUCTION: For whose benefit was this marvelous event?
I. JESUS RECEIVED THE FATHER’S APPROVAL.
II. JESUS ENJOYED THE FATHER’S AFFECTION.
III. JESUS BORE THE FATHER’S AUTHORITY.
Questions for Family Review/Discussion:
- Can you recall a time when the electricity went out for a long time at night? Tell about trying to cope with the darkness.
- What Old Testament images appear in the account of the transfiguration? Why did Jesus take three disciples up the mountain with him?
- What is the significance of Moses and Elijah meeting with Jesus there?
- Who was God’s intended, primary audience for this miraculous display? Why?
- Why could a solitary (non-Trinitarian) God be incapable of love?
- What does the figurative “snowflake” refer to? Why are so many people today “snowflakes”? How have many these snowflakes chosen to overcome their insecurity? What are they really seeking, but rejecting?
- Why would we suspect that Jesus felt intense loneliness in the years of his ministry? What encouragement should we take from this?
- Why is it true that God the Father cannot grow in his love for his Son?
- What does God’s command that we “listen” to Jesus mean practically?
- What is “autonomy”? Why do you think this has grown so extreme in out day? List some ways the church may have embraced this practice of autonomy?
- God has shrunk in our perspective, while we ourselves have grown. But what has also grown in this context? What is the impact of this development?
- Why did Jesus try to keep his Messiahship a secret? When did he say the secrecy would end?
- Explain: “The infinite value of each human soul is not a Christian concept.”
- What were the disciples still not understanding about Jesus and his mission?