Welcome to”Walking in Glory and Grace”. This is a family website dedicated to Glorifying God and His Grace in everyday life. We will frequently post examples of God’s Glory or Grace that we see in our lives. We hope that our viewers will share their experiences as well.
Hey Mrs. Catherine!!
Hello Mary, thanks for the visit!
Could you help me to understand Luke 8:49-56?
This is the story of Jesus raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead. It is also recorded in Mark 6:21-43. After reading a commentary, Jesus brought his inner circle with him Peter, James and John and the parents in to the room. This is probably because he had come to the house from a crowd of people, there probably wasn’t much room in the house for a crowd of people, the crowd probably contained a lot of unbelievers, and most likely for privacy for the family and little girl. After he raised her from the dead, he told the parents not to say anything any one. Obviously, the crowd knew that the child had died because Jarius had told them not to bother the “Teacher” because of her death. So even if the parents did not tell the details of the miracle, the crowd knew that the girl had died and when Jesus left the house, but parents and their friends knew the girl was alive because she got up and ate something, and would have seen her the next time she left the house. Obviously, the disciples with Jesus (or Jesus) told Luke and Mark about the event. Luke, being a doctor, takes note that she was well enough to eat. There are several reasons why Jesus instructed the parents not to talk about the miracle. This was early in Jesus’ ministry and as people began to see him heal people, like the leper, who Jesus told not to tell anyone and he did anyway – when Jesus entered towns, he began to be mobbed with people, and so he chose to say outside of the towns to avoid the crowds (See Mark 1:43-45). Another reason is that if people thought Jesus was the Messiah, his ministry would have prematurely cut short, as the plots to kill Jesus would have escalated prematurely. (See Luke 22:67). I hope this helps you with your question. (Website reference:jesuswalk.com)
Now for your question about the Transfiguration. This is recorded in Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36 and 2 Peter 1:16–18. Deuteronomy 19:15 attests that the facts of a case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. There were three earthly witnesses Peter, James and John, and three heavenly witnesses, Moses, Elijah and God. This was the second time God’s voice was heard, the first time when John the Baptist baptized Jesus and God said, “This is My dearly beloved Son, who brings Me great joy.”Matthew 3:17 (NLT) And at the transfiguration, God said, “This is My dearly beloved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.” Matthew 17:5 (NLT).
“Jesus took Peter, John and James up on a mountain to pray. And as He was praying, the appearance of His face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses nd Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about His exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him. As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blunted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials – one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But even as he was saying this, a cloud over-shadowed them, and a tremor gripped them as the cloud covered them. Then a voice from the could said, “This is is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to Him.” When the voice was finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.” Luke 9: 28-36 (NLT) The story in Matthew ends with ” As they came back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, ” Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Matthew 17:9 (Website reference allaboutjesuschrist.org) I believe that this was a special occasion both current that time as well as symbolic of the future. I personally don’t believe that anyone who has died can return to earth until the second coming of Christ. Although the Bible does say that those who are in heaven view the earth as great area and have some knowledge of events that happen on earth and can cheer us on in daily struggles (See Hebrews 12:1) (Website reference billygraham.org)
Another commentary has some possible reasons that Peter recognized Moses and Elijah. They were having a conversation with Jesus and he could have called them by name, perhaps Peter recognized them if Moses had his Rod in his hand and Elijah was wearing his leather girdle as described in the Old Testament, or Peter had a divine revelation, in the same manner that he had recognized the transfigured Christ (resurrected Christ).
The transfiguration is also a depiction of the return of Christ. Moses represented the those who had died, Elijah represents those who were alive at Christ’s return, and will return with Him to the new kingdom. Peter, James and John represent the Messianic Jews who remain at Jesus second coming. (Website reference answers fromthebook.net)
In answer to your question about Abraham and Sarah. It appears that she was his half-sister. This was 400 years before levitical law preventing marriage of siblings, just as Cain probably married a sister, the gene pool had had minimal deficiencies in the early generations of humanity. Marriage of siblings was not an issue. But after 400 years, the gene pool degraded and the laws were placed because marriage to close relations then would have caused genetic deficiencies which were not present in the first generations of human existence. (Website reference christianity.stackexchange.com)
I hope this might clarify things for you.