Newsletter: A Foretaste of Glory
Dear Mosaic Family,
The last painting by the great artist Raphael is called The Transfiguration, and beautifully and powerfully depicts the account in Mark 9:1-29, our text for Sunday.
The top part of the painting pictures the transfigured Jesus, his clothes "radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them" (9:3). To his left and right are Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Below them are Peter, James, and John, blinded by the brilliant glory of the transfigured Jesus. Below the three disciples, the painting gets drastically darker. Enshrouded in the darkness are the rest of the disciples, attempting to cast a demon out of a tormented little boy, to no avail. By the boy's side is his desperate father. Raphael captures the overwhelming contrast between the glorious presence of God in the person of Christ on the mountain, and the demonic oppression below.
When Peter saw the glory of Jesus, he "did not know what to say, for they were terrified" (9:6). Though terrified and ignorant of what to speak, speak Peter did. He said, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah" (9:5). Whatever Peter felt at that moment, he knew he didn't want to lose it. He didn't want to leave. He got a glimpse of heaven. He got a foretaste of glory.
However satisfying that experience, they had to descend from the mountaintop, back to the real world, back to the battle against Satan, Sin, and Death, everything that creates hell on earth. After getting a foretaste of heaven in the glorified face of Christ, the disciples get a foretaste of hell, seeing the damage a demon had inflicted by inhabiting a boy, whom the demon had possessed from the boy's childhood.
The boy's father pleads with Jesus, "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us" (9:22). Jesus is taken aback by the father's doubting faith, and said "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” The man's faith was far from perfect, but it was humbly directed at the one who is. Jesus cast the demon out of the boy, and doubt out of the boy's father's heart.
Join us Sunday as we meditate on the glory of Jesus Christ.
Looking forward to worshiping with you!
Pastor Jan
This Week's Announcements
Community Lunch
This Sunday, February 4 at 1pm
Join us the first Sunday of each month for food and fellowship following the second service. Feel free to invite others. Please RSVP here so we can plan for enough food.
Members' Meeting
Sunday, February 25 from 1-3pm
If you are a covenant member of Mosaic or have been notified that you are being voted into membership, join us for a members' meeting following the second service. Please bring a dish to share.
Serve with us
At Mosaic Boston, we serve because Jesus served. The Gospel makes us a family marked by Christlike humility and service to God, to his church, and to the people around us. We can all play an eternally significant role in Jesus’ mission. Service Teams are a key aspect of our Sunday operations and meet Sundays before, during, or after Worship Services. We have a huge need across many of our teams, you can find more information and get involved here.
Songs for Sunday
If you would like to know what we'll be singing on Sunday, you can find the playlist here.