Daily D – Mark 9:8
Mark 9:8
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. (NIV)
The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus. (MSG)
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There comes a point when there is only Jesus and you. Jesus is enough. Jesus is all you need.
Late yesterday afternoon, four of us were walking along the Fraser River in Steveston, British Columbia, Canada. We came to a pier where we planned to turn around and walk to the restaurant where we had a dinner reservation.
Some fishermen were casting their lines into the swiftly-moving river. They weren’t catching much, but they were having a good time. We did not speak the same language well enough to communicate with one another. Their smiles and the joy of their pastime connected us.
Two Sikh men were also walking the pier and identified one of the fishermen as a friend from the Rotary Club. We struck up a conversation with these gentlemen. We took delight in getting to know one another and sharing common ground on many theological matters.
Even when we disagreed on matters like the uniqueness of Jesus, the consequences of sin, and the hope of salvation, we did so amicably.
Our new friends consider Jesus the same as other religious leaders across time. The older, wiser teacher said Jesus speaks to him in dreams from time to time. This is a phenomenon taking place especially among Muslims around the world. See Tom Doyle’s book, _Dreams and Visions_ for more.
My prayer for my new friends is that they would come to know Jesus for who he really is. I want them to see Jesus Only and not Jesus And. The teacher among these three men has a name that sounds like Just Dave. Would you pray for Just Dave and his two friends? Would you ask Jesus to make himself truly known to them?
Jesus alone. Jesus is all you need. This is truer than true.
Anytime we say, “Jesus and . . . ,” we move away from authentic faith into idolatry. When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and said, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3 NIV), he meant No Other gods. None before or behind. None above or below. None alongside. No other gods means no other gods.
The corollary to “no other gods” is “know God.”
Peter, James, and John got to see Jesus in all his eternal brilliance (verses 2-4). They also got to see Moses and Elijah. Then a cloud enveloped them and God our Father spoke through the cloud about Jesus: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (verse 7).
“Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus,” (verse 8).
They saw “nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.”
Here and now is one of those moments when there is only Jesus and you. Jesus is enough. Jesus is all you need. Avoid every temptation to say “Jesus and . . . . ”Make yours a Jesus Only faith.
Feel free to pray something like this: Jesus, you are all I need. Jesus, I want more and more of you.
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I will trust Jesus alone.
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Our Father, thank you for the opportunity to know you and to make you known. Please draw my new friends to you and show them who you really. Help them come to the place where they trust Jesus alone for salvation. Amen.
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