Imago Gospels - 32 - Holy

Mark 9 Another day with a great blessing that we experienced. We drove from East London to a place near the coast called Zithulele. It was rather remote (including several S.A. residents who we have talked to in the last few days who had no idea where it was) but has been a wonderful place to spend the last day or so. We were staying over at the house of one of the doctors at a mission hospital. When we arrived, we found that the area was in the midst of an unplanned power outage (and yes there are planned power outages here) which was not an issue until the sun went down. When the sun went down, it was candle time. So, for most of the rest of the night (until about 9:15pm), all was by candle light (or head lamp). After dinner, we were blessed to be a part of the home group that meets at the connected house here (one of the other doctors and the brother. We shared about our time here, the places we have been, the things we have experienced. We also shared about our experiences of ministry in the United States and hearing how many of the things we are dealing with at home are being dealt with here and throughout the world. At the group, we had people from S.A., from the US, and from Scotland. Similar stories shared, hopes similar, and needs similar. Yes there are definitely differences between the places, but the echoes are very much there across it all.

As we were singing together by candlelight (three candles on the central table), I got thinking about the hoy moment that was experienced in the transfiguration. Peter, James, and John were witnesses to an experience that took them beyond the normal and everyday. They saw Jesus in an entirely new way through his transfiguration (verses 2-8 of Mark 9). The final message that came to them…”This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him!” was a message I heard in what we shared last night - regardless of our language, our country of residence, our background, our skin color…regardless of it all…we listen to The One. The Messiah. Our Lord. We listen and we serve.