Read Mark 9:1-50

Mark 9 begins with Jesus and 3 of His disciples, Peter, James and John, going to a mountain top, where they witness His transfiguration, seeing a glimpse of His glory.  The transfiguration of Jesus guarantees that His power and glory are here now.  This glory is what we will be living with in eternity.  We will see what they saw, and we will be transformed ourselves.

“…who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control,

will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” – Philippians 3:20

After the transfiguration of Jesus, they all headed down the mountain only to find the other disciples in the middle of a dispute with religious leaders.  A man stepped out of the crowd and approached Jesus.  This man was the father of a young boy who was filled with a “darkness”.  This darkness, an evil spirit, had consumed the boy and the father pleaded with Jesus to help his son. 

Jesus spoke and the evil spirit left the child. 

In the movie, Moana, the heart of TaFiti was taken. She was then filled with a darkness that transformed her beauty into a destructive ugliness.  Moana, who was on a mission to restore the heart of TaFiti, approached TaKea, (who was really TaFiti in her darkened destructive state), and says the following:

“I have crossed the horizon to find you, I know your name.  They have stolen the heart from inside you, but this does not define you.  This is not who you are, you know who you are.”

When TaFiti’s heart was stolen, she was defined as someone destructive who needed to be conquered. But when her heart was returned, she was restored to her original and beautiful form.

Jesus, who crossed the horizon to find us, knows our name.  He knows who we are.  Just like the boy (and TaFiti), the world wants our heart.  And if the world has our heart, we are transformed away from what the Creator intended for us. When the Light of God is gone, we begin to be filled with a darkness that can be destructive. But when Jesus crossed the horizon and stepped on earth, He brought the glory and power of Heaven with Him.  He answered the plea of the father, and the boy experienced a new life. The destructive force was eradicated and now the boy is defined by the power of Christ.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

What defines you?  Your family, your job, your hobbies, your faith?  Is there a sin in your life that defines you?  Even the smallest, the seemingly unimportant sin, can begin to grow and define you.

The biggest witness we have, sometimes, is how others see us.  Ask God to examine your heart.  Ask Him to point out areas of sin that may be defining who you are.  Then go to Jesus, allow Him to transform your heart, so that you can be defined by His power within.

Janene Nagel