The Barefoot Evangelist

Read Mark 9:2-9 with your family.

When Jesus lived, 2000 years ago, the Hebrew people believed that Elijah (their greatest prophet) would return to earth and help end the suffering under the Roman occupiers. They also saw Moses (the giver of the laws of their religious tradition) as the greatest person in Hebrew history. So imagine these men who had been awaiting Elijah and respecting Moses their whole lives, seeing both of them with Jesus.

It was incredible. They didn’t know how to act. Peter got his voice back first suggested making special huts for all of them so they could keep the experience to themselves. Peter, James and John believed Elijah was back for good, and Moses was there to teach them, and they realized Jesus was as important as both men.

This is when the disciples finally start to understand that there is something very, very special about Jesus beyond his healing and teaching people.

Imagine then when God said Jesus was who to follow while Elijah and Moses disappeared again.

The disciples were given a new message by God: don’t look to the people of the past, but look to Jesus who was right there with them, to show how God wanted everyone to take care of each other and understand God’s love.