Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Mark 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. Mark 9: 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

Luke 9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things, which they had seen. No one before JESUS ever came back to life again after being dead for three days. Only Lazarus who was raised by Jesus from the dead after four days of burial, no one has ever since has been bodily raised up from death again. This is why the disciples of Jesus did not understand this manner of speech, being raised from the dead. They questioned among themselves as to what this could mean. Later on Jesus would reveal to them the secret of the Kingdom of God, which is His appearing in us through Transfiguration.

The events that reveal to us the resurrection and ascension of Jesus are the deepest mysteries of Scripture. There is still no end to the controversy surrounding the scriptural record of Christ's resurrection from the dead. It has been the subject of much ridicule throughout history from the beginning of its declaration. St. Paul encountered opposition everywhere he declared body salvation.

Acts 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? Bother some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection of dead.

.... whereof he hath given assurance unto all mankind in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

This is still true for today. If you tell people that one-day they will die and go to heaven they will agree with you for the most part. However if you say that you will die and sleep till your body is raised out from death they will say no to this concept. Yet this is exactly what Jesus came to demonstrate -Body resurrection, the salvation of the soul. St. Paul also argued for the raising up from death.

1Cor 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not, let us eat and drink, for to morrow we die.

THE SACRED BODY- HIS DIVINE MASTERPIECE:

The creation of man and his living soul is the most precious gift of all that God made. He made it possible for us to be like him. Thus man was made in the image of God male and female and was formed as a body that became a living soul. This powerful but delicate interwoven act of Jehovah's power was seduced and led into a path of death by sin. Now the very source of it's existence b-as been forever stained with the end always death. In Adam all die. But Now in Christ shall all be made alive - If the Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead dwell in you it shall also quicken your mortal bodies. This word quickening means to make alive.

Because the body is so precious we are taught to treat it as the temple of God. Our bodies are his dwelling place. What happens when we die? The spirit, which is life, has no tabernacle so it returns to God. Your soul and body are now dead or asleep as death is called in New Testament. If the body is the dwelling place of God and death occurs then what does God do?

1Cor 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? 1Cor 6:19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Eph. 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. The salvation of the Body is the only fitting crown to the glory of the great King Jesus; the Death fighter of all ages who hath brought life and immortality to fight through the gospel.

TRANSFIGURATION- CHRIST'S APPEARING

2 Pet 1: 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Pet 1: 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the ...excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 2Peter 1: 18 And this voice, which came from heaven, we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2 Pet 1: 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Now St. Peter as well understood the meaning of the transfiguration. Having been an eyewitness yet not having understanding about God's plan till the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension. Why Christ had to go away in order for the Holy Spirit to come, the Holy Spirit coming in us to reveal Christ in us. Not Christ away in heaven but Christ in you the hope of GLORY. The ultimate purpose of the Holy Spirit is to grace Christ's people so that they may put on Christ immortality incorruption and eternal life.... thus REVEALING CHRIST AGAIN.

ON EARTH IN THE FULLNESS OF HIS POWER! This is the reason why we must present the BODY as a living sacrifice (in order to allow Christ's power and instruction) and transform our fife's existence by the renewing of our MIND.

THE RESURRECTION GOSPEL:

At the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. Matt. 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

*For more information about this topic simply E-mail Peter Demetris at: pastorpeterd@comcast.net