The Gospel writer, Mark, tells us that just prior to the event the Church calls the Transfiguration Jesus tells a group of people, including His disciples, that some of those standing there would “not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power”(Mark 1:1). Nine verses later, as Jesus, Peter, James and John are coming down the mountain He gave the three men “orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead” (Mark 1:9).

The story of the transfiguration in the Gospel of Mark is sandwiched between two thoughts about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have to believe that in His resurrection “the kingdom of God” is revealed to have “come with power.” But prior to the resurrection none of what he was doing would really make sense. So, the word from Jesus was “don’t tell anybody about what happened on the mountain until I have risen from the dead.”

The resurrection is the clarifying reality concerning the life of Jesus. On the Mount of Transfiguration three men experienced the reality of the wonder that is God revealed in Jesus, but they weren’t ready to talk about it. Jesus still had work to do, drawing people to Himself. In time, the reality of it would explode out of a tomb, but not yet.

Today we live in light of the resurrection. The kingdom of God has come in power. The authority that raised Jesus from the dead is with us and the Father’s Word to us is, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him” (Mark 9:7). And, we do well to do so.

I am wondering if any of us really know how lonely it would be to be isolated from human touch. No hand shakes, no hugs, no high-fives – just distance and alienation and a sense of estrangement. Present but not really; marginalized, separated, and alone.

“And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). This leper knew about loneliness and isolation. It was forbidden to touch a leper, and if a mistake was made there was a huge cleansing ceremony that had to be administered to the poor unfortunate soul who did the touching. And, the leper knew the rules so he didn’t touch Jesus. He just fell at Jesus’ feet and begged for mercy.

“Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him” (Mark 1:41). You read it right. Jesus broke the rules of social engagement and touched this alienated, estranged, marginalized, separated and lonely man. He touched Him. Can you believe it?

“I am willing; be cleansed” (Mark 1:41). Jesus not only touched the man He healed him to the point of his being clean once again; clean to enter back into society, clean to take up his life again, clean to mingle among people, clean to be a part of conversations again, and clean to be embraced by loved ones.

And the Jesus who was willing to touch the leper is willing to touch us, too. He is willing to give us back our lives, to welcome us into His community so that we can experience His unfathomable grace.

The Christ we see in Scripture fully engaged Himself in the lives of people. Wherever He went He embraced people with the life of God. Wherever He went He brought health and vitality, dignity and respect, love and forgiveness. Wherever He went He preached the Word of God.

What does it mean to be a church built upon the life of Jesus? What would a people look like who were under the influence of God in Jesus? What would distinguish them from others? How would the people in their world know that they had been with Jesus and that Jesus was guiding and directing and orchestrating their lives?

I’m not sure we should look for easy answers to our questions but I am confident that they are questions worth asking. I’m also quite sure that whatever the answers might be for us they will not be discovered from a distance. I am quite sure that Jesus has called us to Himself, to be where He is. And, I am quite sure that wherever Jesus is He will be doing what He has always done – embrace people with the life of God, bring health and vitality, dignity and respect, love and forgiveness, and preach the Word of God.

I have thought about something Jesus did all through His ministry as He lived in the midst of people. Mark 1:35 summarizes it well when it says, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.”

I am wondering if it is not in the place of prayer where our questions will most likely be answered. To build our lives, our church, on the life of Jesus is to do more than just be “out there” with people. We certainly do need to be “out there” with people but perhaps first, before we dare engage anybody with the life of Jesus, we need to be in the place of prayer and worship where we can commune with God. It seems to me that we’re not going to be of much help to anybody if we are not intimately connected with the One person we believe is the Holy One of God (see Mark 1:24).