Have you ever tried to learn something new? Was it at school? Was it for work? How long did it take you to learn it? Did you read through it multiple times to commit it to memory? Was there a specific number of times you had to read it to retain the information?
Learning something new can be difficult. I have had to learn many new things as I’m sure each of you have. As I was learning material to pass a project management test, I was told I needed to read the material three times to retain. I did that and passed the test.
Often, when things are repeated, we become upset at the person repeating the information. Yet, I have seen teachers say something, stomp their foot, and repeat it, letting the students know they would be tested on that specific point later. If the student wrote that information down, it would be the third time hearing or writing the information. It gives them a better chance of retaining it.
We all need to be reminded of information from time-to-time. It is no different with Biblical information. We need to be reminded of the stories. We need to read them again. In some ways, it is like revisiting our own history, remembering something we learned as a child or during a different time of our lives. It becomes special.
God often repeats himself in the Bible. It is no different when it comes to Jesus. God repeated at the transfiguration what he had said at Jesus’ baptism—he calls Jesus his Son and his Beloved. At the transfiguration, God tells the three apostles with Him to listen to Him. It is both a command and great advice. Something we should do as well.
I pray we all read the Bible multiple times. I pray we revisit the stories we know and reread them. I pray each one of us will listen to Jesus, following His commands and His advice. Read the Bible. Read your favorite stories. Listen to Jesus. Obey Jesus’ commands. Follow His advice.
Mark 9:7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”
Marty Pressey 