I think the verses set for reading and meditation (Matthew 17:1-13 NIV) are really worth the time to go over again – even if you are very familiar with them:
‘The Transfiguration
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face-down to the ground, terrified. Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.’
Jesus has since been raised from the dead and has returned to heaven and rules over everything in this universe, in His full glory, as God. I think it’s important to understand that when Jesus returns He will come back as God – not as a carpenter’s son. He will not return as the ‘human’ Jesus but as fully gloried – truly divine – as the one, true God.
I also liked Selwyn’s conclusion: “God’s voice is speaking to us today as surely as it did on the transfiguration mount, and it is saying the same thing: ‘This is my Son, whom I love … Listen to him!’ Believe me, fears will never depart until we do listen to Christ and make Him the Lord of our lives.”
There are two main ways of listening to Jesus: first, to read what He has to say in Scripture; and, second, to pray for direction and His Spirit will always guide you on your life’s journey. The Holy Spirit will illustrate for you and confirm the truth of what Jesus has said, which is relevant for you at that time – and, it’s important to know, He will never contradict the spiritual truths found in Scripture. Do you agree?
‘Listen to Him!’
I think the verses set for reading and meditation (Matthew 17:1-13 NIV) are really worth the time to go over again – even if you are very familiar with them:
‘The Transfiguration
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face-down to the ground, terrified. Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.’
Jesus has since been raised from the dead and has returned to heaven and rules over everything in this universe, in His full glory, as God. I think it’s important to understand that when Jesus returns He will come back as God – not as a carpenter’s son. He will not return as the ‘human’ Jesus but as fully gloried – truly divine – as the one, true God.
I also liked Selwyn’s conclusion: “God’s voice is speaking to us today as surely as it did on the transfiguration mount, and it is saying the same thing: ‘This is my Son, whom I love … Listen to him!’ Believe me, fears will never depart until we do listen to Christ and make Him the Lord of our lives.”
There are two main ways of listening to Jesus: first, to read what He has to say in Scripture; and, second, to pray for direction and His Spirit will always guide you on your life’s journey. The Holy Spirit will illustrate for you and confirm the truth of what Jesus has said, which is relevant for you at that time – and, it’s important to know, He will never contradict the spiritual truths found in Scripture. Do you agree?