What a Sight!

N.T.#198

Dec. 7, 2023 "What a Sight!"

Matthew 17

LET IT GLOW

Familiarity can lead to ho hums, been-there-done-that, desensitizing, fallen, frail, and fickle. So it can be when we spend centuries living the Christian life. We have to guard our heart from this. The disciples had seen and heard it all as they followed in the footsteps of Jesus. Maybe it was time for the trio to be shaken up with a sense of awesome and love as they came face-to-face with the greatness and glory of the Lord Jesus. They needed to snap out of it and face reality.

For whatever reason, Jesus chose Peter, James, and John, the selected few, was given a chance of a lifetime. This inner circle saw Christ as He undergoes a dramatic change in appearance so they could behold Him in all His glory-have a confirmation in their heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, the Savior. After all, Peter was going to preach on the day of Pentecost when 3,000 get save, and John was going to write Revelation, the unique vision of the future. James was the first to be called by Jesus to follow Him, and would be the first martyred in Jerusalem, shedding his blood for Christ.

Now the four of them took a 6 day trip, climbing Mt. Tabor, the high mountain. It would be about a 60-mile walk from Caesarea Philippi to Mount Tabor. Don't you know the four had a lot to discuss?

What do we discuss when we take trips? do we share with our family all the wonderful things Jesus has done in our life? Or do they watch videos, listen to music instead?

LET IT GROW

Verse 2 tells us what happened to Jesus before the eyes of the 3 disciples:

And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.

In the Greek, transfigured means to transform (metamorphose); change; transformed.

Jesus, the God-man, had been living, in terms of His appearance, as an ordinary human for over thirty year, veiling His divine glory. (Swindoll)

Jesus looked like an ordinary man in appearance. Jesus emptied Himself of that manifestation of heavenly glory to take on the form of a bond-servant and likeness of men. Previously, Jesus had displayed His authority and power through teaching and miracles. His glory was hidden and not visible unto that day on the mountain. Jesus revealed His fullness of divinity. 

Thus, the backbone of doctrine of Christ became evident. Peter and John declared it in 2 Peter 1:16-18 and John 1:1-5, 14. Jesus changed in a manner visible to others. His face shone like the sun and His clothing was white as light. Jesus wasn't just glowing, He was shining! Jesus sin't just a reflector of God's glory, He is the source of divine glory as the second person of the Trinity. 

Don't you know the disciples would never forget this confirmation of Jesus' deity revealed on earth? However, this was a foretaste of Jesus' coming kingdom. It will be heaven on earth to live and experience this selected time of 1,000 years of Christ's reign as king on earth. I wonder what will take place during that time. Worshiping the Savior by all, undoubtedly.

The grace and mercy of God that follows us all the days of our life will be evident, don't you think. What an extraordinary event for the three, to see Jesus in all His glory! One day we will, dear one. Will you experience Jesus as your Judge or Savior? Will you spend eternity with Him or forever separated from Him and His love?

[Resource: Swindoll's Living Insights in Matthew 16-28]

LET IT GO

Glory to God in the highest!

Thank You Jesus for providing everlasting life for us.