‘…"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"’ Matthew 17:5 NKJV
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses, the law giver, and Elijah, who represents the prophets, stood side by side with Jesus. But Jesus outshone them all. The Bible says, ‘…His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them…’ (Mark 9:3 ESV) In that moment Jesus was God in His purest form. Awed by Him, Peter said, ‘Lord…if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ (Matthew 17:4 NKJV) It was a sincere sentiment, but it was sincerely wrong. ‘While He was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"’ The word beloved implies ‘unique.’ There is no one else like Jesus! Not Moses. Not Elijah. Not Peter. Not Zoroaster, Buddha, or Muhammad. No one in Heaven or on earth. Three shrines would have made Moses and Elijah equal with Christ, and God would have none of it. Only one shrine should be built, because only one person on the mountain deserved to be worshipped. ‘When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.’ (Matthew 17:6 NKJV) The One who hung the stars in space and left Pharaoh’s armies at the bottom of the Red Sea stood among them. The sight of Him took their breath away, removed every trace of arrogance and caused them to end up face-down on the ground. How long has it been since you felt such reverence for God?
SoulFood: 2 Chr 32-34, Luke 18:1-17, Ps 119:145-160, Pr 22:14-16
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2013
