The Gift of Glory - November 25, 2021
Matthew 17:1-13, The Message - Six days later,
three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and
John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside
out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were
filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in
deep conversation with him.
Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What
would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you,
one for Moses, one for Elijah?”
While he was going on like this, babbling, a
light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a
voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”
When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their
faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be
afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus,
only Jesus.
Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy.
“Don’t breathe a word of what you’ve seen. After the Son of Man is raised from
the dead, you are free to talk.”
The disciples, meanwhile, were asking questions. “Why do
the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?”
Jesus answered, “Elijah does come and get everything
ready. I’m telling you, Elijah has already come but they didn’t know him when
they saw him. They treated him like dirt, the same way they are about to treat
the Son of Man.” That’s when the disciples realized that all along he had been
talking about John the Baptizer.
There’s
an awful lot to talk about here, and yet, there is only so much that can be
said about this mysterious account of Jesus’s transfiguration. The primary encouragement I have here is for
you to imagine that you are Peter, James, or John as you read the story. What it must have been like to witness the
glory of God revealed right in front of you.
I’m guessing that those three held this experience deep in their heart
for the rest of their lives. It’s the
kind of experience that would sustain them through very difficult times. Only three of the disciples got to experience
this, which reminds us that not all get to have these mystical, otherworldly
encounters. So when they do occur, we
know they are a precious gift.
Yesterday’s passage ends with this
promise; “that some of those standing here will not die before they see the
Son of Man coming with his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28). Peter, James, and John were those Jesus
was referring to because that promise is fulfilled here on the mountain
encounter. Moses and Elijah are present as Jesus is transfigured. This signifies that Jesus is the precursor
and predecessor to the Law(Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Hebrew
scriptures. God speaks from the cloud
and echoes the same sentiment that was expressed in God’s voice when Jesus was
baptized and confirms Peter’s recent confession of Jesus as the Son of
God. An interesting scriptural parallel
here is that Moses spends six days preparing to go up to Mount Sinai where he also
encounters the glory of God before receiving the Ten Commandments. There are also six days between Peter’s
confession of Jesus and this revelation of glory. Just as the Ten Commandments (the Law) was
given to sustain and guide God’s people, Jesus is now revealed to fulfill that
same purpose from now on and
forever.
Peter offers to build three
shelters (for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah).
This is generally understood to express Peter’s understandable desire
for this experience to be permanent.
Anyone who has had a “mountain top” spiritual encounter can identify
with the desire for that great spiritual high to last forever. The immediately heard voice of God out of the
cloud is signifies that Peter will not get his wish. After God is finished speaking, the glory
recedes and the experience is over. The
three disciples are again alone with Jesus on the high mountain. While this experience is incredible, it can’t
last forever.
On the way back down from the
mountaintop, Jesus and the three men discuss the experience. One of the issues that come up is a prophecy concerning
Elijah returning before the Messiah. Jesus points out that this has already
happened with the ministry of John the Baptist.
He also foreshadows the fact that just as John the Baptist meets death
because of the resistance to his message, so too will Jesus be killed. But this experience on the mountain top
serves to prepare the three core disciples for those tough days ahead.
As I expressed at the beginning of
this reflection, there is lot to see in this passage, but saying too much takes
away from the impact of this powerful text.
Imagining what it would be like to experience the glory of God firsthand
can sustain us in the same way it must have sustained the fortunate three that
were there that day. If nothing else, it gives us a foretaste of
what we will all experience someday – an encounter with God in full glory, what
is referred to in Hebrew as “the shekinah.”
I look forward to that. I’m guessing
I’m not alone in that anticipation.
Question: What do
imagine encountering the full glory/shekinah of God would be like?
Prayer: Show us Your
Glory God. Sustain us for the days ahead. Make us thankful for all You have given. Prepare us for whatever lies ahead. We trust You, Lord. Help us to trust you more. Amen.
Prayer Focus: As
today is Thanksgiving, spend some intentional time counting your blessings and thanking
God for them.
Song: Shekinah - Cory
Asbury and Jaye Thomas (Forerunner Music)
No comments:
Post a Comment