Listen to him

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

LISTEN TO HIM

Matt 17:1-8

17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 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." 5 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!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid."  8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

NIV

There is so much in this passage it is difficult to deal with everything that floods our mind. Maybe we should just go one by one and see how it all shakes out. First let us look at the idea that Jesus only took three of his disciples with him to the event. He had to know what was going to happen, being divine. Why did he only take Peter, James and John? We might understand Peter as he has been sort of in the forefront before, walking on the water, declaring Jesus is the Christ, rebuking Jesus and being considered under the influence of Satan in doing so. James is one of those who becomes one of the great pillars of the Church and in fact is listened to rather than what Peter suggested about dealing with the Gentile believers. John, of course is the beloved. So does that mean there are special people considered for a special event, or specific reason? Would that translate into certain people being called to certain tasks? Could that then translate into certain people being specifically called to salvation, so that they can be used for a special purpose? This seems to agree with the fact Jesus chose just these three to accompany him up on the mountain for the purpose of witnessing this transfiguration experience. This would or should have changed these men forever, however we will soon see Peter deny Christ three times. How can this be? This experience witnessing Jesus transfigured into his fully divine being, alone with seeing Moses and Elijah standing there with him, men that were taken by God, men that were supposed to be dead, or at least lived hundreds of years ago, should have had the most profound influence upon Peter, James and John. Yet we also have Peter seeing only with physical eyes, wanting to put up three shelters. The question is although we may not have witnessed the transfiguration of Christ and saw Moses and Elijah, we certainly have had some kind of experience with the Holy Spirit. We have be convicted by him, and we have been led by him, and we have been gifted by him, and we have developed fruit because of him. Should not all that have some profound influence upon our lives? Should he not have changed us into someone other than who we once were? Are we just somebody, not that being somebody is a bad thing, but are we one of those Jesus specifically calls to a special task? Maybe we all are called to one special task, being a part of the body of Christ, nevertheless we cannot overlook Jesus just took those three men with him, not all twelve. They also heard the voice of God. Although others may or may not have heard the voice of God when Jesus was baptized, surely Jesus and John the Baptist heard it. We have to believe some of the others who were standing around or had just always been baptized heard the voice of God, but we would have to think none of the disciples would have been there as Jesus called them to himself at the places of their work. So here these three men hear the voice of God and fall face down, terrified. Why wouldn’t they be? To actually hear the voice of God from heaven, standing in the presence of Jesus looking like a ghost, glowing in absolutely pure white garments along with Moses and Elijah, who must have appeared the same way Jesus did, surely would have struck fear and trembling within them. But then we have Jesus being the compassionate, loving Lord, touching them and telling them to get up and not to be afraid. What do men who love the Lord have to fear from God? Not anything, would be the correct answer. The only people who should fear God are those who do not accept the free gift of salvation from him. Anyone who is a believer in Jesus Christ should not have anything to fear from God as Jesus is there in the presence of the Father making constant intercession for us. He also paid the complete price for our sin. Yes, should we revere him? Of course, he is the Almighty God who created all things, greater than anything we could ever truly imagine. He is so awesome it is almost impossible to actually comprehend how powerful, how mighty, how large he is. Yet Jesus tells us not to be afraid of him. Although we might think that we should fall prostrate before him, Jesus tells us to get up and not to be afraid. God loves us, he cares about us, he shows us compassion and mercy, and he bestows blessings, both spiritual and material upon us. He said that he is our God and we are his people.

John 17:22-23

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one : 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

NIV

It may seem to be a bit of a mystery, but in reality we are one with God, so then how can we fear him? There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Jesus.

Rom 8:1

8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

NIV

We have nothing to fear from God and we have witnessed, not our transfiguration, but our transformation, from sinner to saint, from unbeliever to believer, from a life condemned by our own sin, to a life free from all condemnation and filled with the love of God toward us. We have heard his voice, at least in a spiritual sense, and we listen to Jesus.