Metamorphoo

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

METAMORPHOO

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

Why would they not be afraid, hearing the very voice of God? They did not seem to be afraid to see Jesus transfigured or the appearance of Moses and Elijah, two dead guys from long ago. But hearing the voice of God was too much for them. It is interesting that Jesus took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James, and John up on a high mountain knowing this event was going to take place. It is also interesting the Greek word for that is translation as transfigured is Metamorphoo, the same word that is used to describe what will happen to us when we are taken up, that is we will be transformed, changed in a twinkling of an eye. Our perishable body will become imperishable, our mortal body will become immortal. We will be transfigured in the same sense that maybe even our faces will shine like the Son, pun intended, but we will have robes white as the driven snow, or white as the light. We can only surmise that Moses and Elijah appeared much the same as the transfigured form of Jesus and that gives us this clue that to how we will be someday. Peter, James, and John had to be amazed, and of course, we would expect nothing less from Peter, with foot in mouth, wanting to make three shelters, thinking this was going to last a long time and the three of them were going to have a great experience from here on out. Then the voice of God blew that all up and the three of them could not bear up to hearing the voice of God, for they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. Why is it that when we heard the voice of God, whether it was audible or simple within our spirit, we were not terrified, but we rejoiced that God was speaking to us? In all reality, whenever we read or hear the word of God, He is speaking to us. We are certainly in awe of the word of God. We have a great deal of respect for the word of God in printed form. But we cannot remember being terrified to hear His voice. Jesus did not want Peter, James, and John to be terrified either, for He told them to get up and not to be afraid. When we consider that God loves us, even beyond our comprehension of what love means, we have nothing to fear from God, not even when we hear His voice. Someday, we will be standing, transfigured, in the very presence of God.