Matthew 17
The leader of the apostles wrote about “the power and
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peter, James, and John were
“eyewitnesses” of Jesus' “majesty” at His transfiguration (2
Peter 1:16). They saw His luminescent face and clothing, and heard
the voice from the glory cloud of God that “overshadowed them”
saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to Him.” Such a powerful glimpse of the divine King was
formative for the three apostles, yet they were instructed by their
Master: “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised
from the dead.”
Later Peter would write to “the dispersion” of a
great community of faith regarding their possession of “living
hope” through “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
There can be no doubt that he had a very credible testimony about our
“inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven” for all who put their trust in Jesus (1 Peter 1:3-4).
When they were coming down the mountain, they did not
understand many things about the present and the future. Their
friends were unable to help a desperate father whose boy had
epilepsy. Jesus told them what their problem was: It was “because
of your little faith.” The Lord's time in this world of unbelief
was challenging to Him. “O faithless and twisted generation, how
long am I to be with you?” Even so He could not leave before
finishing His work. “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into
the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on
the third day.”
Meanwhile Jesus continued to accomplish heavenly
miracles, even taking care of Peter's tax problems through the catch
of a fish with a “shekel” in his mouth! “Take that and give it
to them for Me and for yourself.” Only the great Lord of the
resurrection could defeat both death and taxes! One day the true
“sons” of the kingdom will be freed entirely from both.
Prayer
from A
Book of Prayers
Father, when our
Savior ministered in this place of death, You gave us an amazing
glimpse of His glory in the Transfiguration. We long for that vision
today! Teach us to see with trusting eyes and to live by Your Word.
Move us ahead in works of love according to Your commandments. It is
impossible to please You without the gift of faith. Jesus
accomplished the highest righteousness through the cross. By His
sacrifice we who were in such great need have been made sons and
daughters of the Kingdom. What looked like utter failure in the sight
of the world was truly the greatest of victories for Your people.
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