Matthew 17:5: “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!'”

January 15th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

It is hard to imagine what it must have been like for Peter, James, and John, Jesus’ 3 disciples, as He took them up on this high mountaintop to experience something much more stunning than a great view of northern Israel. Right before their eyes, Moses and Elijah appeared and Jesus was transfigured: “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). There are many amazing aspects of this moment, but the central truth of this passage jumps right out of the page at us. Jesus was presented to His disciples as the Son of God. But why was it necessary to emphasize this fact?

These 2 Old Testament saints, Moses and Elijah, symbolized to Peter, James, and John, the law and the prophets. They characterized what it meant to be Jewish and how Jews were to live their lives. These 2 appeared with Jesus, but Jesus totally eclipsed them. The voice from heaven removed any doubt as to the real purpose of this experience, “This is My beloved Son . . . Hear Him!”

It is not the law nor the prophets nor our history that we are to look to; it is to Jesus, the Son of God. His transfiguration was a living parable that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). It seems so straight forward and simple, why then do so many get this wrong? Because the Jesus-way is so narrow and seemingly restrictive. “I think all roads should lead to God,” many demand. And they do. All roads will eventually lead to the foot of the Great White Throne of God’s Final Judgment. And if we “Hear Him” now, we need not fear that day.

“LORD, we choose to bow before You now and accept Your will for our lives.”