Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray (Luke 9:28). There Jesus was transfigured before them and Moses, the giver of the law, and Elijah, the great prophet, appeared with Him in glory (Luke 9:30-31). Peter, realizing the blessedness of the occasion, suggested that three booths be made, one for each of the three figures before him (Luke 9:33). But God’s cloud of glory overshadowed them and the Father said, “This is my beloved Son: hear him” (Luke 9:34-35).
Men come and go. Lawgivers and prophets depart. “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh…” (Ecc. 1:4). But Jesus Christ is “immortal” (1 Tim. 1:17). The word “immortal” is the same Greek word found in 1 Peter 1:23 that describes the “incorruptible” word of God. Just as Jesus lives forever, the words of Christ will never pass away (Matt. 24:35). His words not only are eternal, but also provide eternal life. Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Jesus’ words are spirit-filled, life-giving words. By following His eternal words to godliness we will have a better life here and in the hereafter (1 Tim. 4:8). Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
What the Father indicated on the mount of transfiguration is Jesus’ words have superiority even over the words of Moses and Elijah. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds (Heb. 1:1-2).
The words of Jesus are recorded for us in the Scriptures. Peter, who witnessed this great declaration of God upon that mountain, attested to the veracity of the writers of the Scriptures, saying:
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. – 2 Peter 1:16-18
How do you regard Jesus Christ’s message? Paul said he was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). The gospel of Jesus Christ makes us free from the law of sin and death if we will believe and obey it (Rom. 8:2). However, if we reject Christ’s message, only judgment awaits us. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receveith not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Will you listen to Christ, the eternal one, whose eternal words can give you eternal life?
-Mark Day
Leave a Reply