Matthew 17 - Our Faith In Jesus Is Based On the Facts!

Matthew 17 - NIV

Enduring Word Commentary

Verses for the Day:

The Transfiguration

17 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.

Commentary:

As Jesus continues to journey to the cross, he predicts a second time not only his death but also that after three days he will be raised again. Jesus knew he would be crucified, and knew he would be raised again, in accordance with the prophets. So either he was lying, or he was stating the facts. When he was eventually crucified and rose from the dead, it proved that he was not a lunatic or liar, but he was and is the only Son of God. 

When you are debating with anyone the truth of Christianity, and the claims it makes about Jesus, there is no logical argument that can deny these central truths of what we believe. Bottom line is we believe in something that literally happened in history. Jesus literally died, and he literally rose from the dead. Though we believe in faith it is based on facts. 

Today Jesus takes his inner circle of disciples up on a mountain. They are going to have a "mountaintop experience". Will still use this phrase today we experience God personally in a powerful way.  Jesus was literally transformed before Peter, James, and John. What does this mean? 

The disciples saw "Jesus' glory". The glory He had before he came from heaven to earth. The glory he will have when he was resurrected from the dead. The glory he will have when he returns! 

Jesus told the three not to tell others about this until he was raised from the dead. This again shows Jesus believed to the core of his being, he would be raised from the dead. God, the Father, also reiterated what He said to His Son when He was baptized by John the Baptist. He said, "This is my Son with whom I love and am well pleased." Then he added, "Listen to Him"! 

Moses and Elijah also make an appearance with Jesus on the mountaintop in a resurrected state. This proves that Moses and Elijah, though they came before Jesus, were given eternal life for their faith. Their faith anticipated faith in Jesus. This story answers the question, "Will Old Testament saints like Abraham, Issac, and Jacob be in heaven?" The answer is yes. They were saved by their faith in God's promises, which were fulfilled in Jesus. 

Application: 

1. Do you realize when the Father looks down at you he says, "You are my (son or daughter) who I love and with whom I am well pleased."? How does this affect how you view yourself? 

2. Although you may not have the same mountaintop experience that Peter, James, and John had, God still shows up in our lives in powerful ways. I find God often shows up through other people who show me God's love just when I need it the most. Or even looking at the beauty of His Creation.  Do you look for God to show his glory in the everyday events of our lives?

3. One Jesus will return in great and promised glory. For those who believe in Him we will share His glory with all the saints that have gone before us! How does this encourage you today?  

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