Jump Start # 190

Matthew 17:5 “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.’”

  The transfiguration of Jesus Christ. There is nothing else like it in the Bible. The inner circle of apostles, Peter, James and John are invited to witness this spectacular event. There are so many unusual things that take place on this mountain. Jesus changed. His face became as bright as the sun. His clothes became bright. Later, as our passage today states, a bright cloud overshadows the three apostles. Then Moses and Elijah appear. Moses, representing the Law, Elijah, representing the prophets are there before Jesus, the Messiah. It is the Old Testament that points to Jesus. They are discussing the upcoming departure of Jesus. He was to die at Calvary, and then be resurrected and later ascend to Heaven. Moses and Elijah seem to be aware of these things. The three apostles are not. Moses had an unusual departure—God allowed him to see the promise land from the mountain top and God took his life. Later Michael and Satan disputed over the body of Moses. Elijah, too, had a most unusual departure. He never died. God took him up to Heaven in a fiery chariot. Moses never met Elijah, they lived centuries apart. Here these all meet.

  Peter speaks, not to Moses or Elijah, but to Jesus. He has talked to Jesus before and he knew Jesus. He wants to do something special. He wants to make three tabernacles, one for each of them. Peter, wanted a historical marker to remember what happened there.

  Our verse today has God speaking. He interrupts Peter. Peter is talking and talking and it is as if God says, “enough.” He acknowledges that Jesus is His Son, and that He is pleased with that Jesus is doing. And then, God says, “Listen to Him.” That one little phrase speaks volumes. God didn’t say, “Peter, be quite and listen to what these men are saying.” No, “Listen to Him.” Him is Jesus. Don’t listen to Moses. Don’t listen to Elijah. God was showing that Jesus was supreme to the Law and Prophets and the Law and Prophets were fulfilled in Christ.

  Like Peter, sometimes we talk too much. We want to do nice things and be fair to everyone but we get it all wrong. I don’t know what I would have done had I been there. All that brightness…Moses…Elijah…Jesus, looking different. My first thought would be to run, but these three didn’t do that. I don’t fault Peter. It was a good idea, building three tabernacles or memorials to the event. We like to do that . Throughout the country side you find historical markers. Along highways we see white crosses—reminders of a loved one who died in a car accident. But God didn’t want any plaques, signs, tabernacles or anything else, other than listening to His Son. Today, we’d build a museum, highlighting the events of Moses and Elijah and Jesus. There would be a gift shop right next door. Folks would travel there, take a few pictures, look around and go about their day. That’s not what this is about. God isn’t in the museum business. He is in the building lives business. Listening to Jesus implies, obeying Jesus and changing your life because of Jesus.

  I wonder sometimes if we do too much talking in our church services. Now, I don’t mean, whispering to one another, but rather we hear the voice of man more than the voice of God. Maybe we ought to read more verses and talk less about them. Listen to Him is the plea from Heaven.  Could be, there is so much noise in my life, or more likely, I’m talking so much, that I can’t hear Him. Have you noticed, it’s hard to listen to someone else while you are talking. Someone has to stop. God tells us who—it’s us. Jesus has something to say. Jesus needs to be heard. He is speaking to you today, through His word.

  The Psalmist said in Ps 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” In other words, “hush” and listen. Too much complaining…too much talking about other people…too much…LISTEN. LISTEN TO JESUS. Try it. You’ll learn things. You’ll be better. You’ll know what God wants.

Roger