Shortly after Jesus stands at the “gates of hell” and declares the power of His Kingdom over it, he gives Peter, James and John “a glimpse of glory” as Jesus is transfigured and God speaks.
Overview
- The Voice of God
- This is my Son
- Whom I love
- I am well pleased with Him
- Listen to Him
Bible Passage
Matthew 17.1-9; Mark 9.2-10; Luke 9.28-36
Matthew 17:1 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.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
Bible Passage
Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The Voice of God
In the gospels, we hear the voice of God through Jesus, there are two occasions God’s voice is heard directly.
He speaks a similar message on both occasions.
If God repeats a message, it is important.
At the start of Christ’s ministry
John 3:16, 17
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Towards the end of Christ’s ministry
The message is the same – with the addition of one key phrase:
This is my son
Whom I love
I am well pleased with Him
Listen to Him
This is my Son
The disciples still did not have their head around this.
The actual one and only Son of God was walking in their midst!!
God declares it as Christ is shrouded in light.
Do we understand the power of the Son in our lives?
Whom I love
God’s love is way above human love.
He loved His Son so much
Yet He also loved the world enough to put His precious Son through so much suffering and grief.
Love is sacrifice.
I am well pleased with Him
God is pleased with Jesus – His loving and obedient child.
The perfect sinless human being
The true representation of His Father.
Endorsed by God Himself.
Reflection
Is God well pleased with us?
What in our life is earning His displeasure?
God’s Message
After the introduction and endorsement, comes the key message. The message not to the three disciples alone, but to the world.
The most important communication from God to us.
Listen to Him
Every word He speaks is true and wise.
Words of life
If we can only obey Jesus and be like Him, our lives will be transformed.
This is the single most important advice God gives to Christ’s disciples.
Listen to Him
The disciples coloured his words with their perceptions
We do the same too!
Listen to Him
Listen to Him
If only we could truly shut out all other voices and listen to the true, pure, loving wise Son of God!!
Listen to Him
Listen
We need to stop now and then
Cease our anxiety and striving
And simply listen
To the voice of the Son of God
Through the bible
Through prayer
Are we really hearing what he is saying
To Jesus
Messages are pounding us via phone, email, internet, media.
Subconsciously they are penetrating our minds, our hearts
They are influencing our desires and lifestyle
We need to put aside these voices and hear the voice of Jesus alone.
The disciples’ Reaction
Peter wanted to get busy in doing stuff for Jesus and His exalted companions.
We often do too.
God wants us to just stop, enjoy the moment and “listen”.
The Disciple’s Response
The disciples fell face down terrified.
But they still did not fully get what God was saying.
There were still occasions they were simply not hearing Jesus
They even abandoned him at the cross.
It took a while for them to truly be receptive.
Discussion
1.How can we hear the voice of Jesus above everything else?
2.How can we truly believe everything Jesus says?
3.Do we truly want to?