The Friday Update--June 12

Good morning,

This week we will continue to try to answer the question, “Who is this?’ The gospel writers give overwhelming evidence Who it is. They write first-hand accounts of all that Jesus of Nazareth said and did.

In this email we will look at the event near the end of Jesus’ life called, ‘The Transfiguration.’ Matthew tells us, “And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John … and He was transfigured before them.” (Matthew 17:1-2)

Our first question is what does ‘transfigured’ mean. This word means altered or transformed in some way. Matthew tells us, “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light.” 

We learn in Luke’s gospel that this event took place while, “Jesus went up on the mountain to pray.” He was praying in the Holy Spirit to His Father and God ‘pulls back the veil’ on our Lord’s true identity. In other words, if Christ were not incarnate, those around Him would always have seen His heavenly glory.  

God dwells “in unapproachable light Whom no one has seen, or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16). In Psalm 104:1-2 we are told of the LORD, “You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as a garment …”

Matthew continues revealing all that happened that morning. “Moses and Elijah appeared to them.” These men died hundreds of years ago and now appear with Christ. Moses represents the law of God; Elijah was considered the prophetic forerunner of the Messiah.

The presence of these men signifies further evidence that Jesus Christ was God. But maybe the most certain proof comes next. “Behold a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.’”

God the Father gives His public endorsement that Jesus is truly His One and Only Begotten Son. Christ is the Son of the Father, the Second Person of the Godhead Trinity. He is superior to Moses, Elijah and all the angels. (Hebrews 1-2).

In these 8 verses of Matthew 17 we read of the overwhelming evidence that occurred before Jesus’ three disciples. Now it is up to you the reader, given all the substantiating facts, to answer this question, ‘Who is this Man?’ 

May God bless your reading of His Word this week.

Steve

Bible Reading Plan—Week 38

DAY 1—Matthew 17:1-8

DAY 2—Matthew 17:9-13

DAY 3—Mark 9:2-8 

DAY 4—Mark 9:9-13

DAY 5—Luke 9:28-36

* As you read Mark’s and Luke’s account of the transfiguration, look for some of the unique nuances that occur in their gospels. 

Good morning,

This summer we will be looking at the incarnate Son of God. Eight times the gospel writers ask of Jesus, “Who is this?” Our summer reading will be spent trying to help you come to the same conclusion our Lord’s apostles came to. He is the Son of God!   

This week I would like to look at Matthew 14. Here our Lord walks on water and calms a storm. This miracle is one of the most mocked and derided of all of Christ’s miracles. However, belittling a well-established fact does nothing to refute it. 

After feeding 5,000 people, with 5 loaves and 2 fish, Jesus instructs the disciples to get into the boat. He tells them to go to the other side of the lake. In the middle of the night they encountered strong winds, making progress forward very difficult. 

Matthew then tells us, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus came to them walking on the sea … when the disciples saw Him they were terrified … but immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’”

Why did our Lord wait until the middle of the night … walk 3 miles on a lake … to calm this storm? It seems to me that there are at least 3 reasons for this.

The first is to show that He is Lord of all nature! Several prophets of old parted a body of water, none of them ever walked on water. As one writer said of this miracle, ‘Jesus walked where only God could walk.’

The second reason is that other miracles occur here as well. Matthew tells us, “Peter answered Him, ‘Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ … and he (Peter) walked on water …’” (Matthew 14:28-29)

Peter walked on water by the command of his Lord. However, it was grounded in his faith … which when Peter saw the wind and waves around him his faith sank … and so did he. To this Jesus responds, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

The third reason is that the panicked disciples would never forget this night. When Christ gets into the boat we read, “the wind ceased and those in the boat worshipped Him saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.”” (Matthew 14:33)

There were many other things that Jesus did in His 3 years with His apostles proving Him to be the Son of God—few of them were greater than this miracle.

May the Holy Spirit bless your reading of His Word this week.

Steve

Bible Reading Plan—Week 37

DAY 1—Matthew 14:22-27

DAY 2—Matthew 14:28-33

DAY 3—Matthew 14:34-36 (These verses reveal many more miracles Christ did.)

DAY 4—Mark 6:45-52 (This week we will look at all 3 accounts of this miracle.)

DAY 5—John 6:16-21