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Daily Bible Studywith SEEDS OF THE KINGDOM

Updated: Saturday, 22 November 2008, 12:06 (GMT)

6 August 2008 | Matthew 17:1-13

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John with him. They went up on a very high mountain where they could be alone. There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

All at once Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus. So Peter said to him, "Lord, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While Peter was still speaking, the shadow of a bright cloud passed over them. From the cloud a voice said, "This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!" When the disciples heard the voice, they were so afraid that they fell flat on the ground. But Jesus came over and touched them. He said, "Get up and don't be afraid!" When they opened their eyes, they saw only Jesus.

On their way down from the mountain, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had been raised from death.

The disciples asked Jesus, "Don't the teachers of the Law of Moses say that Elijah must come before the Messiah does?"

Jesus told them, "Elijah certainly will come and get everything ready. In fact, he has already come. But the people did not recognize him and treated him just as they wanted to. They will soon make the Son of Man suffer in the same way." Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Notes

You might wonder, after Peter's forthright reply as to who he thought Jesus was, why there was any need for the grand drama of the transfiguration. After all, didn't the disciples already know that he was the Son of God?

But Peter was well known for letting his mouth lead the way - perhaps the other disciples still had some reservations.

In other words, it's a bit like hearing from your mate that R.E.M. are going to headline Glastonbury this year. You might want to believe it's true but, knowing your friend, you have some doubts - you want to hear from someone who really knows what they are talking about.

Well, Peter, James and John could hardly have asked for more than they got in that respect. Aside from perhaps Abraham, there were no greater figures of faith than Moses and Elijah... Peter, overwhelmed by what he was seeing, struggled to find an adequate response. Then, they even heard the voice of God proclaiming Jesus as his son!

If there had been any doubts in their mind about who Jesus really was before this point, they would surely now melt away: the message was loud, clear and irrefutable - Jesus truly was the Son of God.

Although we don't get the chance to see God's glory in the same way as Peter, James and John did on the mountain, if we look at the world with our heart open as well as our eyes, we too can catch glimpses.

Some time today or tomorrow, make a conscious effort to lift up your heart and see God's glory in the world around you. You could even take a pen and paper and note down some of your thoughts - as a poem, or just as a description of your response to God.

Prayer

Can you see the wood for the trees? Can you see the miraculous for the mundane? Pause, pray, meet Jesus.

Today's Writer

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