As we have followed the
exhortation from Peter in this second letter to the church, we have
seen him give instruction in the eight characteristics of Christian
growth, remind them over and over of the divine power and exceeding
great and precious promises that are provided to live according to
the divine nature, and told them he would continue to remind them
until he put off his earthly tabernacle. In chapter one and verse
sixteen the apostle Peter shares the validity of his statements. We
read:
For we have not
followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of
his majesty.
The
verse begins, “For we have not followed cunningly devised
fables,” Peter begins with the
word “for” which
is “because” or “since” as he gives proof to his claims. He
knows the truth of which he speaks, and he did not follow “cunningly
devised fables” which are
stories that are cleverly or cunningly invented “myths” or
fiction. Notice too that he includes the word “we”
which seems that there must have
been others with him as he shared. This was more than likely a
reference to Jesus' other disciples.
The
verse continues, “when we made known unto you the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Because of the environment within which Peter dwelt, myths were
common. The Greeks and Romans each had their mythological gods, and
the stories associated with them no doubt cast suspicion on the part
of those who heard Peter speak. When Peter spoke of the “power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
many probably thought him mad or just another promoter of fables,
however, this did not deter him from telling the truth.
Finally
the verse reads, “but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
The
apostle Peter was an “eyewitness”
to
Jesus coming in his glorified body - “his
majesty”.
In the gospel of Matthew in chapter seventeen and in Mark chapter
nine, Jesus went up to a mountain and was transfigured before Peter,
James and John. He appeared in “all of the visible splendor of the
divine majesty”. Peter saw this, so when he spoke of the power and
coming of the Lord, he knew what that looks like.
What
would it be like to be an
“eyewitness”
of the Lord's majesty? What if we were to see Jesus in His glorified
body? How would our testimony of Him change? Would we speak with
greater authority and not allow others to dissuade us from sharing
our faith? When we were challenged would we know that nothing of
which we speak is fable, myth or fiction? Perhaps as we ponder
Peter's witness of the Lord's glory we will begin to see His glory
ourselves, and may the Lord bless us with the ability to be bold in
sharing our faith with everyone whom the Lord brings us today.
Next
time we see how God honored His Son Jesus, so read ahead, and we
shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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