Peter has assured his
readers that he was not following or promoting cunningly devised
fables, but was an eyewitness of the honor and glory given to Jesus
Christ by God the Father. In chapter one and verse seventeen Peter
tells us how he knew this. He wrote:
For he received from
God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him
from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.
The
verse begins, “For he received from God the Father honor
and glory,” When Peter, James
and John were upon what is known as the “Mount of Transfiguration”,
Jesus changed into His glorified body and had a conversation with
Moses and Elijah. This account is recorded for us in the gospel of
Matthew in chapter seventeen and in the gospel of Mark in chapter
nine. As this happened, Peter was overwhelmed by the event and said,
“Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you will, let us
make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one
for Elijah”. God the Father interrupted Peter's words and spoke
words of honor and glory about Jesus from a cloud that surrounded
them.
The
verse continues, “when there came such a voice to him from the
excellent glory,” Peter recalls this awesome voice which he
calls “such a voice”, and he gives us the source from
which the voice came - “from the excellent glory” or from
“the majestic, splendid, bright and great” glory of God the
Father Himself. The voice was directed toward the Son, Jesus Christ,
and God's witness of the Son was the greatest witness of all.
Finally
the verse says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.” Peter recounts
the very words God the Father used when referring to His Son. God the
Father claims Jesus as His own, calls Him “beloved”
which means “esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love”,
and tells of His pleasure with Him. God said He was “well-pleased”
with Jesus, and because of the
testimony of God the Father about His Son, Peter knew with assurance
the principles he was teaching the church in this letter.
When
we consider this eyewitness account of Peter from God the Father
about Jesus His Son, does it make us wonder what the Heavenly Father
would say about us? Would He claim us as His own? Would He call us
“beloved”, and
would He be “well pleased”
with us? As we ponder these ominous words, perhaps we have a little
soul searching to do, or maybe we will realign ourselves with God the
Father in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We might also be so
glad for the mercy and grace of God which is offered through Jesus
Christ that we will know that we are only pleasing to God the Father
as we rely upon and put our trust in Him.
Next
time we see how Peter knew of this awesome voice, 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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