“Now after six days Jesus took
Peter, James, and John his brother,
led them up on a high mountain
by themselves;
and He was transfigured before them.
His face shone like the sun,
and His clothes became as white as the light.”
(Matthew 17:1 – 2)
“Now after six days…”
Six days after WHEN?
SIX days after the “Yo-Yo” experience
That Peter went through with Jesus
Peter had declared Jesus as “The Christ”
Revealed to him by the Father
Then, virtually in the time it took him
To draw breath, was rebuked by Jesus
As Jesus told Satan to get behind Him
Since Peter was speaking from an earthly
Perspective, rather than a heavenly one
It would be NO surprise if Peter’s mind
Was all over the place
“I say this and my Lord praises me…
I say that and He calls me the devil”
Something along the lines that we
Might think if we were in “Peter’s shoes”
BUT notice what happens next…
Jesus takes this same “mixed up” Peter
Along with James and John
Up on a high mountain
Where He is transfigured before them…
God DOES NOT think like we do
We would expect rejection
At least for a week or so
Time to “get our act” sorted out
Time to re-evaluate our priorities
But not so with God as He knows our HEART
And indeed these three are the people
That Jesus referred to:
“Assuredly, I say to you,
there are some standing here
who shall not taste death
till they see the Son of Man
coming in His kingdom.”
(Matthew 16:28)
Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus
On the mountain when He was transfigured
“His face shone like the sun,
and His clothes became
as white as the light.”
(Matthew 17:2)
This was a picture of Jesus coming
In His Kingdom
And Peter, James and John
Were chosen to witness it
So as I said at the beginning…
Take encouragement from this
Consider the happenings of Matthew 16
Both the success and failure of Peter
And then see how Jesus forgave him
And rewarded him as being amongst those
Who witnessed this great event
No matter what you may have done…
God sees the greater “man” in you
When you are IN Christ
Jesus has already paid for your sins
Past, Present and Future
You ARE a NEW creation
(2 Corinthians 5:17 – 18a)
And your spirit is identical to Jesus
(1 John 4:17)
See yourself as God sees you
And continue to live out of
Who you ARE in Christ