“This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.”-Matthew 17:5
Have you ever been nearby when lightning strikes? If you have, you know it’s a humbling experience. My family and I were once serving at a youth camp together when a storm came upon us. It began to rain very hard, the wind began to blow with real intensity, and we started seeing lightning rapidly approaching our campground. We had never heard such close, loud thunder. At one point, a bolt of lightning struck a tree right in the middle of the camp. What power! It split the tree apart with ease, as if it were peeling string cheese. It even knocked my son, Reis right off his feet! In moments like that, you realize just how small you really are and the immense power that exists at the hand of God. Well, something far more awakening happened to Peter, James, and John when Jesus once took them up on a high mountain excursion.
In Matthew 17:1-8, we read about this incredible experience. Jesus took these three men up on a mountain. While they were up there with Jesus, they had a one-of-a-kind encounter. We’re told that Jesus’ appearance was changed, “…so that His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light” (Matthew 17:2). We’re also told that Moses and Elijah suddenly appreared and were chatting with Jesus. As you can imagine, this was already a crazy thing to behold. However, that’s not all that happened. What occurred next takes it to another level. For suddenly, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and, “…a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him’”(Matthew 17:5). Now, just ponder this for a moment. Talk about a “mountain top experience”! How do you think you would have reacted in that situation? How did Peter, James, and John respond? They responded with total fear, falling face down to the ground (Matthew 17:6). We know that Jesus ended up putting his hand on their backs and telling them to get back up and not be afraid.
We will very likely never have such an encounter. But we have all been given this true story in God’s Word for our good and as a key reminder. For there isn’t any better advice. “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to Him.” There are so many voices every day competing for our attention. None compares to Jesus’ voice. He alone was sent to save us. He came to serve and give us an example to follow forever. Of all the voices vying for our attention, might we not forget that only Jesus’ leads to salvation, abundant life, outragious joy, lasting peace, and potent purpose now and eternally. May His voice ever be The Primary One we go to as we stay in His Word, pray, trust what He says and follow. Let’s listen to Him.
Godspeed, friends!
-Scott