The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:17:1-13

kjv@Matthew:17:1 @ And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

kjv@Matthew:17:2 @ And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

kjv@Matthew:17:3 @ And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

kjv@Matthew:17:4 @ Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

kjv@Matthew:17:5 @ While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

kjv@Matthew:17:6 @ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

kjv@Matthew:17:7 @ And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

kjv@Matthew:17:8 @ And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

kjv@Matthew:17:9 @ And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

kjv@Matthew:17:10 @ And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

kjv@Matthew:17:11 @ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

kjv@Matthew:17:12 @ But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

kjv@Matthew:17:13 @ Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Today's notes:

Context:

Before - Seen coming in His kingdom
After - Rebuking the Devil

What is man believing/doing?:

following Jesus as three apart from the others up the high mountain
following the Spirit as two apart from the Bosom of Abraham
correctly identifying Moses and Elias
remaining upright through the transfiguration of Jesus and vision of Moses and Elias, but not the voice
keeping event secret til after Jesus' death

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

Jesus/Holy Spirit has physically or suggestively chosen them out, they are just going along
identification (hypothesis) process of elimination or revelation
being struck sore afraid
obedience to command not to tell, respect for others

Notes:

kjv@STRING:fell+AND+his+face

The sparing use of the Father's voice must signal sentinel moments or transitions in the ministry of Jesus. That the falling for fear is not mentioned at the baptism from John earlier as it is here may indicate the progression of at least these three men's hearts towards the developing sensitivity and reverence.

Representatives from the Old Testament law and Old Testament prophets meet on the same mountain top along with the representatives of the soon to be New Testament there before the unmasked Lord of both to hear the Father testify this to be HIS Son.

The face did that shine like the sun was also the face that set His face toward Jerusalem, that fell to the ground to pray might this cup pass, that was spit upon and buffeted, that also was bound about with the napkin that later was laid folded in His borrowed tomb. His face shined just as the redeemed righteous will one day shine in the kingdom of their Father because of Him.

Twice in each of the three synoptic gospels, once from heaven, the other from the cloud does the Father's voice confirm HIS Son. John's records that HE both has and will again as a glorification of HIS own name.

Jesus uses the "beloved son" title with His main character in the lord of the vineyard parable kjv@Luke:20:13

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

What the three witnessed that day was not for general consumption by others until much later. The suggestion is that such knowledge would alter the developing perception of everyone else with a layer of complexity that may steer them off course of the prerequisite understanding of His mandatory death and resurrection. That is not to say that these three understood any better, only that they could be trusted while this event was recorded for posterity.
Of the three, we know at least in Peter's case that the knowledge of this event he was able to keep secret did not yet prevent Him from crossing the line with Jesus on multiple future occasions even unto denying Him three times. Of the other two we know that the same did not prevent them shortly from selfishly seeking a special place at His throne in the future kingdom.
We may not dare to understand the puzzling hint of the Baptist's suffering, there may not be enough information given even if we did, but the hint is put into play anyway

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:17:1-13
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:17:1-13 rwp@Matthew:17:1-13 mhcc@Matthew:17:1-13
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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