At the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) it was blindingly clear to Peter, James and John that Jesus of Nazareth was not only human, but entirely different again. He was greater than the line of prophets, although He was a prophet. He was the long-awaited Messiah – the Christ – and yet even more again.
Jesus’ revelation on that mountain of His glory cannot be under-estimated. The three disciples with Him were all affected since that day, and both Peter and John refer to the event in their subsequent letters to the early churches. Jesus’ living relationship with Moses and Elijah, including His conversation with them regarding His upcoming ‘exodus’, the crucifixion and resurrection He understood He would face, bore witness to the reality of the kingdom beyond this earthly life – and Jesus’ sovereignty in that realm.
This sovereignty had been foretold by Daniel in his dreams and writings centuries before Jesus came. Daniel’s phrase “Son of Man” was known to refer to the One who “was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed”. Jesus took this title “Son of Man” for Himself as more people looked to Him for renewal, hope and life. Only God could offer these in the way Jesus did, and the question grew – could this man be God?
The truth of who Jesus is, is greater than we can ever understand – until we stand with Him in His revealed eternal kingdom.
And then we will sing with all the company of heaven, the hosts of angels, the multitude of nations, the songs from Revelation chapters five and seven. Our new creation will include a new voice that will soar with all creatures in heaven and on earth in praise and wonder at the LORD God, Father, Spirit, and Son – Jesus of Nazareth.
Yet… that Day is yet to be. The power struggles here in this world, locally and globally, continue to surprise and frustrate us. How long, O Lord?
Who, or what, can we put our trust in? Politicians? Celebrities? Technology? Progress? Sports stars? The temptation is to turn in to ourselves as the highest authority when we are disillusioned with the worldly powers that reveal their fragility in different ways. Can you trust yourself? Really? Can you look into your own heart and recognise the deception that even lies there?
But when Jesus is glorified in His rightful place, then we find we have One who has lived as one of us, hungered and thirst, tired and tried, hated and mocked, loved and celebrated, suffered and died, and is now risen, ascended to take His rightful throne in the heavens to rule over all the heavens (the unseen realm) and the earth (our seen realm). Obviously the powers of this world reject His authority, and will increase this rejection of Jesus and His followers. Jesus clearly laid out this reality to His followers on numerous occasions – as does the whole New Testament.
Jesus died on the cross for your sin – God took your sin and shame upon His own shoulders, and died for the sin of the world so that all who turn to Him in faith will live to join Him in His eternal kingdom, in a fullness of life that we cannot begin to imagine. In His resurrection we have the assurance of sin pardoned and eternal life, and in the gift of God the Holy Spirit we have the guarantee of all His promises being fulfilled – something no other authority in this world can match.
Jesus was never “just” a historical figure, a ‘Good Teacher’, a revolutionary, a Prophet, the Anointed/Messiah/Christ. Jesus of Nazareth is God the Son, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, who was before He came into this world through Mary, to suffer and die, to be resurrected and ascended by God the Father into His rightful position as ruler and LORD over all creation. All authority and power has been given to Jesus, and He calls all who seek life, life to the full, to turn to Him and receive all that He has to offer.
This offer of grace is free, and is freedom. How will you respond?
Jesus’ revelation on that mountain of His glory cannot be under-estimated. The three disciples with Him were all affected since that day, and both Peter and John refer to the event in their subsequent letters to the early churches. Jesus’ living relationship with Moses and Elijah, including His conversation with them regarding His upcoming ‘exodus’, the crucifixion and resurrection He understood He would face, bore witness to the reality of the kingdom beyond this earthly life – and Jesus’ sovereignty in that realm.
This sovereignty had been foretold by Daniel in his dreams and writings centuries before Jesus came. Daniel’s phrase “Son of Man” was known to refer to the One who “was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed”. Jesus took this title “Son of Man” for Himself as more people looked to Him for renewal, hope and life. Only God could offer these in the way Jesus did, and the question grew – could this man be God?
The truth of who Jesus is, is greater than we can ever understand – until we stand with Him in His revealed eternal kingdom.
And then we will sing with all the company of heaven, the hosts of angels, the multitude of nations, the songs from Revelation chapters five and seven. Our new creation will include a new voice that will soar with all creatures in heaven and on earth in praise and wonder at the LORD God, Father, Spirit, and Son – Jesus of Nazareth.
Yet… that Day is yet to be. The power struggles here in this world, locally and globally, continue to surprise and frustrate us. How long, O Lord?
Who, or what, can we put our trust in? Politicians? Celebrities? Technology? Progress? Sports stars? The temptation is to turn in to ourselves as the highest authority when we are disillusioned with the worldly powers that reveal their fragility in different ways. Can you trust yourself? Really? Can you look into your own heart and recognise the deception that even lies there?
But when Jesus is glorified in His rightful place, then we find we have One who has lived as one of us, hungered and thirst, tired and tried, hated and mocked, loved and celebrated, suffered and died, and is now risen, ascended to take His rightful throne in the heavens to rule over all the heavens (the unseen realm) and the earth (our seen realm). Obviously the powers of this world reject His authority, and will increase this rejection of Jesus and His followers. Jesus clearly laid out this reality to His followers on numerous occasions – as does the whole New Testament.
Jesus died on the cross for your sin – God took your sin and shame upon His own shoulders, and died for the sin of the world so that all who turn to Him in faith will live to join Him in His eternal kingdom, in a fullness of life that we cannot begin to imagine. In His resurrection we have the assurance of sin pardoned and eternal life, and in the gift of God the Holy Spirit we have the guarantee of all His promises being fulfilled – something no other authority in this world can match.
Jesus was never “just” a historical figure, a ‘Good Teacher’, a revolutionary, a Prophet, the Anointed/Messiah/Christ. Jesus of Nazareth is God the Son, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, who was before He came into this world through Mary, to suffer and die, to be resurrected and ascended by God the Father into His rightful position as ruler and LORD over all creation. All authority and power has been given to Jesus, and He calls all who seek life, life to the full, to turn to Him and receive all that He has to offer.
This offer of grace is free, and is freedom. How will you respond?
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