Monday: Eyewitnesses of Majesty
Read 2 Peter 1:16-18. What other evidence does Peter say he has for his faith in Jesus?
Besides the prophetic word, Peter was an eyewitness to many of the things that he preached about. Christianity, he said, is not founded on “cunningly devised fables” (2 Pet. 1:16, NKJV), but on real events that happened in history-events that he himself had witnessed.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
In the Gospels, Peter was there for many of the pivotal events in the life and ministry of Jesus. He was there for the preaching, the teaching, and the miracles. From the early miracle of the fish (Luke 5:4-6) to seeing Jesus in Galilee after His resurrection (John 21:15), Peter was an eyewitness to so much of what happened.
In 2 Peter 1:17-18, what event did Peter especially focus on regarding what he had personally seen? What was the special significance of that event?
Peter highlights one specific eyewitness event: the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John with Him to the top of a mountain in order to pray (Luke 9:28). While there with them He became transformed before their eyes. His face shone, and His clothes became dazzling white (Matt. 17:2, Luke 9:29). He was joined by Moses and Elijah, and a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5, NKJV).
Peter had seen a lot in his time with Jesus; yet, this incident stands out. It reveals Jesus to be the Son of God, that His time on earth was spent according to God’s plan, and that He had a very special relationship with the Father. Even with all that Peter had seen or would see, this event-which included “this voice which came from heaven” (2 Pet. 1:18)-was the one that he focused on in this letter.
| Think about what event or events have made a deep and lasting impression on your spiritual life and faith. What was it, how did it impact you, and what does it still mean to you today? Why do you think it had the impact that it did? Share your answers in class on Sabbath. |
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event that i wont forget the is time when some boys another street came treating us for all most 2 weeks and from that day i really saw GODS power in our home so that really touch my heart and on more thing this month GOD is really working in me life because its being 2 months from now my marriage life is ups and down but i for sure that GOD is helping me go though this and i thank GOD that i have are wonderful husband thank thank you...
It is wonderful to know that we have our God who reveals himself to us personally.
He always leaves an impression of himself in our lifes.
What a Saviour
Why is it difficult for us to come up with event or events that have made a deep and lasting impression on our spiritual life and faith? When we ask for someone to share their experience, we know exactly the few people who would answer that call and speak up but why most of us don't have much to share in this experience?
1) Keep a prayer journal. I was surprised when my wife shared her prayer journal with me which showed how each one of her prayer request for our family has been answered. Once the prayer was answered, I had forgotten the answered prayers. Sharing with others and journaling is pivotal for our own experience.
2)Deep and lasting impression can only happen when we are willing to let God take the lead in our life.
Peter, fisherman, was willing to obey and let down the net. Are we willing to obey the calling of God to step out of our comfort zone?
It's absolutely true that the answers to our prayers, especially in our most needy moments, leave the deepest marks in our lives. If I were Peter, probably the fishing experience would be most significant.
What about, Andrew, Philip, and Nathaniel, the 1st of the disciples along with Peter to follow Jesus. John 1. They didn't have the privlage to eye witness that special event to confirm Christ mission, to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10. Most of us have not had a special event, yet we believe in Him. John 20:29. We have the Old Testament scripture. Psalms 22. Isaiah 53. Zechariah 12:10. Zechariah 13:7. Jeremiah 33:14-18. Daniel 7:13-14,18. Isaiah 56:1. Zechariah 9:9. Isaiah 25:8-9. We have The New Testement witness of Him. We have our modern day prophet, and our preachers and lay men and women who have been given guidence by the Holy Spirit, in their sermons and wrirings. We thank Christ that he gave us these modern day writings to give us strength in these last days. Some have said we don't need a prophet, or preacher, we have the Bible. I do believe The Spirit of Prophecy and our people writing books, if they speak according to the Bible, augment and illuminate our relationship with Christ. It is our relationship with Christ that carries us through. We then can say , we have fought a good fight, we have stayed the course, henceforth is laid up for us a crown of righteousness. Available to all who put on Christ righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
Peter transfiguration of Jesus on the mount, he heard the voice from heaven affirming Jesus as God's Beloved Son and he saw Moses and Elijah with Jesus. This was truly an eye witness account. The significance of this experience(given the fact that Moses had died and was resurrected and taken up to heaven and Elijah was taken up in a fiery chariot) is the certainty of a resurrection and a translation of the saints at the glorious appearing of Jesus the second time.
My wife and I have experienced what we call "God Moments." It is a specific time where we feel the presence of God in a special way. Once, we were enjoying a spectacular day on top of Signal Mountain near Chattanooga. We were reading from the Psalms about God's creation as we watched fog moving along with the river in the valley far below.
The fog stopped moving and suddenly moved at a 90 degree angle up the mountain to overtook us. It then retreated as quickly as it came. While the cloud of fog enveloped us, we felt the sweet presence of God. It was a "God Moment" that encouraged us for the remainder of the day. The day was a Sabbath!