The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 9:35,
"A voice came from the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.'"
God is often depicted in the Scriptures as manifesting himself within clouds. At Mount Sinai and other places his presence is associated with clouds. As this cloud enveloped Peter, James and John, while they were on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured, we are told they were afraid. In Matthew's account we are told they fell to the ground "terrified". Luke tells us, following a suggestion Peter had made about putting up three shelters, that he didn't even know what he was saying.
The moment must have been one of the most dramatic and electrifying events ever witnessed by any man. We are told that Jesus' face changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening. In light of Luke's intent to be specific here, I take these as very literal descriptions. The Lord must have been blinding to gaze at. At the time, two heroes of renown appeared, Moses and Elijah, both of whom had passed away centuries earlier. A stunning event! It wasn't until long afterward that the three disciples who had witnessed this told anyone about it.
For me, the greatest and most dramatic part of the event was God the Father speaking from the cloud that had enveloped them. To the three terrified apostles who had fallen to the ground, the Father said, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." As I attempt to picture in my mind what the event must have been like for Peter, James and John, I find it difficult to capture. However, without a doubt, the most profound and wonderful piece of it is what God the Father told them.
This clearly leaves no question about who Jesus Christ is. As a member of the Trinity, he was chosen by God the Father to "seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10. Because he is the One the Father chose to save mankind, he is the way to God, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.
This speaks to me of the great love God has for man, an astonishing love! After mankind had turned his back on God, gone his own way in sin and rebellion against him, God in his great and astonishing love chooses to send his Son to die a miserable death to pay the penalty for our sins and provide a way for us to his table! Astonishing!!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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