WE BEHELD HIS GLORY!

 

Sunday, July 9, 2023

 

WE BEHELD HIS GLORY!

 

John 1:14

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

Matt 17:1-3

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

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

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

 

          Those of us who make it a habit to be at church will admit that occasionally the ritual and routine bursts into true worship. When worship truly happens, we behold his glory although not as fully as did Peter, James and John. On those grand occasions God seems closer and more majestic than ordinary days. We want to save as well as savor these moments and we strive to reproduce and recreate the experience.

 

          Beholding His glory is extraordinary and therefore can challenge normal reasoning. Peter wanted to build permanent structures, monuments if you will, for every glorious person he beheld!

 

Matt 17:4

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.

 

          We shouldn’t chide Peter so much because what he experienced was so marvelous that he simply did not want to return to his former mundane existence. He did not want to descend the mountain. He wanted to stay, enveloped in the splendor of the moment. We sympathize with Peter on this point.

 

         

          What Peter, James and John saw was a preview of heaven! Their spirits made raw by this breach in the veil, recognized Moses, and Elijah even though they had been gone for many years. Jesus himself was no longer the carpenter that led them. He was the Lord of Glory. His face did shine like the sun.

 

         

          If we read further in Matthew chapter 17, we see that God broke the spell of that splendor so that they could return to their work in the valley. There the lunatic was healed, and Jesus foretold his death and resurrection. Later Peter would cast a hook and catch a fish to pay taxes for himself and Jesus. Somehow, after the vision of Glory, none of it seemed so farfetched as before.

 

Dear Lord, show us enough of your glory today to make the mundane things marvelous. AMEN