DAY #27: January 27, 2009 - Matthew 16:24-17:13

Jesus gets right to the heart of the issue. This passage starts by Jesus inviting every person to follow him. The caveat? They must have a willingness to die to self. Die to selfish ambition and self glorification and self gratification. A good picture of this is found in Philippians 2:2-4. Jesus calls every one of his disciples to shoulder their cross and to follow.

To “shoulder the cross” was a vivid illustration of the humility and submission that Jesus was asking of his followers. Death on a cross was a form of execution used by Rome for what they considered dangerous criminals. A prisoner carried his own cross to the place of execution, signifying submission to Rome’s power. Following Jesus, therefore, meant identifying with Jesus and his followers, facing social and political oppression and ostracism, and no turning back. For some, taking up the cross might indeed mean death. To “follow” Christ is also a moment-by-moment decision, requiring compassion and service. Following Jesus doesn’t mean walking behind him, but taking the same road of sacrifice and service that He took.

He follows this by reminding us that any attempt to keep your life means only to lose it. A person who “saves” his or her life in order to satisfy temporary desires and goals apart from God ultimately “loses” life. Not only does that person lose eternal life, but he or she also loses the fullness of earthly life promised to those who believe. By contrast, those who willingly give up their lives for the sake of Christ actually find true life. To be willing to put personal desires and life itself into God’s hands means to understand that nothing that we can gain on our own in our earthly lives can compare to what we gain with Christ. Jesus wants us to choose to follow him rather than to lead a life of sin and self-satisfaction. He wants us to stop trying to control our own destiny and to let him direct us. When we give our lives in service to Christ, however, we discover the real purpose of living.

Jesus asked his listeners a rhetorical question. What good would it be for a person to gain the whole world (power, popularity, pleasure, prestige), but lose his or her soul (that is, to lose eternal life with God)? Every person will die, even those most powerful or most wealthy. If they have not taken care to “save” their lives for eternity with God, then they gain nothing and lose everything. Many people spend all their energy seeking pleasure. Jesus said, however, that a world of pleasure centered on possessions, position, or power is ultimately worthless. Whatever a person has on earth is only temporary; it cannot be exchanged for his or her soul. Believers must be willing to make the pursuit of God more important than the selfish pursuit of pleasure. If we follow Jesus, we will know what it means to live abundantly now and to have eternal life as well.

While Jesus called his followers to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow, he also promised great reward. Their self-denial and discipleship would not be wasted. Their repayment would come in the glorious future Kingdom of God.

In chapter 17, we see that Jesus took the disciples up a high mountain—either Mount Hermon or Mount Tabor. A mountain was often associated with closeness to God and readiness to receive his words. God had appeared to both Moses (Exodus 24:12-18) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8-18) on mountains. The Transfiguration was a glimpse of Jesus’ true glory, a special revelation of his divinity to Peter, James, and John. This was God’s affirmation of everything Jesus had done and was about to do. The Transfiguration clearly revealed not only that they were correct in believing Jesus to be the Messiah, but that their commitment was well placed and their eternity was secure. Jesus was truly the Messiah, the divine Son of God.

The Greek word translated “transfigured” is metamorphothe, from which we get our word “metamorphosis.” The verb refers to an outward change that comes from within. Jesus’ change was not a change merely in appearance; it was a complete change into another form.
Moses and Elijah were considered the two greatest prophets in the Old Testament. They were the primary figures associated with the Messiah (Moses was his predictor and Elijah was his precursor), and they both experienced theophanies—that is, special appearances of God (Exodus 24; 1 Kings 19). Moses represented the law, or the old covenant. He had written the Pentateuch and had predicted the coming of a great prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). Elijah represented the prophets who had foretold the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6). Moses’ and Elijah’s presence with Jesus confirmed Jesus’ messianic mission to fulfill God’s law and the words of God’s prophets. Their appearance also removed any thought that Jesus was a reincarnation of Elijah or Moses.

Peter suggested making three shrines, one for each of them. He may have thought that God’s Kingdom had come when he saw Jesus’ glory. Perhaps Peter had overlooked Jesus’ words that suffering and death would precede glory. He saw the fulfillment of Christ’s glory for a moment and wanted the experience to continue. Regardless of his motives, he had mistakenly made all three men equal. He had missed Jesus’ true identity as God himself. Just as God’s voice in the cloud over Mount Sinai gave authority to his law (Exodus 19:9), God’s voice at the Transfiguration gave authority to Jesus’ words. A bright cloud suddenly appeared and God’s voice spoke from the cloud, singling out Jesus from Moses and Elijah as the long-awaited Messiah who possessed divine authority. As he had done at Jesus’ baptism, the Father was identifying Jesus as his beloved Son and the promised Messiah.

When the disciples heard God’s voice speaking directly to them as they were enveloped by the luminous cloud, they were terrified. Throughout Scripture, the visible glory of deity creates fear (Daniel 10:7-9). But Jesus told them not to be afraid. Peter may have wanted to keep Jesus and Elijah and Moses there in shrines on the mountainside, but his desire was wrong. The event was merely a glimpse of what was to come. Thus, when they looked up, the cloud and the prophets were gone. The disciples had to look only to Jesus. He alone was qualified to be the Savior.

Jesus instructed Peter, James, and John not to tell anyone about what they had seen, presumably not even the other disciples, because they would not fully understand it, until Jesus would be raised from the dead. The appearance of Elijah on the mountain caused a question in the disciples’ minds. Based on Malachi 4:5-6, the Jewish teachers believed that Elijah had to return before the Messiah to usher in the messianic age. Elijah had appeared on the mountain, but he had not come in person to prepare the people for the Messiah’s arrival (especially in the area of repentance). The disciples fully believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but they wondered about the prophecy regarding Elijah.

Jesus explained to the disciples that the Jewish teachers correctly understood that Elijah would come before the Messiah and bring spiritual renewal. Elijah was supposed to come first, but Jesus explained that, in fact, Elijah had already come. Jesus was referring to John the Baptist, not to a reincarnation of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. John the Baptist had taken on Elijah’s prophetic role; he boldly confronted sin and pointed people to God.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Here it is once more - a clear line to cross. Are you in or are you out? Real discipleship comes with a price. Praying a prayer to receive Jesus and then going back to business as usual is not discipleship. When one receives Jesus, everything changes. My priorities, my goals, my desires, my ambition. I am willing to follow Him and do His will. Anytime, anyplace with anyone at whatever cost. Lord, build these kind of true disciples at COV. I am reminded of what Jesus told those who were following Him one day....

"Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:25-27 (NIV)

Obviously, Jesus want not advocating a hatred for your parents or siblings. He was merely pointing out that our love for Him must be a supreme love. A first love. Our love for Him must be our highest love. Today Lord, I reaffirm my love and devotion to you. You died for me. You love me. You saved me. I am Yours. I will follow - where ever and however You lead.

PRAYER

Lord, once again, help me live out Your words and Your truth. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Help me, help Sharon, help our kids - help the people of COV today and everyday remember that we are not our own. Instead of building our kingdom, help us be about the business of building Your kingdom. Help us, day by day - moment by moment die to ourselves. Help us put the needs of others before our own. God this is Your church. You know our needs. Lord, please work in your people and in their hearts to meet those needs.

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)