The Divine Interruption!
"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him."
(Matthew 17:1-3)
It has been proven over and over again throughout history that man is a product of Spiritual afterthought and design. God is a sprit and created man partly, a spirit (in His image). Hence, Man has always sought after it's source and is excited about any postulation or triggers to this. It doesn't see itself fulfilled unless this aspect is addressed regardless of whether he believes it or not.
The above passages draws our attention to a replica of this and how Jesus in his infinite wisdom set a pattern to this.
A strange sight!
There are few cases in the scripture (apart from miracles) where Jesus allowed a divine display of His power, position and authority to be revealed to his disciples One of the few was the walking on top of water, causing the fig tree, but most especially the event at the mount of transfiguration. It's actually called this on the account of the event that took place there..."transfiguration". Let's get one thing clear.....Jesus can never do anything just for a show-off or for entertainment. His stories, actions and inactions, parables, movements all are embodiments of his eternal purpose. Miss it and you miss out! This was one of such events where ordinarily he took his disciples to a mountain top and changed his physical appearance before them.
The word transfiguration means ...a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state. A metamorphosis that negates the theory of science. How can a human in bodily flesh suddenly tranform into a different spirtual form without the effect time, processes and external factors. This was indeed strange. But moreso why would he chose to do this?? The disciples of course knew he was the son of God, believed in Him, knew a bit of the law, read about them about such experience in stories from the past, But NEVER seen this manifested physically before them. The saw him in his glorified body, his true state, the position he occupies even at the present regardless of how human he appeared. Wow!!! What a sight. To add some extra course to the meal, Moses and Elijah also appeared in this expression of glory. I used to ask myself if I was in Peter's position what would I have done or said?? Moses and Elijah??....what other way to announce glory. These two were old testament pillars of God's glorious manifestation. They represented what God expressed through the supernatural in times past. They were the perfect players.
Silence!
Notice that in all these display of glory, no word was uttered by Jesus nor from the old testament Giants to the disciples present. The divinity only talked to themselves. Just a display and a theatre for these trio to gaze upon and relish. Indeed they have been allowed to see the supernatural. So now they can see Jesus in his glorious form. They have read about Moses and Elijah so much and now here they are. We can only summarise this experience by saying they just encountered the supernatural.
But it's still surprising that this state was devoid of the teaching ministry of Jesus. He never opened his mouth to utter a parable or an instruction. He just unfolded a radiating glory of his presence and form to them and it was all hush....
The Divine interuption!
Then Peter spoke...it was from what he said that heaven brought the lesson of this event. Peter made two statements...
1. Master it's good for us to be here. Where on the mountain top
2. That Tabernacles be made, one for Jesus, for Moses and Elijah.
Peter was sincere in his statements.
Statement 1: Let us stay here. What else can a man desire than to stay and abode at the place of glory. You can't experience such and chose to go elsewhere. To Peter that's the best place to be.
Statement 2: Let us build Tabernacles for the three of you each. Three of you can stay. Let's have church here. The Tabernacles of Jesus, Elijah and Moses. I guess the picture is getting clearer to us now. He didn't request for tents he asked for Tabernacles. Pls note that on each of these account in the gospels, no place was tent mentioned, the term Tabernacles were used all through. And we must understand that in construction, Tabernacles are a more complex structure to make than tents. So Peter was saying we are here for the long run.
The interruption!
While Peter was still highly ecstatic, brewing with zeal and the euphoria of his experience, A cloud overshadowed them and God spoke from the cloud and said....
"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him". (Matthew 17:5)
The interruption was on time, vital and the message of the entire drama. This is the message.
The supernatural was wow. The form was glittering wow, coupled with some past stalwarts as Moses and Elijah wow, but the message .... THIS IS MY SON!!!!
No matter the experience, the occurrence, the manifestations we see. The men that God uses to actualise them, God is saying the only message is....SEE THE SON.
The Message!
May the Church of Jesus understand one thing clear here. Peter's answer were sincere but religious. Why? They didn't fulfil heaven's plan. The primary plan of heaven was for the bodily form of Jesus to be given for the church, to be crucified and killed, to be buried and later be ressurected. And this we can't achieve if we dwell on the mountain. The Glory is good, but the purpose is better. Has your life experienced some form of glory or your assembly or church some form of the supernatural? Don't stay there!!!! Seek for God's divine purpose for it
Elijah and Moses are great men used by God and accomplished great and outstanding feats known to man, but "No Tabernacles" for them. Dear pastor, no matter how much the supernatural has been displayed from your life and ministry and it's even making you stand or appear as a colleague of Jesus, am sorry to announce to you that there's no Tabernacles for you. Your members may be singing your praises now but when they encounter the father's voice it's only Jesus they would see
"And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.(Matthew 17:6-8)
You have denied them the voice of the father until now and have allow them to define and create their own expression to what the see. And all they have been seeing is YOU! They have built Tabernacles and mansions for you but cannot differentiate Jesus exclusively and see him as your source, Lord and master. You know that if they can hear the father's voice you will vanish from the scene and Jesus will appear and be known to them. But this you have denied them.
The lesson!
Do we choose to remain on the mountain alone, isolated, separated and unfulfilled. Or should we allow the father to fully introduce Jesus so that many sons will be brought to glory and heaven's plan fulfilled?
"But WE SEE JESUS, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing MANY SONS UNTO GLORY, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings"
(Hebrews 2:9-10, emphasis mine)
Prayers:
Father speak to me today.
Introduce Jesus in a new way.
Let me see only Jesus
Bring more sons to glory.
Glorify your name.
