He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 2 Peter 1:17-18, NIV

 

Peter writes this letter as an eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ on earth. For him, there was no doubt about the identity of Christ. There have been many prophets in history. There were wise men who said deep things about the meaning of life. There were people who inspired us with their lives and their message to do better, and to love the people around us. For Peter, Jesus was all of these things and more. Peter believed that Jesus was the Son of God. In today’s verse, he gives a reason why he believed this.

 

Whilst Jesus was with his disciples, training them for three years, he said some things that would be difficult to hear. He said that it would not be easy to follow him. We read in Luke 9:23-25: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” Jesus made it clear that we would forfeit our lives to follow him. But what brings this conviction that it would be worth the sacrifice to trust Jesus with your life?

 

We read in Luke 9:28-35 that Jesus was with his disciples eight days later. He took the core leaders, Peter, James and John, up a mountain to pray with him. There, they had a supernatural experience when Moses and Elijah appeared, and talked with Jesus. Some theologians see them as representative of the Law and the Prophets, the scripture we know as the Old Testament. Peter was so impressed that he wanted to stay in that moment forever, building three huts for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. But God wanted to show them that Jesus was more than Moses and Elijah. They heard a voice from heaven declaring: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35) And after the voice had spoken, Moses and Elijah disappeared, but Jesus remained. He walks with them down the mountain, continuing the journey with them. With such an epiphany, the disciples would remember that Jesus is the Son of God. They would be eyewitnesses to this event. James died early as one of the first martyrs of the Christian faith. But Peter, in his letters, other literature, the Gospel and Revelation, has testified to the identity of Christ as Lord.

 

Peter tells of this encounter when heaven reached down to earth that evening on the mountain. It left such an impression on them that they dedicated the rest of their lives to following Jesus. Peter would literally take up his cross to follow Jesus when he was crucified in Rome shortly after writing this letter. But this is the level of commitment to following Christ that a heavenly revelation of his glory brought in the lives of James, John and Peter. May we also experience that voice of God in our lives, introducing Jesus as the Son of God, commanding us to listen to him!

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I sometimes still have doubts in my heart in my journey of faith with you. You have called on me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you. Please keep on showing yourself to me as Lord through your Word and by the guidance of your Spirit, that I will grow in faith and trust. Let me stand in awe of your glory. Amen.