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And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. [Matthew 17:4-5]
Have you even been in the presence of some famous person or persons? Did you feel a certain amount of excitement? Being in the presence of dignitaries will often being to the average person a sense of enthusiasm or importance. If this has been the case for you, you can understand how Peter must have felt being in the presence of three of the greatest spiritual leaders that had ever lived, Moses, Elijah, and Christ.
The trouble is that enthusiasm will often carry one a little further than they want to go. Regardless of what God’s other chosen leaders had done, Peter did not seem to have recognized that even in the absence of the other two He was in the presence of the greatest of all – The Son of God. With all he had heard and witnessed, he did not appear to have understood that all those who came before Christ were only preparing the way for the coming of Christ.
Abraham’s lineage was the one which was chosen that Christ, the Son of God, was to come through. God promised Abraham, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because thou hast obeyed my voice” – Genesis 22:18 The Apostle Paul recalls the promise and what it referenced, “Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ – Galatians 3:16
Abraham is known as the father of the faithful both of the Jews and the Gentiles (Galatians 3:6-9). Those who lived of the Jewish persuasion challenged Christ by asking Him if He was greater than their father Abraham. Christ did not brag about Himself, but who He was, was the decision of God and even Abraham rejoiced at his prophesied coming, “…it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God; and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad” John 8:54-56
Even though there was a time when God talked to the people through the fathers as the word was revealed to them, later through the writings of the apostle Paul, God now talks through His Son, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” Hebrews 1:1-2.
Therefore, if we want a word from God today we are going to have to hear Christ.
Moses was sent by God to lead the Israelites out of bondage; he did his job. Elijah, the prophet of God who did not see death but was taken to heaven on a whirlwind also did the job assigned to him. Even though they were great, God informed Peter that it was Christ who was and is to be heard. With so many teachings in the Scriptures informing us that Jesus the Christ is the one to listen to if one desires to be saved, it seems strange that so many in this age want to turn to the Old Testament for their salvation.
Jesus brings the truth that sets us free, “…and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:31-32. This is a fact that Satan does not approve of and is doing everything to deceive men causing their souls to be in danger, “and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie…” II Thessalonians 2:10-12. If you desire to be saved you must turn to the New Testament and hear Christ through the written words of the Apostles (John 17:20).
Hear ye Him!
(Written By: Roy Beaty, Sugar Land Church of Christ)
