The Majestic Glory
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2 Peter 1:12-21
12. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of reminder, 14. since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15. And I will see to it that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. 16. For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18. we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19. And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21. because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Peter wants to be certain that even after his death the recipients of these words remember what he has taught them. His eyewitness to the transfiguration gives him the assurance and certainty he needs to keep on preaching, even though he already knows how he will die—and that it will be soon. In fact, that knowledge compels him to be sure he has done a good job of reinforcing what he has taught so that people will not stray from the truth after he’s gone.
During this time in history many false prophets took advantage of the “myths” and even made up stories to defend their false prophecies. Peter reminds us that if we base our truth in scripture – divinely inspired by God – not “made up” by man, we will not be deceived or misled. While all of us have not had the privilege of witnessing the transfiguration, we are beneficiaries of that experience through the words set down by those who did. We can be sure that the truths revealed in scripture are timeless. The fact that still today we read and study scripture are testament to the power of words divinely inspired and obediently shared.
Even though we know how to live rightly, it’s so easy to get sidetracked. Society, the world, offers so many enticements and temptations to stray from way of life Jesus exemplified! Peter reminds us to stay in the word—stay on the right path—even after he is gone. Remember what he said and believe his testimony. Because his words are not his own but God’s. Wow! God’s word, divinely revealed. Can you imagine seeing the heaven’s open up and God himself validating Christ to the witnesses!? What an unspeakably amazing thing to experience.
And Peter cannot stop sharing that experience! He contends—and shares with us that we have available two sources of truth—the scripture and the divine words of God at the transfiguration. God knows that man needs prompting, encouragement, reassurance. What better way to empower, embolden and inspire those present with Christ? They had hard lives and harder deaths ahead – and they knew it! Yet they chose to preach and spread the Good News—at the certain risk of their lives!
We don’t need to look very hard in scripture for inspirational role models. But we need to search deep within ourselves to apply and act on that inspiration! The world is not a “God-friendly” place! We must fortify ourselves in the Word every day. We must remind ourselves of the truths within the words. And we must remember that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
I hope you spend today meditating upon The Majestic Glory of God, encouraged and emboldened to declare the good news to everyone you meet.
Mary
