Friday, February 24, 2006
Matthew 17:8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
JESUS ALONE
Fun things and happy times never seem to last long on this earth. A long expected vacation can be like a tiny town in South Dakota -- blink and it's past. So it was with Peter, James and John. Just as suddenly as it had happened, just so suddenly it was over. When they looked up there, no more Moses and Elijah. No more cloud or voice. No more stunningly white clothing. There was only Jesus.
Was it a let down, to see Jesus alone? They had just seen such wonderful things, such as no man had ever seen, and then in a moment it was all gone. The bright shining Son was back to plain old Jesus, the man they had walked with and talked with for a couple of years. Jesus alone.
The phrase 'Jesus alone' is not a let down, is it? The thought of the Savior doesn't bring forth a sigh of bored familiarity in us, but a joy of heart that can hardly be contained. There is so much that I don't need when I have Jesus alone.
What do you need when your boat is taking on water and you are too far from land to swim? Jesus alone. When friends forsake and close personal relationships dissolve? Jesus alone. When you tremble over a difficult decision in life? Jesus alone. When unable to sleep because of sorrow? Jesus alone. When at death's door and seeking admission into the Father's house? Jesus alone. Jesus comes to commune with us in His Word, to comfort our hearts and lift our spirits.
The old evil foe is so good at deceiving us into thinking that our lives and happiness is dependent on so many other things! "I just don't know if I could go on without -- family and friends." "What would I do without my spouse?" "Hey, if you don't have your health, what do you have?" Let it never be said that these things aren't important. But let's never forget that when everything else is stripped away, we need Jesus alone. Edward Mote, expressed it beautifully when he wrote: "His oath, His covenant, and blood support me in the whelming flood; When every earthly prop gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand" (TLH 370:3).
Jesus alone . . . is not a let-down.
Jesus alone . . . can lift us up and show us true joy.
