Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Luke 9:30-33 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
JESUS' FACE BEAMS WITH FORGIVING LOVE
Peter wanted the experience to last. We would too if we had been there -- to see the Lord's glory, to be privileged to listen in on the conversation which two saints from the past were holding with Jesus. Especially, when we consider what they were talking about: "His departure, which He would soon bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem."
It's significant that in the original Greek of the Bible the word Luke uses with reference to Jesus' death means "to accomplish." When we speak of death we don't describe it as something we accomplish. But Jesus did! He spoke of His death as something He would accomplish. In other words, it was part of the plan of salvation from the start. The cup of suffering He would drink, the cross with its accursed nails and bitter pain, the empty tomb of Easter with the comfort, peace, and hope it would bring to sinners. That God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that all who would anchor their hopes in Jesus might not perish but enjoy a peaceful relationship with Him now and continuing in yonder life. It was all something the Savior was going to ACCOMPLISH. Oh, what a conversation to be able to eavesdrop on! Perhaps we feel like saying: "Hey, Peter! What about us? We'd like a shelter built for us too on the mountain!"
But it is no more possible for us than it was for the three. We must climb back down the mountain into the plains of our lives. We must continue living for a while in this world with its attendant troubles. But, just like the disciples, we've got the assurance that our Savior will walk with us every step of the way. In the trials we encounter His tender love stands out in bold relief. It's down on the plains of life (where sin litters our path, where laughter and tears often run together) that the tender face of Jesus, beaming with forgiving love, is so reassuring, so strengthening! We know He will never break His promise: "Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
