Monday, February 27, 2017
John 1:17 ... the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
GOD REVEALED ON A MOUNTAIN ... AGAIN
Four men, one in the lead, go up the mountainside. Ahead lies an experience they'll never forget, a scene to be inscribed on their minds forever! Shining glory. A bright cloud. And the voice of God. But I'm not talking about Jesus and his three disciples. I'm talking about Moses on Mt Sinai. During those days when Moses went up the mount alone and received the Ten Commandments, there was also a day when God had Moses bring three others up into the mountain with him. That scene is not one we readily recall, but you can be sure Peter, James and John did–- after they had been with Jesus on the mountain where He was transfigured.
The parallels between these two historic events are striking:
The mountain-top. The cloud. The voice of God. The shining glory. Even the presence of Moses.
The contrasts between these two events are also striking in the extreme.
God SENT Moses with the Law. God Himself CAME to fulfill His Gospel promises in the person of Jesus Christ.
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai his face shone with the reflected glory of God, with borrowed light.
When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain His shining glory came from within. It was His own.
Moses represented the new nation of Israel at Sinai.
Jesus went up the mountain-- and came down to go to Mt. Calvary on behalf of all people of all time.
On the Mount of Transfiguration the "curtain" was pulled back for a few moments and Jesus' disciples could see the glory of the LORD. The God who made covenant with men has come to deliver them.
God's wondrous plan unfolds in history. His great love in action goes beyond the imagination of us undeserving sinners. That's grace!
Jesus completely fulfills the divine promise of our redemption from sin and death. That's God's truth!
