A S P E C T S - a monthly devotional journal For subscription information on receiving Aspects every month via e-mail, or the laser-printed edition by mail, see NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION near the end of this file. Aspects is written by David S. Lampel. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Issue #21, August 1992 (Internet Edition) N O O N E , E X C E P T J E S U S . . . A L O N E M A T T H E W 1 7 : 1 - 8 ----------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: Perspective - Metamorphosis Perspective - Breaking Our Earthly Bonds Perspective - Mysterious Visitors Perspective - Listen To Him! Perspective - Siezing the Rope Perspective - The Preeminence of Christ Perspective - Quiet Strength [Note: This issue of Aspects continues the year-long series, "Moments in the Life of Christ", by looking at a moment in which Jesus displayed His deity.] ----------------------------------------------------------------- After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. -MAT 17:1-8 NIV Six days later Jesus chose Peter, James and his brother John, to accompany him high up on the hill-side where they were quite alone. There his whole appearance changed before their eyes, his face shining like the sun and his clothes as white as light. Then Moses and Elijah were seen talking to Jesus. "Lord," exclaimed Peter, "it is wonderful for us to be here! If you like I could put up three shelters, one each for you and Moses and Elijah--" But while he was still talking a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud: "This is my dearly loved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When they heard this voice the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. Then Jesus came up to them and touched them. "Get up and don't be frightened," he said. And as they raised their eyes there was no one to be seen but Jesus himself. -MAT 17:1-8 Phillips _______________________ John stood quietly outside the Praetorium--residence of Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea--trying to blend into the shadows and out of the glare of the early morning sun. It had been a long night, but inside his quiet demeanor, John still churned with fear and dread anxiety. Earlier, the soldiers had conducted Jesus inside to prepare Him for crucifixion.(1) How does one prepare for death on a cross? What thoughts of life must torture the mind of one condemned to die? Would the soldiers allow Jesus time alone, in prayer to the Father? Would they serve the condemned a final repast, a glass of good wine? John's questions were answered as the heavy door swung open, and the soldiers emerged dragging the limp, robed figure of the Savior. As they passed by him, Jesus lifted His swollen and battered face toward His disciple. John could barely recognize his Master, whose face and body had been brutalized by the laughing soldiers. Blood streamed down his face from the thorns jammed into His head; the soldiers' spittle dripped from His cheeks, His chin; ugly red welts from a beating crossed His neck, His shoulders, His arms. His mind reeling with horror, John lurched away from the nightmarish sight, unable to bear the thought of his beloved Jesus suffering such abuse. He ran down a nearby alleyway. Tears streamed down his face as he struggled to erase the horrifying image from his mind. His legs pumped harder, faster, carrying him farther into the darkened alley, but still before him John saw the haunting image of Jesus' face. Unexpectedly, the alley spilled John onto a busy street bathed in golden morning light. He stopped in his tracks, momentarily frozen by the blinding contrast of the open street to the darkened alleyway. And just as suddenly he knew his salvation--he knew the memory that would wipe the more recent one from his tortured mind. _______________________ There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.(2) _______________________ One day Jesus invited John--with his brother, James, and Peter--to accompany Him on a trek up the steeps of Mount Hermon. He offered no explanation for the journey, but, of course, they followed. After an hour or two of steady climbing, John noticed that Jesus had put some distance between Himself and His three disciples, yet Jesus was not so far ahead that he couldn't make out his Master's broad shoulders, His strong back, His curly black hair. And once again John felt the pangs of that almost frightening love he felt for Jesus--a love he had never felt for anyone else, even his own brother, James. Suddenly, the three men were bathed in a blinding, crystalline wash of light. They instinctively shielded their eyes, expecting the moment to pass, thinking it to be a flash of lightning atop the often-stormy summit. But the white light persisted. As their eyes slowly grew accustomed to it, the disciples peered through the light toward the spot where they had last seen Jesus. He stood before them, the source of the light. John had never seen anything like it before. He sought to explain the phenomenon, but failed. There was no light near Jesus; it was not a reflected light from another source--Jesus' face was the light. His clothing was as white as the light that emanated from his face. John was struck dumb--as were his companions, Peter and James. They looked at each other, as if to confirm that they weren't asleep and all sharing the same dream. And, somehow, John knew that before them stood Jesus as He truly was: the very Son of God, in all His heavenly splendor. Jesus was giving them the privilege of seeing what others would have to believe without seeing. While these thoughts were racing through John's mind, two figures suddenly appeared next to Jesus: Moses and Elijah. Though strong of body and mind, John's knees were turning to rubber and he was beginning to feel queasy. Next to him, Peter mumbled something about erecting some tents, but even as he spoke, a huge, brilliant cloud enveloped them and out of the cloud a voice commanded: "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"(3) At this, the three disciples fell prostrate, shaking with fear, knowing that no one could be this close to God and live. John lost all track of time. He had no idea how long they remained with their faces to the ground, but the next thing he knew, Jesus was touching him and the others and telling them to shed their fear and get up. When they opened their eyes, the cloud was gone; Moses and Elijah were gone; the white light was gone. They saw no one, except Jesus Himself alone.(4) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective M E T A M O R P H O S I S ------------- transfigure: METAMORPHOO, to change into another form; suggests a change of inmost nature that may be outwardly visible. _______________________ "Can it be that such glory always accompanied His prayers, and that its presence may have been one reason for the sedulous privacy of these, except on this one occasion, when He desired that His faithful three should be 'eye-witnesses of His majesty'? However that may be, we have probably to regard the Transfiguration as the transient making visible, in the natural, symbolic form of light, of the indwelling divine glory, which dwelt in Him as in a shrine, and then shone through the veil of His flesh. John explains the event, though his words go far beyond it, when he says, 'We beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father.'"(5) "The most vivid demonstration of the glory of God in the ministry of Jesus was the transfiguration, in which the splendour of God was fleetingly seen in a complete transformation of the appearance of Jesus. This glory of Christ is inseparably linked with the glory of God." (6) _______________________ The treatment of Jesus at the hands of the Romans and Jewish leaders demonstrated humanity at its worst. The transfiguration of Jesus displayed deity at its best. It was no accident that Jesus selected this moment to display His deity to His closest disciples. He realized they were having a hard time digesting some of the statements He had been making to them about His approaching death.(7) Peter, especially, required visual confirmation to support the statement he had recently made regarding the deity of Jesus.(8) Perhaps, too, Jesus used this opportunity to display for His disciples His true, pristine appearance, knowing that in only a short while they would be seeing His human visage brutalized and misshapen by those intent on His death. They would need a reference point, a reminder of holy truth to which to cling, when faced with the horror of what was about to take place. They would need a memory of this glorious face with which to be comforted during the trials to come. There are many contemporary applications for this event and its lessons. It demonstrates change; in actuality, Jesus being transformed from flesh to God(9)--in application, the transformations we must (and should) go through as His followers. This event also stands as a demonstration for us, as well as the disciples, that Jesus is God. He is not just a teacher, a prophet; He is not a demented fame-seeker, a charlatan. Jesus is exactly who Peter claimed He was: He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.(10) Into the Word ------------- L i g h t C l o u d ------------------------------- ------------------------------- 2SA 22:29 DAN 2:19-22 EXO 13:21-22 PSA 78:14 JOB 24:13-16 MAT 4:16 EXO 16:10 PSA 99:7 JOB 33:28-30 MAT 17:2 EXO 19:9 PSA 105:39 PSA 4:6 LUK 2:30-32 EXO 19:16 ISA 4:5 PSA 27:1 JOH 1:1-9 EXO 24:15-18 ISA 19:1 PSA 44:3 JOH 3:19-21 EXO 33:8-10 EZE 1:4-6 PSA 76:4 JOH 8:12 EXO 34:4-5 EZE 10:3-4 PSA 78:14 JOH 9:5 EXO 40:34-38 MAT 17:5 PSA 89:15 JOH 12:35-36 LEV 16:2 MAR 9:7 PSA 90:8 JOH 12:46 NUM 9:15-22 LUK 9:34-35 PSA 97:11 ACT 9:1-6 NUM 11:24-25 LUK 21:25-27 PSA 104:2 ACT 12:6-7 NUM 12:5-10 ACT 1:6-9 PSA 118:27 ACT 22:6-11 NUM 14:14 REV 10:1 PSA 119:105 ACT 26:12-18 NUM 16:41-45 REV 11:12 PSA 119:130 1TH 5:5 1KI 8:10-13 REV 14:14-16 ISA 2:5 1TI 6:13-16 2CH 5:13-14 ISA 9:2 1JO 1:5-7 ISA 60:1-3 REV 21:23-24 ISA 60:19-20 REV 22:5 EZE 1:4 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective B R E A K I N G O U R E A R T H L Y B O N D S ------------- He Touched Me Shackled by a heavy burden, 'neath a load of guilt and shame; Then the hand of Jesus touched me, and now I am no longer the same. Refrain: He touched me, O, He touched me, and O, the joy that floods my soul. Something happened, and now I know, He touched me and made me whole. Since I met this blessed Savior, since He cleansed and made me whole; I will never cease to praise Him, I'll shout it while eternity rolls.(11) _______________________ The Christian goes through two changes--one that is an event and one that is a process. At the moment of our salvation, the Holy Spirit takes up residence, transforming us from a sinner to a sinner saved by grace. From that moment we are adopted into the family of God, we cease being a citizen of this world, and we gain the capacity to understand the word of God. This is the event, immediate and instantaneous. But at the moment of that event, we are adopted into the family of God as a newborn babe, the ink on our heavenly citizenship papers is still wet, and, as a newborn, our understanding of God's word is infantile. In a moment, we have acquired the capacity for His truth, but it takes time to develop the skills with which we will understand it. Disregarding the dramatic initial event results in a doctrine of "salvation by works"; disregarding the ongoing process, results in a life spent as a Spiritual child, craving nothing more than simple, pasteurized pablum.(13) _______________________ And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.(12) Making it Personal ------------------ Milestones Can you identify milestones in your life that demonstrate your own transformation in process? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective M Y S T E R I O U S V I S I T O R S ------------- Scholars have expounded at length on the appearance of Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration of Jesus. Why were they there? If the event was for the benefit of the three disciples, what did their presence say to them? I like what Alexander Maclaren has to say about it: "Perhaps they came to minister to Him strength for His conflict, even as women did of their substance, and an angel did in Gethsemane. Perhaps the strength came to Jesus from seeing how they yearned for the fulfilment of the typified redemption; perhaps it came from His being able to speak to them as He could not to any on earth. At all events, surely Moses and Elijah were not brought there for their own sakes alone, nor for the sake of the witnesses, but also for His sake who was prepared by that converse for His cross."(14) What a nice thought, that Jesus--who came not to be served, but to serve(15)--would be visited upon by two residents of heaven for the express purpose of ministering to Him. How comforting to know that, as He faced the trials before Him, someone was there for our Savior. Doesn't God do the same for us? As we pass through earthly trials--even those trials ordained by Him--doesn't He send people to minister to us? First we have the Holy Spirit, our resident Comforter; but we also have our friends, our family, our mates who minister to us in His name. Into the Word ------------- Mug Shots How did the disciples recognize Moses and Elijah? They had no photographs--as far as we know, no drawings or paintings--with which to identify these men. How then did they know who they were? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective L I S T E N T O H I M ! ------------- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Saviour, And life more abundant and free! Refrain: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace. His word shall not fail you--He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!(18) _______________________ Then God showed up, and what a dramatic change in the behavior of the three disciples! What a powerful statement on the role of God the Father toward humanity in comparison to the role of the Son. So far, John and Peter and James have been witnesses to a remarkable succession of occurrences: * Jesus has been transformed from flesh to a light-emitting, heavenly being--a return to His preincarnate state. * Two deceased prophets appear out of thin air--Moses and Elijah. Place yourself in the scene, standing there on the side of a high mountain, having just witnessed the preceding. What would have been your reaction? Personally, if I were still conscious, I think I would be looking for the nearest bathroom. It would simply be too much to contain. But what was Peter's reaction? "Say, this is really neat. I'm glad we're here to see this. Tell you what, Jesus, how 'bout if I build some tabernacles--and let's be fair: one for each of you--so we will always be able to come back to this spot and commemorate what happened today!" Incredible. Jesus has just returned to His supernatural state before their very eyes; two prophets, dead for centuries, appear out of nowhere; and Peter wants to start a building project! But God interrupts Peter by appearing within a brilliant cloud. Notice that it is not the cloud that impresses the three disciples, but the voice. They immediately recognize the presence of God in the voice that says: "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" Their reaction to the voice is dramatic. They fall flat on their faces in an attitude of worship--and fear. I have long said that when I draw images in my mind of the Godhead, I can always see Jesus' face. I can reach out to Him, touch Him, lean on Him. But when I try to see the face of God, it is impossible. I can only manage to huddle in reverent fear before His throne, and my gaze cannot travel higher than His knees. To do so would be to die. Jesus can demonstrate any supernatural behavior He chooses, but He is still our brother. He is no less God, but He is that part of God specifically given us to embrace. It is only through His face that we can see the face of God and live. So, with His voice of authority, what message did the Father bring to the disciples? Was it just coincidence that He interrupted Peter? I can hear God saying it in either of two ways: *Listen* to Him! "Peter, be quiet for once! Pay attention. I want you to hear what my Son has to say. It's important." Listen to *Him*! "There's only one voice I want you to pay attention to. Not that of the ancient prophets--not the law--but the voice of my beloved Son." With either interpretation, the Greek makes it clear that God was saying: "I am commanding you to make listening to Jesus a way of life. Keep on doing it, always." _______________________ "The stupendous Niagra Falls have been spoken of in every part of the world. But while they are marvelous to hear of and wonderful to see, they have been very destructive to human life, when by accident some have been carried down the cataract. Some years ago, two men were in a boat and found themselves being carried so swiftly down the current that they must both inevitably be borne down and dashed to pieces. At last, however, one man was saved by a rope that was floated out to him, which he grasped. Another rope was floated to the other man, but at the same instant the rope came into his hand, a log floated by him. The thoughtless and confused man, instead of siezing the rope, laid hold on the log. It was a fatal mistake. They were both in imminent peril, but the one was drawn to shore because he had a connection with the people on the land, while the other, clinging to the loose, floating log, was borne irresistibly along, and was never heard of afterward. Faith has a saving connection with Christ. Christ is on the shore, so to speak, holding the rope, and as we lay hold of it with the hand of our confidence, he pulls us to shore. But our good works having no connection with Christ are drifted along down to the gulf of despair. Grapple our virtues as tightly as we may, even with hooks of steel, they cannot avail us in the least degree. They are the disconnected log that has no hold on the heavenly shore."(16) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.(17) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective T H E P R E E M I N E N C E O F C H R I S T ------------- hen the cloud, Moses and Elijah, and the blinding light have departed, Jesus quietly reaches down to comfort his trembling companions with a gentle touch. And with possibly the most powerful statement in the entire narrative, Matthew says that the disciples lifted up their eyes to see no one, except Jesus Himself alone.(19) For the Jew, contemporary with Jesus, the message was clear: You had Moses, you had Elijah; but now you have Jesus Christ. He's the only prophet you need to look to. For the modern Gentile, the message is slightly different but equally clear: Jesus Christ is the only Savior. The gods of this world and time are nothing but worthless, wooden idols. Jesus Christ is the answer to any question, any quest. _______________________ Redeemed Refrain: Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, thro' His infinite mercy, His child and forever, I am. Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever I am. Redeemed and so happy in Jesus, no language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence with me doth continually dwell. I think of my blessed Redeemer, I think of Him all the day long; I sing, for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song. I know I shall see in His beauty the King in whose law I delight; Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps, and giveth me songs in the night.(21) Into the Word ------------- For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.(20) Making it Personal ------------------ Quiet Strength I recently watched a documentary in which fundamentalist Christians (I suppose they would be more accurately called charismatics) were conducting healing services, laying on of hands, praying over each other and speaking in tongues. Without getting into whether these practices are right or wrong, I was, nonetheless, struck by one aspect of their activities: It seemed that it was necessary for all the participants to be worked up to a fever pitch of Spiritual passion. They would scream and shout and, almost violently, call upon the Lord to perform some miracle--of healing or otherwise. And I thought about how Jesus conducted Himself--especially when healing someone. Did you notice His quiet presence in the narrative just examined? Even with all the dramatic, supernatural happenings, there is not a hint that there was any screaming or shouting going on. Find some more examples of Jesus quietly healing and working miracles. ======================================================================== NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Notes ----- 1 MAT 27:27-30; MAR 16:16-19. 2 JOH 1:9 NASB. 3 MAT 17:5 NASB (my italics, for emphasis). 4 MAT 17:8 NASB. 5 Alexander Maclaren, in his Expositions of Holy Scripture (Baker, 1984), Vol 7 , p344f. 6 Donald Guthrie, New Testament Theology (Inter-Varsity Press, 1981), p91. 7 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." -MAT 16 :21-23 NIV. 8 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." -MAT 16:13-16 NIV. 9 It is important to note for whose benefit the transfiguration took place. This event did not take place for the benefit of Jesus, Moses, Elijah, or even God the Father, but for the disciples: "The Transfiguration is a revelation of the glory of the Son of God, a glory now hidden but to be manifested completely and openly at the end of the age, when the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father to render judgment on the world (cf. Mark 8:38). The purpose of the Transfiguration is directed toward the disciples (observe the expressions 'before them' [vv.2, 4] and 'enveloped them' [v.7] and observe also that the Voice from the cloud speaks to them [v.7])." The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Zon dervan, 1984), Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor; Walter W. Wessel in his commentary on the gospel of Mark, p698. 10 MAT 16:16; MAR 8:29; LUK 9:20. 11 William J. Gaither, Hymn #504 in The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (WORD, 1986). 12 ROM 12:2 (the Greek word translated "transform" in this verse is the same as that translated "transfigure" in MAT 17:2). 13 HEB 5 12-13; 1CO 3:2. 14 Alexander Maclaren, in his Expositions of Holy Scripture (Baker, 1984), Vol 7 , p346f. 15 MAT 20:28. 16 Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon (Shaw, 1990), p113. 17 JOH 10:27-28 NIV 18 Helen H. Lemmel, Hymn #220 in the Worship and Service Hymnal (Hope Publishing Company, 1962). 19 MAT 17:8 NASB. 20 COL 1:13-20 NIV. 21 Fanny J. Crosby, Hymn#521 in The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (WORD, 1986). Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in Aspects is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Subscription Information ------------------------ Aspects is published monthly. There are two preferred methods of receiving it on a regular basis: 1) You may subscribe to the laser-printed (hard copy) edition, which is sent out via regular mail. This edition is different from this file you are reading in the following ways: - a "typeset" look, with italics, larger titles and headings, etc. - Scripture text and quotations are more obviously set apart - lines printed for your notes after each question - arrives pre-punched for a 3-ring binder - generally looks better 2) You may subscribe to the e-mail edition, which will be "mailed" to you directly each month. 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Endnote reference numbers are enclosed in parentheses (); quotations are enclosed by quotation marks " ", and are further set apart from original text by indentation and the presence of a following endnote reference; Scripture references are indented, and either cite the reference or are accompanied by a following endnote reference. If you would prefer reading Aspects in its more native, printed form, we would encourage you to subscribe to the edition that is mailed out every month. ---------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/aspects: asp-021.txt