“Listen to Him!”

A reading and reflection on Matthew 16:28-17:8

²⁸ I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” ^17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. ⁴ 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.” ⁵ 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!” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no-one except Jesus.

Peter, James and John here are given an amazing experience, almost a peak into the great glory that Jesus will have after His death and resurrection as the King of God’s eternal Kingdom.

But what terrifies them in the experience is the voice that speaks from heaven saying: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

These are very similar words to when Jesus is baptized, it is God the Father stamping His approval on His Son. His ‘Beloved Son’, the well pleasing Son. Jesus is the Perfect Son. He (unlike all of us) never disobeyed His Father. He was perfectly obedient – even unto death to take the punishment that we (the sinful children deserve).

But these are the words that hit me this week as I read this passage: “Listen to Him!”. I wonder, how are you going with that? It is so easy not to listen to Him.

Let me ask you, are you taking time each day to listen to Jesus speak through the pages of His word? God gave us a book to hear Him speak. Why not join us in reading through Matthew’s gospel here: https://www.facebook.com/Growing-in-Passion-Together-Daily-Devotionals-316385785559843/

Are we stopping in our lives to listen to God’s Son: The True King? We are so very good at listening to every other voice, and especially our own inner voice.

Let us seek to obey God and so be rewarded as we stop and listen to and so seek to follow after the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Ruler shepherded by death.

A reading and reflection on Matthew 2:1-6; 16-18

¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ⁶ “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'” …

…¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

The Ruler has come, the Shepherd of God’s people: Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the King!

Herod was set to kill him, to wipe out God’s chosen King. So too were Israel’s religious leaders who had Jesus killed.

But God allowed the anger and hatred, their murderous intent to succeed, to fulfil the purpose for which Jesus came: “to save His people from their sins”.

But only in His time. Children were murdered here while the baby Jesus was rescued, but soon He would be murdered so that all God’s children could be rescued. Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

The Ruler shepherded by sacrificing His life in order to save His sheep. The Ruler – King Jesus – I will worship all my days and forevermore!

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12).