“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.