When I have been at my greatest moments of fear, that’s when I have experienced my greatest blessing of Christ’s faith.
That’s when my phobias, my wounds and the actual threats against me evaporated emotionally because I choose to see Jesus.
Thank God.
And such will happen in the future as I continue to trust and look for Christ.
I write this today because of the vivid word picture in Matthew 16:5-8.
You and I have read this passage many times, yet the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to a meaning in the passage that extends beyond the specific, historical context of Christ’s mountaintop transfiguration.
“While he (Peter) 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.”
When Peter, James and John heard the voice of God, they thought that they were as good as dead. Traditional Jewish teaching held that if somebody physically heard or saw a divine messenger as in an angel or literal presence of God, one’s departure into the afterlife was moments away.
The three disciples knew they were sinners and that they deserved judgment for their past offenses. Simply put, they felt incredibly unrighteous when in the immediate presence of God and were scared that payday might be imminent.
I can understand their being terrified.
I would have felt the same way, I’m sure.
After all, I am fully aware of the fact that I’ve made choices that have earned me the back corner of the dumpster floor rather than the top shelf on God’s trophy case of Great Moments in Godly Faith.
But it wasn’t Christ’s will for these believers to remain gripped by fear of what they deserved.
Instead, it was Christ’s will for these believers to be freed from the chains of merit-based religion and released into the confident joy of a faith that sees Him first in all things.
In this very brief passage, we see the amazing love and discernment of Christ that most certainly had a life-changing impact on these three apostles who comprised His inner circle.
Yes, it’s true that they should have trusted Jesus no matter what and not been terrified on that mountaintop.
But they were flawed, i.e., works in progress.
Just like us.
In that moment of frozen faith, Jesus poured out His grace.
He went to them.
He touched them.
He directed them.
He encouraged them.
He abided with them.
Despite their doubts, Jesus showed His love.
And when the fog cleared and the emotions settled, all the apostles saw was Jesus.
Hmmmmm…..
The power of this lesson is real.
You and I will face times in our lives when we are fearful of this or that.
We might be terrified that the “hammer is about to fall” because of our failures of faith in one way or another.
Remember this story, though, dear friend.
Please maintain your relationship with Christ, no matter what.
In your moment of frozen faith, Jesus will pour out His grace.
He will come to you.
He will touch you through the intercessions of others.
He will direct you through the voice of His Spirit, His Word or through the counsel of loving believers.
He will encourage you through the above.
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Despite your doubts, Jesus will show His love.
And when the fog clears, when the emotions settle, there He will be, hoping that you see Him first in all things.
As always, I love you
Martin
