Monday
– 25th March
Topic:
The King’s Glory
Read:
Matthew Chapter 17
The
chapter begins with a glorious scene on a mountaintop, and ends with Peter
catching a fish in order to pay his taxes. What a contrast! Yet, Jesus Christ
the King is the theme of the entire chapter. The three events in this chapter
give us three pictures of the King.
The
King in His Glory (17:1-13)
Matthew
and Mark state that the transfiguration took place "six days later,"
while Luke says "some eight days after" (Luke 9:28). There is no contradiction; Luke's statement is the
Jewish equivalent of "about a week later." During that week, the
disciples must have pondered and discussed what Jesus meant by His death and
resurrection. No doubt they were also wondering what would happen to the Old
Testament promises about the kingdom. If Jesus were going to build a church,
what would happen to the promised kingdom?
The
text does not name the place where this miracle took place. It was probably on
Mount Hermon, which is close to Caesarea Philippi.
The
Transfiguration revealed four aspects of the glory of Jesus Christ the King.
The glory
of His person.
As far as the record is concerned, this is the only time Jesus revealed His
glory in this way while He was on the earth. The word translated transfigured
gives us our English word "metamorphosis.”
A metamorphosis is a change on the outside that comes from the inside.
When a caterpillar builds a cocoon and later emerges as a butterfly, it is due
to the process of metamorphosis. Our Lord's glory was not reflected but
radiated from within. There was a change on the outside that came from within
as He allowed His essential glory to shine forth (Heb. 1:3).
Certainly
this event would strengthen the faith of the disciples, particularly Peter who
had so recently confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. Had Peter made his
confession after the Transfiguration, it would not have been so meaningful.
Peter believed, confessed his faith, and then received assurance. (See John 11:40; Heb. 11:6).
Many
years later, John recalled this event as the Spirit guided him to write:"
... and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth" (John
1:14). In his Gospel, John emphasized the deity of Christ and the glory of
His person (John 20:31; 2:11; 7:39;
11:4; 12:23; 13:31-32).
Tuesday
– 26th March
Topic:
The King’s Glory
Read:
Matthew Chapter 17: 1-13
Jesus
Christ laid aside His glory when He came to earth (John 17:5). Because of His finished work on the cross, He has
received back His glory and now shares it with us (John 17:22-24). However, we do not have to wait for heaven to
share in this "transfiguration glory." When we surrender ourselves to
God, He will "transfigure" our minds (Rom. 12:1-2). As we yield to the Spirit of God, He changes
(transfigures) us "from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:18). As we look into the Word of God, we see the Son of
God and arc transfigured by the Spirit of God into the glory of God.
The glory
of His kingdom.
A' the close of His sermon about crossbearing, Jesus promised that some of the
disciples would see "the Son of man coming in His kingdom" (Matt. 16:28). He selected Peter,
James, and John as witnesses to this event. These three friends and business
partners (Luke 5:10) had been with
Jesus in the home of Jairus (Luke 8:51),
and they would go with Him into the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion
(see Matt. 26:37).
Dr.
G. Campbell Morgan has pointed out that these three occasions all had to do
with death. Jews was teaching these three men that He was victor over death (He
raised Jairus' daughter) and surrendered to death (in the Garden). The
Transfiguration taught them that He was glorified in death.
The
presence of Moses and Elijah was significant. Moses represented the Law and
Elijah the prophets. All of the Law and prophets point to Christ and are
fulfilled in Christ (Heb. 1:1; Luke
24:27). Not one word of the Old Testament Scriptures will be unfulfilled.
The promised kingdom would be established (Luke
1:32-33, 68-77). Just as the three disciples saw Jesus glorified on earth,
so God's people would see Him in His glorious kingdom on earth (Rev. 19:11-20:6).
Peter
caught this message and never forgot it. .. . . . we were eyewitnesses of His
majesty . . . And so we have the prophetic word made more sure . . . " (see 2 Peter 1:12ff). The experience
Peter had on the mount only fortified his faith in the Old Testament
prophecies. The important thing is not seeing wonderful sights, but hearing
God's Word. "This is My beloved Son, in whom 1 am well pleased; hear ye
Him" (Matt. 17:5).
All
who are born again belong to the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). This is a spiritual kingdom that is separate from the
material things of this world (Rom. 14:17). But one day, when Jesus returns to this earth, there will be a
glorious kingdom for 1,000 years (Rev.
20:1-7) with Jesus Christ reigning as King. Those who have trusted Him
shall reign on the earth with Him (Rev.
5:10).
Wednesday
– 27th March
Topic:
The King’s Glory
Read:
Matthew Chapter 17: 1-13
The glory of His cross. The disciples had to
learn that suffering and glory go together. Peter had opposed His going to
Jerusalem to die, so Jesus had to reach him that, apart from His suffering and
death, there could be no glory. Peter certainly learned the lesson, for in his
first epistle' he repeatedly emphasized "suffering and glory" (1 Peter 1:6-8, 11; 4:12-5:11),
Moses and Elijah talked
with Jesus about His "exodus" that He would accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). His suffering and death
would not be an accident, but an accomplishment. Peter used the word exodus in
describing his own impending death (2
Peter 11:5). For the believer, death is not a one-way street into oblivion.
It is an exodus-a release from the bondage of this life into the glorious
liberty of the life in heaven.
Because
Jesus died and paid the price, we have been redeemed purchased and set free.
The two Emmaus disciples had hoped that Jesus would set the nation free from
Roman bondage (Luke 24:21). What He
died to accomplish was not political freedom, but spiritual freedom: freedom from the world system (Gal. 1:4); freedom from a vain and
empty life (1 Peter 1:18); and
freedom from Iniquity (Titus 2:14).
Our redemption in Christ is final and permanent.
The glory
of His submission.
Peter could not understand why the Son of God would submit to evil men and
willingly suffer. The Transfiguration was God's way of teaching Peter that
Jesus is glorified when we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
The world's philosophy is "Save yourself!" but the Christian's
philosophy is "Yield yourself to God!" As He stood there in glory,
Jesus proved to the three disciples that surrender always leads to glory. First
the suffering, then the glory; first the cross, then the crown.
Each
of the three disciples would have a need for this important truth. James would
be the first of the disciples to die (Acts
12:1-2). John would be the last of the disciples to die, but he would go
through severe persecution on the Isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:9). Peter would experience many occasions of suffering and
would, in the end, give his life for Christ (John 21:15-19; 2 Peter 1:12).
Peter
opposed the cross when Jesus first mentioned His death (Matt. 16:22ff). In the garden, he used his sword to defend Jesus (John 18:10). In fact, even on the
Mount of Transfiguration Peter tried to tell Jesus what to do. He wanted to
build three booths for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah-so that all of them could
remain there and enjoy the glory! But the Father interrupted Peter and gave
other directions: "Hear Him!" The Father will not permit His beloved
Son to he put on the same level as Moses and Elijah. "Jesus only" (v. 8) is God's pattern.
Thursday
– 28th March
Topic:
The King’s Glory
Read:
Matthew Chapter 17: 14- 21
As
Jesus and His three disciples came down from the mountaintop, He cautioned them
not to reveal what they had seen, not even to the other nine disciples. But the
three men were still perplexed. They had been taught that Elijah would come
first to prepare for the establishing of the kingdom. Was the presence of
Elijah on the mountain the fulfillment of this prophecy? (Mal. 4:5-6).
Jesus
gave a two-fold answer to their question. Yes, Elijah would come as Malachi 4:5-6 promised.
But
spiritually speaking, Elijah already came in the person of John the Baptist (see Luke l: 17; Matt. 11: 10-15). The
nation permitted John to be killed, and would ask for Jesus to be slain. Yet
God's program would be fulfilled in spite of the deeds of sinful leaders.
When
will Elijah come to restore all things? Some people believe that Elijah will be
one of the' 'two witnesses" whose ministry is described in Revelation 11. Others believe that the
prophecy was fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist so that there will
be no future coming of Elijah.
The King in
His Power (17: 14-21 )
We
move from the mountain of glory to the valley of need. The sudden appearance of
Jesus and the three disciples startled the multitudes (Mark 9:15). The distraught father had brought his demonized son
to the nine disciples, begging them to deliver him; but they could not. The
scribes had noticed their failure and were using it as a reason for argument.
And while the disciples were defending themselves, and the scribes were
accusing them, the demon was all but killing the helpless boy.
When
we compare the Gospel accounts of this dramatic scene, we discover that this
only son was indeed in great trouble and danger. Matthew recorded that the boy
was an epileptic (lunatic); very ill, and suicidal, falling into the fire and
the water. Mark described him as a mute, who often fell to the ground foaming
at the mouth and grinding his teeth. After this display, the boy would go into
a kind of rigor mortis: Dr. Luke said
that the boy was an only son and that he would scream as he went into these
convulsions. While some of these symptoms can have natural causes, this boy was
at the mercy of a demon. The disciples had been helpless to do anything. No wonder
the father rushed to Jesus' feet.
Our
Lord's first response was one of sorrow, As He beheld the embarrassed
disciples, the arguing scribes, and the needy father and son, He groaned
inwardly and said, "How long shall I be with you, and put up with you?"
(Luke 9:41, NASB
) Their
unbelief and spiritual perversity were a burden to Him. What must our Lord feel
as He looks at powerless believers today?
Jesus
delivered the boy and commanded the spirit never to return to him (Mark 9:25). The demon tried "one
last throw" (as Spurgeon put it) so that the crowd thought (he boy was
dead (v. 26). But Jesus raised the
lad up and gave him to his father, while the crowds marvelled and gave glory to
God (Luke 9:43).
The
nine disciples should have been able to cast out the demon. Jesus had given
them this power and authority (Matt. 10:1, 8). But somehow, they had lost their power! When they asked Jesus the
cause of their shameful failure, He told them: their lack of' faith (Matt. 17:20), their lack of prayer (Mark 9:29), and their lack of
discipline (Matt. 17:21, although
this verse is not found in many manuscripts).
The
nine were perhaps jealous because they had not been called to go to the
mountaintop with Jesus. During the Lord's absence, they began to grow self-indulgent.
They neglected prayer; their faith weakened. Then, when the crisis came, they
were unprepared, Like Samson, they went out to battle without realizing that
their power was gone (Jud. 16:20).
From their example, we see the importance of staying spiritually healthy.
"Faith
as a grain of mustard seed" suggests not only size (God will honor even a
little faith), but also life and growth. Faith like a mustard seed is living
faith that is nurtured and caused to grow. Faith must be cultivated so that it
grows and does even greater exploits for God (1 Thes. 3:10; 2 Thes. 1:3). Had the nine disciples been praying,
disciplining themselves, and meditating on the Word, they would have been able
to cast out the demon and rescue the boy.
This
entire scene illustrates what Jesus will do when He leaves the glory of heaven
to come to this earth. He will defeat Satan and bind him for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-6).
Friday
– 25th March
Topic:
The King’s Glory
Read:
Matthew 17:22-27
The
King in His Humility (17:22-27)
For
a second time, Jesus mentioned His death and resurrection. The disciples were
deeply grieved and were afraid to ask Him about it. In fact, His disciples did
not believe the reports of His resurrection because they had forgotten His
promises (Mark 16:14). But the enemy
remembered what He said (John 2:19)
and acted accordingly (Matt. 27:62-66).
What
a paradox: a King too poverty-stricken to pay the annual temple tax of only a
half-shekel! The unique characteristics of this miracle are worth noting.
It is
recorded only by Matthew. Matthew, a former tax collector, wrote the Gospel of
the King, and this miracle affirms our Lord's kingship. The kings of the earth
do not take tribute from their own sons. Jesus affirmed Himself to be free from
this tribute because He was the Son of the King, the Son of God. Yet, as the
Son of God, He was too poor to pay even a half-shekel; and His disciples were
as poor as He was. He exercised His kingship over nature to "provide what
was needed.
God
gave Adam and Eve dominion over nature, and this included the fish in the sea (Gen. 1:26; Ps. 8:6-8). Man lost this
dominion because of sin, so Peter was not able to command the fish and find the
money. Jesus Christ exercised dominion over not only the fish, but also over
the animals (Matt. 21:1-7) and the
birds (Matt. 26:34, 74-75). What
Adam lost because of his disobedience, Jesus Christ regained through His
obedience (Heb. 2:6).
While
today believers do not have complete dominion over nature, one day we shall
reign with Christ and exercise dominion with Him. Meanwhile, God cares for His
own and makes sure that all of nature is working for those who trust and obey.
Saturday
– 30th March
Topic:
The King’s Glory
Read:
Matthew Chapter 17: 22-27
It is the
only miracle He performed to meet His own needs. Satan had tempted Christ to use
His divine powers for Himself (Matt.
4:3-4) but He had refused. However, in this case, He did not use His power
selfishly, for others were involved in this miracle. "Lest we cause them
to stumble," was our Lord's explanation for the miracle. He did not want
the people to be offended because He, being a Jew, did not support the temple
ministry. While Jesus did not hesitate to break the man-made traditions of the
Pharisees, He was careful to obey the Law of God.
As
Christians, we must never use our freedom in Christ to hurt or destroy others.
Technically, Jesus did not have to pay the tax; but for practical reasons, He
paid it. He also included Peter so that their testimony would not be hurt.
It is the
only miracle using money. Since Matthew had been a tax collector, we would
expect him to be interested in this miracle. This tax had its origin in the
days of Moses (Ex. 30:11 ff). The
original tax money was used to make the silver sockets on which the tabernacle
poles were erected (Ex. 38:25-27).
Subsequent taxes were used, to support the ministry of the tabernacle and then
the temple, The money was to be a reminder to the Jews that they had been
redeemed from Egyptian slavery, We have been redeemed by the precious blood of
Christ (l Peter 1:18-19).
It is the
only miracle using one fish. Jesus had multiplied the fish for Peter (Luke 5: I-I I), and He would repeat that
miracle (John 21; 1ff), But in this
case, He used only one fish. When we consider the complexity of this miracle,
it amazes us. First, someone had to lose a coin in the water. Then, a fish had
to take that coin in its mouth and retain it. That same fish then had to bite
on Peter's hook-with an impediment in its mouth-and be caught. You cannot
explain all of this in a natural way. It is too complex for an accident, and
100 difficult for human management.
It was
performed for Peter.
How the other disciples paid their taxes, we are not told. This was one of many
miracles that Jesus performed for Peter. He healed Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-34), helped Peter to catch
fish (Luke 5:1-11), enabled him to
walk on the water (Matt. 14:22-33),
healed Malchus’ ear (26:47-56), and delivered Peter from prison (Acts 12: 1 ff). No wonder Peter wrote, "Casting all your care
upon Him, for He cares for you" ( l
Peter 5:7).
Jesus
knew Peter's need and was able to meet that need. Peter thought he had the
problem solved when he entered the house. But before he could tell Jesus what
to do, Jesus told him what to do! God the Father had interrupted Peter on the
mountain (17:5), and now God the Son
interrupted him in the house. If only we would let Jesus give the directions
we would see Him meet our needs for His glory.
It is the
only miracle which does not have the results recorded. We would expect another
verse that would read: "And Peter' went to the sea cast in a hook, and
drew up a fish; and when he had opened its mouth, he found there and used it to
pay tile temple tax for himself and for Jesus." But verse 28 is not there.
Then, how do we know that the miracle took place? Because Jesus said it would!
"There hath not failed one word of all His good promise" 1 Kings 8:56).
We
must commend Peter for his faith. The people at the seashore were accustomed to
seeing Peter with a net in his hand, not a hook and line. But Peter had faith
in God's Word, and God honored that faith. If we trust the King, He will meet
our needs as we obey His Word
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