2 Peter 1:16-21.                We can be sure???                                                          26/2/17

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Here this morning Peter is addressing an issue that often seems problematic with the Christian faith. As well as for occasions such as today as we remember the Transfiguration of our Lord. There is so much said that seems to be too far-fetched to be believable. It is an often made criticism, that much of what we have in the Bible is merely cleverly devised stories.

So it is easy for us as Christians to downplay these events and focus more on what we would like to hear and what makes us feel good. All too often we want to hear the feel good stuff; health, wealth and happiness; miracles; and the like. Tell us how to do it, is an often made plea. Simply focus on the here and now so that life can be not so complicated.

However, the more that we focus on these areas the more we find life difficult. The more that we try to find meaning and contentment in these other areas the more uncertain that life becomes. The more we look elsewhere than to Jesus Christ and the cross, and these seemingly too good to be true events, the more we are left wandering aimlessly through life, hoping that everything will work out okay.

On the other hand, as we look to God and his Word and take it seriously we find a freedom, hope and joy that is beyond earthly comprehension. As we simply receive what he tells us and gives us, without trying to explain it away, we find an easy, simple approach to life. In Jesus Christ and the cross, and all the other things that he has to say, we have something truly amazing and freeing.

In simply believing and following what we have in the Bible there is so much there that gives life and hope to us. As we live in a world desperately looking for real life and can’t find it, here we have that which gives certainty and a positive future. Here all the things that we need to know are given to us by a very reliable source; God Almighty himself.

Here let us recall what Peter himself says in this reading.  For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Peter himself has seen all of this and testifies that all that we have is reliable and true. He saw it himself.

In those three years that he, along with the other disciples, physically walked with Jesus, they listened to and saw so much. This Jesus had the power of God working in him as he performed miracle after miracle, so that we could be sure that He was from God and not just some fake charlatan.

Then even more impressively they saw this amazing event up there on the mountain, that we are recalling today. 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.

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Peter then says years later again:  but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

So he wants us to know that Jesus’ glory is revealed so that we can be sure. So that we can be very sure that Jesus is who he says he is and that what he has given to us in the Bible is vitally important for us. There is no need for us to have any doubts at all. Here we have that which we can rely on absolutely, without having to change it or water it down. We can take everything that is said as good and important for us, even if it does not fit our current societal views.

Jesus and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins is central to the Christian message. God’s Son himself comes into our world to die in our place so that forgiveness of sins, life and salvation can be extended to us all. His love for us is such that he does what is necessary so that we can be restored again into his family.

On top of that, three days after Jesus died on the cross he was raised to life again. All so that we can again know that what Jesus did on the cross and why, was as he said it would be. Also so that we can know for sure, just as he again said would be the case, we who believe and are connected to Jesus, have the assurance of life beyond death.

Again unbelievable, but it was for real; history tells of this. Legal experts today say, that if Jesus’ resurrection was taken to a court of Law today, it would be found to have happened. It was for real and those who take this message seriously, know and have a hope and joy that is there for them as a result. Again it happened just as the Scriptures told us it would.

Here we have then, that which is vital for us all. Here in Jesus we have him whom we can and must look up to now as that which is all important in our lives. He received honour and glory from his Father up there on the mountain. Now we too, surely will give him that same honour and glory. We will look to him, trusting that he has done everything necessary for our salvation. And we will seek to live in obedience to all that he tells us in his word.

This is where Peter continues on. We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

So we do not only have Jesus that we can look to with certainty, but also God’s Word. The Old Testament is full of prophecy that all point forward to the coming of Jesus and the importance of his death and resurrection. These prophecies were made hundreds and hundreds of years beforehand. This surely indicates very clearly that the Bible is completely reliable and true. It can be trusted in everything.

So we are strongly encouraged to pay attention to it. This is God’s Word to us, so we need to take it seriously. That means we will read it, listen to it, talk about it and heed what it says to us. This needs to be our first source of information in life. Not just something that sits on the shelf gathering dust, and taken down every now and again. Here we have something and someone who really knows what he is talking and who knows what life is about and what is good for us in our relationship with him and with one another.

Peter here reminds that this Word is like a light shining in a dark place. It helps us to see and understand what life is all about. It makes the point very clearly that the troubles, hardships, and death that we face is a consequence of our sin. Because we have not heeded and obeyed what he has told us is good for, we suffer as we do. But it also tells us what he has done to rectify the situation for us, through Jesus Christ, if only we would believe it.

Peter also makes the point that this Word is important for us throughout life; until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. It always has been relevant and important and it will be all the way through to Jesus second Coming and Judgement day. 

Here he also then counters the common argument these days that the Bible is only the writings of men, and so it is subject to errors and paternalistic views and more. Peter however says: Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.  For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

So the point is clearly made here in this reading, that we can rely on Jesus Christ and his Word. He is powerful and majestic; he is God’s very own, loved Son who came into our world to do what was necessary for our salvation. He dies and rises again so that forgiveness of sins, life and salvation can be extended to each and every one of us.

Also just as reliable and true as Jesus Christ is, so is his Word. We can trust it and live in accord with it. So we have every reason to get on with life with confidence and certainty. So again to our Lord Jesus be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish