Select a Ring of Truth daily devotion online
Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
Select the date to display the devotion for:
Matthew 17:5
“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!’”
Banyas and Tabor.
Today I want to take you to two places in Israel – the ‘traditional sites’ of two events.
Banyas or Ceasarea Philippi is recorded in Matthew 16:13-20. It’s a beautiful spot in the North of Israel. Where the Jordan River flows out of the solid rock-face of the mountain. It’s a fabulous setting. And guess what? There is No Church there, which for a ‘traditional’ site is unheard of. Out of the hills towering above flows the Jordan – out of a sheer cliff face.
In this picturesque setting Jesus asked His disciples who people were saying He was. They replied, “John the Baptist… Elijah… Jeremiah… or one of the prophets.” He asked, “But what about you? Who do you say I AM?” Peter, as quick as a flash, had the divine revelation and exclaimed – “You are the Christ, [The GOD-MESSIAH] the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:14-16). That was the ‘rock’ on which God would build His Church, and to which the gates of Hell would have to yield. We must never ever forget who Jesus really is.
Tabor. I know others feel that the Transfiguration took place on the mountain, Mt Hermon, which is the true source of the Jordan and the only significant mountain around, and may I say that I have no intention of changing their belief. But I’ve been to the ‘traditional site’, Mt Tabor. It lies between Nazareth and Capernaum, opposite Nain, overlooking the Vale of Jezreel where Deborah and Barak defeated the armies of Sisera. There is a beautiful church on the top of Tabor and I can remember having a fabulous ‘Good Friday’ meditation in the grounds there in 1990.
Wherever the Transfiguration took place, it was extremely significant. You see, we often relate it to Peter but we should always relate it to Jesus. Peter was going through a very bitter sweet, sweet and sour time.
After he had given that tremendous Messianic declaration at Banyas, we read that Jesus told the disciples again that He was going up to Jerusalem to die and rise the third day. But Peter took Him aside and told Him that He shouldn’t say such things as he considered that they should never take place. However, Jesus turned to him and said, “Get behind Me Satan! … you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (v 23) (see Matthew 16:21-23). Ooops! Sweet, then very sour.
Now we follow them up the mountain. Just Peter, James and John. Then it happened. Something of Jesus’ true glory was revealed and shone through. Moses and Elijah came to visit and talked with Jesus. Impulsively Peter gasped, “Lord, this is fantastic. Let’s build three shelters – one for each of you” (see v 4).
Hello! Hello, Peter! Who is Jesus? Just as you have already declared – The CHRIST, The God-Messiah, the SON of the Living God. Moses is a man like you and I, so is Elijah. Jesus is in a completely different league. Yes, Moses and Elijah were great men of God or men of a Great God – But Jesus is God.
Yes. The fact that Moses and Elijah were there (not their spirits or ghosts) proves that there is a resurrection; an after-life, and that God is indeed the God of the living, not the dead (see Matthew 22:32). But keep your eyes on Jesus, not men.
God had to come in the cloud, overshadow them and say, “This is MY SON, whom I love; with Him I AM well pleased. Listen to Him!” (v 5) then “They saw no one except Jesus” (v 8).
Listen, that is exactly what God wants us to understand, too. Yes, honour godly men – both of Scripture and those whom God is using mightily today but never ever forget – Jesus is not just another good man; He is not just another prophet – Jesus is unique.
He alone is God – He alone is the One we should follow and ‘go to hear’.
Listen to Him.
(Until we receive and genuinely understand that revelation, we will never experience the truly awesome relationship with God that Jesus came to establish for us.)
Download the above Ring of Truth devotion as a PDF.
Previous Day's Devotion | Next Day's Devotion
To subscribe to this daily devotion by email visit our Daily Email subscription page.
