NT Journey--Matthew 17
OK. I realize I'm a day late on this post, but I thought I'd mention a couple of things in chapter 17.
First, you might have noticed that this is kind of a strange chapter. We tend to be more or less comfortable with Jesus as a good--if challenging--teacher, but less comfortable when He starts to do things like be transfigured (whatever that means) and casting out demons, etc. This is the point at which Jesus is making it more and more clear that 1) He IS the Messiah they've been waiting for; and 2) He's going to have to suffer and die.
I won't go into a lot of detail, but Matthew's description of the Transfiguration is very similar to the account of Moses receiving the Law in Exodus 24. Notice the similarities-- the mountain, the cloud, the mention of six days, the voice, Jesus is the "new law," etc. Again, Matthew is showing Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament and Peter, James and John were able to see it. So this event was to build the understanding and confidence of the disciples.
But I think it may have also been to build the confidence of Jesus. Remember Jesus was human, so He was subject to all the anxiety and questioning that we are. At the beginning of His ministry, at His baptism there was also a voice that said, "This is my Son, whom I love." Certainly that would be great assurance for Jesus to give Him strength to fulfill His mission. Now, as the time was coming close for Him to suffer and die, He would certainly need that reassurance again.
Look for another post today for Matthew 18. Keep on reading!
First, you might have noticed that this is kind of a strange chapter. We tend to be more or less comfortable with Jesus as a good--if challenging--teacher, but less comfortable when He starts to do things like be transfigured (whatever that means) and casting out demons, etc. This is the point at which Jesus is making it more and more clear that 1) He IS the Messiah they've been waiting for; and 2) He's going to have to suffer and die.
I won't go into a lot of detail, but Matthew's description of the Transfiguration is very similar to the account of Moses receiving the Law in Exodus 24. Notice the similarities-- the mountain, the cloud, the mention of six days, the voice, Jesus is the "new law," etc. Again, Matthew is showing Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament and Peter, James and John were able to see it. So this event was to build the understanding and confidence of the disciples.
But I think it may have also been to build the confidence of Jesus. Remember Jesus was human, so He was subject to all the anxiety and questioning that we are. At the beginning of His ministry, at His baptism there was also a voice that said, "This is my Son, whom I love." Certainly that would be great assurance for Jesus to give Him strength to fulfill His mission. Now, as the time was coming close for Him to suffer and die, He would certainly need that reassurance again.
Look for another post today for Matthew 18. Keep on reading!
posted by Kory at
8:16 AM
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