March 24 I Wednesday

Joshua 16-18

Luke 2:1-24

“As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to Him, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying.)”   —Luke 9:33

Islamic beliefs consider Jesus among the prophets, like Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Hinduism depicts Jesus as one great guru. The big questions that we all have to ask ourselves are, Is Jesus Christ God? Is He divine?

       When Jesus, along with His disciples Peter, James and John, were on a high mountain, the disciples saw something they had never seen before. Not only was Jesus transfigured before them, Moses and Elijah also appeared before Jesus, talking with Him. Marvelling at this sight, Peter told Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Peter wanted to set up a shelter, like a booth or a tent, for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. In Luke’s recording of this account, he adds in brackets, “[Peter] did not know what he was saying.” 

       What Peter did not know he was implying with his idea is that, by building a shelter for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, he was putting Moses and Elijah on equal par with Jesus. As with Peter, a trap that some of us may fall into is failing to recognize the uniqueness and the exclusiveness of Jesus Christ. This is probably why, while Peter was still speaking, “a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him’” (Luke 9:34-35). God interrupted Peter, reminding him as well as the other disciples, that they should listen to Jesus. After the voice had spoken, Jesus stood there alone; there was no Moses, no Elijah, only Jesus because there is no competition. 

       As we examine the nature of the gospel and the Christian faith, we come to the conclusion that Jesus Christ is unique, there is no one parallel to Him and there is no competitor with Him. Jesus is exclusively the means by which human beings can be reconciled to God. Only in Christ can we find forgiveness of our sin, find true spiritual life and find the power to live as He intended us to live. Only in Christ can we receive eternal life and know the certainty of heaven. 

       Echoing what God said on the mountain—“This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him”—may we have a fresh confidence in our relationship with Jesus as we rediscover the uniqueness and the exclusiveness of Christ. Only Christ is worthy of our worship. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for pointing our focus to Your Son, who is unique, exclusive and holds no competition. You are worthy of all my worship.