Having The Right Message At The Right Time

"Today's Devotion" For August 3, 2005

Read: Matthew 17:9-13; 2 Timothy 2:8-13

HAVING THE RIGHT MESSAGE AT THE RIGHT TIME

"'Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.'"(Mt.17:9b)

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by circumstances? Experience tells us that it's a rare individual who hasn't been. Being overwhelmed by circumstances is not an uncommon phenomenon. The truth be told, sometimes there's just too much information coming at us too quickly to handle well, a situation that is becoming more and more evident in the "Information Age" in which we live. Keeping this in mind, it's not too hard to imagine how Peter, James and John must have felt as they came down the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus. After reading the text can there be any doubt that they were just a bit overwhelmed? They had experienced an incredible event. They had to be bursting at the seams to tell the other disciples. It's obvious from Peter's response, wanting to put up three tents for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, that he really wasn't sure what to do, but felt he needed to act in some way.

Into this mix, Jesus puts a "monkey wrench." Instead of encouraging Peter in his desire to put up the three tents and revel in the vision they had seen, Jesus instructs the three disciples not to tell anyone about what they had seen or heard until His resurrection on Easter morning. Not only were these three disciples privy to an incredible revelation, with which they were most likely struggling to fully comprehend, but now they couldn't tell anyone else. You've got to be kidding! They had to be bursting at the seams.

Yet Jesus' instructions concerning His Transfiguration points out His concern for Peter, James, and John. As they engaged in further discussion concerning the event they had experienced on the mountain, they began to understand Elijah's presence as a forerunner of Christ, finally realizing that John the Baptist had filled Elijah's role. What's more, Jesus clearly wanted them to fully understand that, just as John the Baptist was killed for his faithfulness to God, so also would Jesus, the "Son of Man." Because of His faithfulness to the Father's Will and His perfect obedience to the Law in our place, Jesus was to suffer the ignominy of crucifixion in order to save people from their sins.

Jesus knew that the disciples would be dismayed, lost, afraid, and alone when He was crucified. He knew that they would be confused by the events of Holy Week and His resurrection on Easter Sunday. By having Peter, James, and John wait to share this account of His glory until that time of trial and trouble, Jesus was providing for the strengthening and encouragement of all who followed Him as they would hear the Transfiguration account from those who had been there.

In the same way, Jesus provides for our strengthening and encouragement in the face of a world that's confused and lost. Through His Word and Sacraments (Baptism, Lord's Supper), Jesus touches us with His very presence, speaking to us His Word of love, grace, and mercy. He assures us of the forgiveness of all of our sins and promises to be with us always. His Word presents us with a clear picture of God's actions for our salvation throughout the history of the world so that, as the redeemed children of God in Jesus Christ, we might be strengthened against all temptations, fears, loneliness, and despair. Thus strengthened, we are empowered to face all the confusion of this world with courage and confidence, knowing that in Jesus there is no confusion, only hope and peace.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being so concerned about me that You made certain that Your love for me would be revealed to me. You have brought me to You, working faith in my heart through Your Word and Spirit. Continue to strengthen me in faith, comfort me in despair, uplift me in loneliness, take away all fear, and help me to overcome temptation. In Your most holy and precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.