Peter was writing to people with whom he had an earlier ministry, and not just through his first epistle. And three times now he has mentioned his “reminding ministry” – “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things.” But in these next three verses he refers to something he hasn’t mentioned before. His mind has gone back to Jesus’ transfiguration and the full revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tonight, I am not so much interested in the details of the transfiguration. It is more about what Peter says here and the effects of that event on him and his friends. These effects ought to be found in us as well.
But first there is Peter’s comment is about FABLES.
The transfiguration is not a myth or legend. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables…” This has been one of the foolish arguments offered against Bible Christianity from day number one. “Your religion is no better than any other. You have no more proof or authority for your opinions that anyone else. All this talk about miracles, God becoming a man, heaven and resurrections are nothing but fables.”
The Greek word which Peter uses is “muthos” from which the English word “myth” is derived. Peter denies that what we believe are myths, despite the miraculous nature of what God has told us. And just like Peter, we can say that WE are not following cunningly devised fables. But to the person who refuses to believe us, our denials are not going to accomplish anything. Does it bother you to be accused of foolishly believing fables like some uneducated child? Well, it didn’t bother Christ Jesus, and therefore it shouldn’t bother us either.
As I say, Peter is recalling Jesus’ transfiguration which is described in Matthew 17, Mark 9 and Luke 9. Each account adds a small point or two, but let’s read just one of them. Turn to Luke 9:28 – “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.”
Christ’s spectacular transformation took place on a mountain far from the maddening crowd. Some say it was on the highest mountain in the entire region – 9,200 foot, Mount Hermon. Couldn’t the Lord have easily prevented the charge of mythology, had He taken a few simple steps? He took only three disciples, but wouldn’t there have been more credibility if He had taken all of them? In fact, what if He had invited a few politically connected unbelievers to witness this glorious event? What if this had taken place in the town square of Capernaum, or better yet in Jerusalem, in the courtyard of the temple? Since it was so isolated and out of the way, I’m going to assume that Christ didn’t care what outsiders might have said about it. “Let them talk. They won’t believe my obvious miracles either. They aren’t going to believe anything. They are unbelievers by nature. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Furthermore, faith is a gift of grace from the Father of lights.”
Peter’s first point could have been: Don’t fret yourself with the accusations of foolish people.
But WHAT was it that Peter, James and John SAW and HEARD that DAY high on the top of that mountain?
We are told that Moses and Elijah talked with the Lord Jesus about His upcoming “decease.” This “decease” is the same word that Peter used about himself in verse 15. It is the Greek word which is transliterated “exodus.” But in regard to Jesus’ “exodus,” Peter makes no mention. What struck the Apostle and remained upper most in his memory were the POWER, PAROUSIA, MAJESTY, HONOR and GLORY of the Lord Jesus.
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the POWER… of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is a reference to Christ’s DYNAMIC power, not His AUTHORITATIVE power – His “dunamis” – dynamite. Throughout His three and a half years, Christ continually demonstrated His divine power over circumstances, diseases and death. God the Father may have declared Christ to be “His Son with power” through the resurrection, but Jesus proved Himself to be God by displaying and using His native, divine power. It wasn’t seen so much on the holy mount, but Peter couldn’t help but to point to it.
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Coming” is the Greek word “parousia.” It basically means “appearance.” From our perspective in the time table of God – in the midst of the Lord’s Eschatology – we are looking for Jesus’ second coming – the “second parousia” of Christ – His “re-appearing.” But like Peter, we still preach His “first parousia” through the virgin birth – another “myth” unbelievers reject. Don’t be surprised when people laugh at what you believe about the incarnation of Christ. They laughed at Peter, and they probably laughed at Jesus Himself.
From these Peter switched to the TRANSFIGURATION. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his MAJESTY.” The majesty of Christ employs a little used, but great big Biblical word – “megaleiotes” (meg-al-i-to’-ace). MEGA-litoace! I think it has been corporately outlawed, but at McDonalds they used to ask, “Do you want that meal supersized?” If you foolishly did, then you got more fries than you needed and an extremely large sugar-filled soda. I don’t hear “supersize” very much any more, but I hear of really big things as “mega” this, or “mega” that. Gamblers throw away their money trying to win “megamillions.” Before computer terabit and gigabit hard drives, we were delighted to have a few “megabits.” Huge city conglomerates are described as “megalopolises.” Peter, James and John were privileged to see Christ’s “mega-magnificence.” In no human being has there ever been such “majesty” and “mighty power.” His were supersized.
“For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” “For he received from God the Father HONOUR…” Four of the first five times this Greek word “honour” is used, it is translated “price.” It speaks of “value.” And what the God the Father says is valuable – contains value which has no earthly comparison. The value of Christ – the honor given to the Son of God – is so beyond our imaginations, it is incomparable. Peter uses this word in his First Peter 2:7 – “Unto you… which believe He (Lord Jesus Christ) is precious.” Here he says, “That day during Jesus’ transfiguration, I saw for the first time the infinite value of my Saviour.”
And He was GLORIFIED before our eyes. “For he received from God the Father HONOUR and GLORY, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory…” Peter uses that Greek word “doxa” twice in the same sentence. God the Father spoke from Heaven; He spoke from the excellent glory when Christ Jesus was glorified. “His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; as no fuller on earth can white them.” “And his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” “The fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.” Tying the two “glories” together, I think it is safe to say that Peter could see aspects of heaven in the One who is the King of Heaven.
These things had been seared into his heart; burned into his memory. And why did he bring it up? What point or purpose was there in referring to Christ’s transfiguration? Remember the thought he began with – “we have not followed cunningly devised fables.” What he and the others saw that day on the mountain top altered the direction of their lives.
WHAT did the transfiguration ACCOMPLISH in those three disciples?
First, when heaven’s glory began to emerge, they saw their Master’s TRUE identity. At that point, He was no longer simply a masterful teacher. He was not just a perfect commentator on the Old Testament scriptures. He was not a motivator or moral leader. In addition to hearing the heavenly voice: “This is my beloved Son,” they saw One who was no mere man.
I am currently reading a fascinating book on the disciples. The author refers to the transfiguration and other things as important parts of the education of those who will spread the gospel truth throughout the world. Peter, James and John, along with Paul later, needed to know exactly Who it was they were serving and sharing with the lost. They needed to know that Jesus was worthy of their very lives.
The special revelation of the transfiguration couldn’t help but strengthen the FAITH of those witnesses. Whatever doubts they might have had to that point about Jesus’ nature and character disappeared. And they heard a discussion about Christ’s upcoming decease, something with which they had struggled. I won’t say that all their questions about the crucifixion disappeared, but they became much less important.
Something else they learned in the transfiguration was more about the FUTURE glory of Christ. Maybe it will take the Apostle Paul to tell us about our glorious bodies. But the glorious body of Christ our Saviour became crystalized in the mind of Peter.
Did this new knowledge go to his head and make the poor man spiritually inebriated? Almost. “Oh, wow, Master. This is marvelous. Do you mind if we commemorate this event with three tabernacles?” “Sit down and be quiet, Peter.” “This is my beloved Son, hear him.” “This is not about you. You are no more important than any of the other disciples.” “Sit down and shut up.”
“And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.” What should the power, parousia, majesty, honor and glory of the Lord do to us? They should empty us of anything and everything we are in ourselves. In the light of our Saviour, we are nothing. Peter, James and John were HUMBLED by what they witnessed, as we should be.
And yet, at the same time, what an IMPETUS this revelation should have been to these three men. Wrapped up in that enforced humility, they should have become so excited about their ministries that they couldn’t have been stopped. They should have been ready to take on the world. “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” No, check that – “The King of the Kingdom of Heaven is right here.”
There is one more thing – an anomaly which Peter doesn’t mention in this letter.
Peter and the others were commanded NOT to SPEAK of the transfiguration until after Jesus’ resurrection.
“And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.” “And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.” Can you imagine how difficult their silence must have been as the cross inched closer and closer? While the other eight or nine were talking about Jesus’ upcoming decease, Peter and John had information they were not permitted to share. Sure, they didn’t understand everything, but they had more than the rest.
But then a few days after the Passover and Jesus’ death, the Lord’s body was found missing. And all of a sudden He appeared in their midst – there was another “parousia” of Christ. I have no doubt that the informational and spiritual dam burst, and Peter, James and John couldn’t stop talking about what they saw at the top of that mountain. If the Lord was there I’m sure there would have been a smile on His face to listen to their enthusiasm. “We saw the glory of Heaven emanating from the face of our Saviour.” “He lives. He lives victoriously. He lives GLORIOUSLY.”
Peter was undoubtedly unafraid to talk about what he saw that day. Let the world call it a fabulous “fable,” but we know that this so-called “myth” is absolutely true. Peter had earlier shared all this verbally with the people to whom he was writing, and it was wonderful… But… BUT… “We have also a MORE sure word of prophecy” than even this. We have the inspired and perfect word of God, of which Peter speaks in the next couple of verses.