Greatness: Matthew 14-20Sample

Over the centuries, Christians have wrestled with understanding who Jesus was. It is evident in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus was human, born of a human mother, grew up in ancient Israel, ate, drank and slept. Yet, at the same time, Matthew presents evidence that Jesus was something more. The virgin birth, the miraculous healings, the pardoning of sin, the calming of a storm, and feeding thousands of people with a lunchbox of fish and bread. The disciples themselves are confused, and it took them time to come to terms with the divinity of Jesus. He was God in the flesh.

In today’s passage, Matthew reveals Jesus in a radically different way that draws powerful attention to His divinity. The scene opens with Jesus and His inner circle; Peter, James and John on a hike up a mountain. At the top, rather than taking in the view—or taking selfies—Jesus is suddenly transformed in a way that these Jewish men would have immediately connected with the Old Testament story of Moses when he met God on Mount Sinai.

The disciples are rightly in awe of Jesus’ transformation, hearing the voice of God, and seeing Elijah (representing the prophets) and Moses (representing the law) appearing too. Peter makes a faux pas about getting some tents for everyone, so the beautiful moment could be extended. But, alas, it was only a temporary picture, though a picture nonetheless of the risen, resurrected Messiah.

This encounter helps remind us that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. It’s not the easiest idea to hold in balance, but crucial in our understanding of Jesus and how we trust Him.

Today, ponder this: When you pray, do you find yourself emphasising the humanity of Jesus or the divinity of Jesus? Could Jesus be more than just one or the other?