Transfiguration (7)
Notes
Transcript
16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Imagine that you are going to write a report on a famous person. In that report you must answer the typical questions: Who, what, where, why, and how. You must accurately tell who that person is, when they lived, the accomplishments they achieved, where they lived, how they influenced others as you convince us why this person is famous and important. Our history professor in college, Professor Scharf, would introduce our reporting about a famous person by saying, “If so and so were to walk into our classroom right now, how would you know it was him.”
So how do you get your information?
In my house it is rather easy.
Alexa, who was Abraham Lincoln? Well, not always that easy. On Wednesday morning she responded, “I’m having trouble understanding right now. Please try again later.”
So I Googled the same question and . . . About 142,000,000 results (0.62 seconds)
Then I asked who Jesus Christ is. 431,000,000 results (0.69 seconds)
I did not read all of the results for either one of these men. As a former worker in a research library, I find it amazing how accessible information is and the amount of research we can do from the comfort of our own home.
Finding information on famous people is relatively easy. But what if the person isn’t all that famous. What if you are into genealogy and you want to find out more about your ancestors?
Deceased: Official records. Some first hand documentation. Newspaper articles. Obituaries. What others recorded they knew about them.
Alive: Interview them and those who know them.
Suggestion: If you really are into family histories, be that person who records the truth about those who are still alive to make it more reliable for future generations.
THE TRUTH: Not everything that was reported about famous people is true. Even what is reported about living people is sometimes fabricated, mistaken, or intentionally misleading or a lie.
George Santos, the New York Republican congressman-elect at the center of a storm over his apparently fabricated résumé, has admitted he lied about his job experience and college education during his successful US House campaign.
Santos first ran for Congress in 2020. In November this year he was elected to represent parts of northern Long Island and north-east Queens.
His exaggerations were first identified by the New York Times, which questioned claims including that he had worked at two prominent Wall Street banks; had obtained degrees in finance and economics from two New York colleges; that he was Jewish; and that four employees of his company were killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, in June 2016.
On Monday, Santos told the New York Post: “My sins here are embellishing my résumé. I’m sorry.”
Santos, 34, also said he “campaigned talking about the people’s concerns, not my résumé … I intend to deliver on the promises I made during the campaign.”
But he acknowledged he “didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning. I’m embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my résumé. I own up to that … We do stupid things in life”.
Democrats including the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, have suggested Santos is unfit to sit in Congress. Some have called for him to resign his seat before taking it.
Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, said on Twitter: “George Santos, who has now admitted his whopping lies, should resign. If he does not, then [Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House leader] should call for a vote to expel” him.
Joaquin Castro, from Texas, said allowing Santos to enter office would set a dangerous precedent.
“We’ve seen people fudge their résumé but this is total fabrication,” Castro said, suggesting Santos “should also be investigated by authorities”.
Hakeem Jeffries, the incoming Democratic House leader, has said Santos “appears to be a complete and utter fraud”.
Republican officials began to publicly respond to Santos’ remarks on Tuesday. Joe Cairo, chairman of the Nassau county GOP on Long Island, said the congressman had “broken the public trust” but “must do the public’s will in Washington”.
Santos, Cairo said, “has a lot of work to do to regain the trust of voters and everyone who he represents in Congress”.
He told “cleverly invented stories”.
Did you know that critics of the Bible make the same claim about Jesus Christ? Modern criticism is permeated with so-called scholars who question to truth about Jesus and openly scrutinize the recorded history of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as reported in the Gospels and cast doubt on what the rest of the New Testament says about who he is and what he has done to save us. But this is not a new development. Already in the first century AD Peter tells us that there were those who denied that Jesus is the Christ and his importance for our salvation. That is why our text begins with these words: “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
But Peter doesn’t just say “We are right and they are wrong”. He continues with two sources of information that are still upheld today as proofs that something is true.
HOW WE CAN BE SURE JESUS IS THE CHRIST?
1.Eyewitness Accounts.
2. Written Testimony.
Context: Last writings of Peter and warning about the future. 2 Peter 2:1–3 (NIV84)
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
Jesus had also warned about false teachers: Matthew 24:24–25 (NIV84) For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.
How would Peter combat these false accusations against his testimony? He would repeat the truth as long as he was alive. 2 Peter 1:12–15 (NIV84) 12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
And he would leave a written testimony about the truth.
15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
Application: When we speak the truth, people will at times question the veracity of our statements and may try to debunk what we are saying. The truth’s greatest opponent is the lie. How do we stand up for the truth? Continue to proclaim it. You may have heard the phrase: “The truth will prevail.” Who said truth will always prevail?
George Washington Quotes
Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.
Jesus spoke the truth always. Many times he would begin a statement by saying “Verily, verily . . . “ Greek is Amen, Amen “In truth” He is indeed the way, the truth, and the light.
It must have been of great reassurance to the early Christians to have an eyewitness of Jesus to tell them what he had experienced. In our text, Peter refers to the glorious transfiguration of Jesus just prior to his sufferings and death. Peter was also an eyewitness of Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension into heaven.
But Peter has died almost 2000 years ago and the wonderful events in the life of Jesus that he saw happened that long ago too. What reassurance do we have that the Greatest Story Ever Told is not just a story or cleverly invented stories or myths but that they really happened?
We have the living and enduring Word of God. Peter here refers to the veracity of the Old Testament. 2 Peter 1:19–21 (NIV84)
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Paul affirms this truth: 2 Timothy 3:14–17 (NIV84)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The book of Revelation has this to say specifically about that book but it certainly applies the entire canon of Scripture: Revelation 22:18–20 (NIV84)
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
It may seem to be harder and harder to believe what is true or not. Whether it is lies about a person’s own background, false advertising, or intentional lies, we need to be on guard so that we are not deceived. We may be taken of advantage of financially, socially, or our safety may be at risk. In the spiritual realm, the stakes are even higher. Peter’s concern was for the eternal souls of his fellow Christians. No wonder he was so adamant about testifying to the truth. May we so cherish our own eternal future that we use the means by which God has revealed the truth to us so that we may remain faithful — holding on to the truth.
John 8:42–47 (NIV84)
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
1 Peter 5:8–10 (NIV84)
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.