Page 43 - In His Image

The second event, which speaks to God having intimates and not favorites, is seen

in Matthew 17:1...
"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high
mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them."
Again we see the same three disciples accompanying Jesus. In both cases we see
Jesus being the one who decides who is to accompany Him. "Jesus took" is the way
scripture presents this truth. The question one needs to ask one's self is this...
"why these three, again?" What did Jesus see in James, John and Peter that
caused Him to ask a second time to have them accompany Him? What must we see
in these three that we need to understand? If Jesus singled them out of a larger
group, why wouldn't He single one of us out from the larger group? Nothing, if we
truly understand that Jesus has no favorites but He does have intimates!

Let's look further at what transpired on the Mount of Transfiguration... "and He was
transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as

the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter
answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make
here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 'While he was still
speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of
the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
The true identity of Jesus manifests itself in a physical show of blazing glory!
Moses and Elijah appear! God the Father overshadows them in a bright cloud! The
God of eternity speaks! He confirms again that Jesus IS His Son! He confirms
again that He is pleased with Him and His earthly ministry! But it's His last two
words that should speak to the heart of a disciple... “hear Him!"

Peter was obviously deeply moved by what he saw; he had a real sense of biblical
history. Wanting to capture the splendor of the moment, he rashly (as Peter so
often did!) suggested erecting three memorial tabernacles or booths, one for
Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He was right in putting Jesus first, but
wrong in not giving Him the preeminence. Jesus is not one among equals, but Lord
over all. In order to teach this lesson, God the Father covered them all with a
brightly glowing cloud, then announced, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. Hear Him!" In the Kingdom, Christ will be the peerless One, the supreme
Monarch whose word will be the final authority. A disciple of Christ should have
this truth in their heart. They should know Jesus' preeminent position in

In His Image 34