To all the Kingdom Builders who amaze us week after week, in our Go Into All the World Mission of obedience to the Great Commandment,
This week I want to call your attention to:
THREE TABERNACLES
You will find the story as it takes place on a mountain and this is where I join what is taking place there.
Matthew 17:4-5 The Message
4 Peter broke in, "Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?"
5 While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: "This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him."
God, I think drives home the point to Matthew a message follower of Christ should never disengage from. Jesus is the Father's focus of delight and the one and only source of authority, there is not three or will there be any other to come.
I am not sure what Peter was trying to do but he sure got this part of it wrong. God was not impressed in the least. Jesus is not sharing the redemptive stage of history with anyone, not even Moses who represents the law or Elijah who represents the prophets. How could one who walked with Him in humanity get this so wrong? God had a plan that started before the creation of the world. In the mind of God Jesus was slain before the world began, His submission to the will of God was not an afterthought nor was it arbitrary. No one had equal standing with the Son of Man, not Moses and not Elijah. Listen to what The father said out of the cloud, "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON…HEAR HIM."
In 2021 the message from heaven is still the same. Moses was never a King and Elijah was never even a prince but Jesus is the King of Kings world without end. The truth is Moses offers no Hope for Glory his rules were external, while Elijah proved he was far from perfect even though he thought he was the only one. Lets face it the law was the written Word, which showed man the will of God and the prophets were only inspired men whom God used to proclaim His Word.
At best the idea of three tabernacles was just an indicator of how limited Peter's knowledge was about the Kingdom at that time. God wanted man to become the Temples of God and even asked the Corinthian Church through Paul, "KNOW YOU NOT THAT YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST". Can you see it now, there is just one voice that we need to hear, "This is my beloved Son hear Him."
Last week we said the reason God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice was because he wanted him to know God was closer than Elijah thought. That begs the question, are we listening to His voice in the way that we should? As powerful as the law is as a teacher it was only an escort:
Galatians 3:24-27
The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.
But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise. I am looking forward to where God is taking us and enjoying the journey of faith with you week by week as we together pursue our God given passions. Thank you for your investment into our future, for like Rachel of old she did not realize she was feeding the very camels that would take her to her bridegroom Isaac. Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Yours for Souls,
