Simon Peter – an eye witness - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

When they were fully awake, they saw his glory.
Luke 9:32.

Simon Peter - an eye witness
The apostles had recognised Jesus as the promised Messiah and Redeemer. They expected Him to establish His reign of peace on earth, as had been foretold in the Old Testament. But they failed to heed the passages that spoke of the Messiah's suffering and death, Isaiah ch. 53, for example.

When Jesus told His disciples that He "must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things, be killed and be raised the third day", they were dismayed, Peter in particular (Matthew 16:21-23). The disciples did not know that the Messiah first had to suffer and die to redeem them and countless others. Only later would He establish His kingdom on earth in glory (1 Peter 1:11).

The Lord saw the confusion and consternation in His disciples' hearts. They had to learn that, even if Christ had to suffer and die, the glorious prospect of His kingdom was in no way uncertain. Jesus took Peter and two other disciples with Him up a mountain. There they had a preview of the Lord Jesus Christ's glory in His future kingdom.

It was there that, whereas the leaders of the people rejected the Messiah and sought to kill Him, God Himself publicly testified of His Son: "This is my beloved Son. Hear him!" (Luke 9:28-35).

Many years later Peter referred to this incident. He firmly believed that Jesus Christ would return and establish His kingdom in power and glory and emphasised that he himself had been an "eye witness of his majesty" (2 Peter 1:16-21). That incident on the mountain confirms the prophetic statements in the Bible impressively.

Today's reading: Judges 8:18-35 · 2 Corinthians 8:9-15