Coming Attractions

We made it to the theater with a few minutes to spare before the movie began. That gave us enough time to visit the concession stand, find our seats, and take in the “coming attractions”—short previews of the movies that would premier in the next six months, designed to peak our interest and bring us back to these same seats.

This had been part of the reason behind the “Mount of Transfiguration,” an important episode in the earthly ministry of Jesus reported by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Jesus’ followers were still sorting out just who this amazing, miracle-working teacher of theirs really was. Up on that mountain, God let them know. For a few brief moments, he pulled back the veil of Jesus’ humanity and allowed them to glimpse his true identity. Jesus’ appearance was transformed before their eyes, from a lowly traveling rabbi to the second Person of the Trinity, whose face and garments shone with brilliant shekinah glory. The Father himself audibly declared Jesus to be “my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” This “transfiguration” of Jesus was not just a brief show for the disciples present—it was a preview of coming attractions. On the day that Jesus returned, the whole world would see him as he really is, in all his majestic glory.

That’s why Peter is bringing up this event today. False teachers are moving among the churches of Asia Minor who want to undermine the apostle’s call to godly living (we learn all about this in chapter two). One of their strategies is to cast doubt on the message that Christ will personally return in glory. “Where is the promise of his appearing?” they scoff. “Peter and his friends have been talking about it for years, and I haven’t seen the first sign of it.” It makes sense that they would attack this doctrine if they want to promote an immoral lifestyle. If the teacher really isn’t coming back to the classroom, the students can act how they want. So these scoffers degrade Christ’s coming as a “cleverly devised myth” the apostles use to control the church’s behavior.

Peter wants us to know that the power and glory of Jesus is no myth. He was there for the preview on the Mount of Transfiguration! He, James, and John, were all “with him on the holy mountain.” They became “eyewitnesses to his majesty” that day. The experience was so overwhelming, it left Peter trembling on the ground. If you had seen what I saw, Peter is saying, and heard what I heard, you would never get over it. And you would do whatever you needed to do to prepare for his coming. One-by-one, we will all be summoned to appear before this almighty, all-holy King at his appearing. On that day, we will not regret one effort spent in that diligent Christian living that Peter has been pressing on us throughout chapter one. So let’s get to it, Peter says: let’s start making every effort to supplement our faith and pursue God’s glory and excellence.

These verses not only provide another powerful motivation for growing in godliness; they also remind us of the reliability of the New Testament. The apostles are not myth-makers: they are eyewitnesses of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. They spent time with Jesus in the days of his flesh, and then were sent out by Jesus in his resurrection to report what they had seen and heard. Jesus is God-become-man, who lived, died for sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, and he will come again to judge the world as its rightful Lord. These facts are either true or they are not. If they are, then our best course is to respond to Jesus as Savior and King. Have you?

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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church