The Manifold Wisdom Of God
Hear Him!
"A voice came out of the cloud, saying,
'This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.
'Hear Him!'"
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Jesus took Peter, James and John up "on a high mountain" to pray. Little did they know what they were about to experience. (Matthew 17'1-8, Mark 9'2-8, Luke 9'28-36).
The Lord's Disciples had seen Him do some great things and heard Him speak some great words as they travelled around Israel with Him.
But this occasion stunned and scared them. They could not have guessed that the place of Jesus in their lives was about to be dramatically emphasised.
First of all, they were amazed when Jesus was "transfigured" before their eyes, radiating dazzingly. And Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Him. Also a bright cloud began to descend on them.
Then Peter did as Peter was known to do, which was to say something. So he began saying the first thing that came into his head.
But, almost like a reaction to the first word he said, "a voice came out of the cloud" declaring: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 17'1-8).
Obviously, it was the Father speaking. Next, the Father added the two most crucial words any Believer could hear: "Hear Him!”.
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But it was not the first time that something like this had been declared. The Jews of the first century must have been aware of these words Moses:
"The Lord said to me: ... ‘I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren and will put my words in His mouth and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
And it shall be that whoever will not hear my words, which He speaks in my name, I will require it of him’”, Deuteronomy 18’17-19.
Following Pentecost Peter reminded them of Moses' prophecy and pointed out that it had been fulfilled in the coming of Jesus of Nazareth:
"For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.
And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people'.
To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities’," Acts 3'22-23.
Stephen, on the day he was stoned to death he challenged the murderous Jews who confronted him. As part of relating some significant parts of Israel's history to them, he also reminded them:
"This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear',” Acts 7'37.