LHM Daily Devotions February 20, 2020 - Do Tell

"Do Tell"

Feb. 20, 2020

And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John His brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If You wish, I will make three tents here, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah." He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

—Matthew 17:1-9 (ESV)

Can you see it, Peter, James, and John have just heard a voice from a cloud, telling them Jesus is God's own Son? (They probably suspected something along this line already.) And then, after falling down in horror from hearing this announcement, Jesus touches them (taps them on the shoulder?) and tells them, "Rise, and have no fear." (I'm not sure that would do it for me.) What a sight that must have been!

But Jesus isn't finished yet. Afterward, when He and His shell-shocked disciples are coming down the mountain, He lays on the clincher—"Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

Say what!?

Surely there has been no greater test of restraint ever imposed on a human being than that given to Peter, James, and John: "Tell no one." How could you not tell of this mind-blowing experience? All of the countless hours of chatter and debate the disciples must have shared about Jesus when He wasn't around were confirmed—in royal spades!

"What is this all about?" His inner circle must have wondered. "What have we gotten ourselves into with following this Man to the exclusion of all else?" And then the thought that must have haunted them most: "What if our trust is misplaced? What if what He tells us isn't true?"

Now they knew—but were told not to tell anyone—at least not yet, not until the resurrection.

Could they wait that long? Maybe. We don't know for sure.

But we do know this: on Easter morning, Jesus' true nature—His full humanity and full divinity—was broadcast through the universe. The Savior's triumphant words of victory, "It is finished," resounded over our sin, our mortality, and Satan himself. Now our mouths needn't be silent; our hearts needn't be fearful. We can rejoice in what God has done.

Now we can tell everybody!

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may Your Holy Spirit touch our lips to speak of the love You have shown us in Jesus. In His Name we pray. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. What would have been the best part about being one of Jesus' disciples?
2. What does "His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light" mean to you?
3. Are you good at keeping secrets? Could you have kept the one Jesus gave His three disciples?

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What would have been the best part about being one of Jesus' disciples?