Week 31—Saturday 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Week 31—SATURDAY
“IT WAS NOT ON TALES ARTFULLY SPUN”
This passage puts clearly the essential character of the Christian gospel as the Word become flesh: “It was not on tales artfully spun that we relied when we told you of the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming; we saw him with our own eyes in majesty, when at the hands of God the Father he was invested with honour and glory, and there came to him from the sublime Presence a voice which said: ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, on whom my favour rests.’ This voice from heaven we ourselves heard; when it came, we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Pet. 1:16-18, NEB).
And then the writer adds: “All this only confirms for us the message of the prophets, to which you will do well to attend, because it is like a lamp shining in a murky place, until the day breaks and the morning star rises to illuminate your minds” (2 Pet. 1:19, NEB). Here the prophets were likened to “a lamp shining in a murky place” and Jesus like the daybreak. The difference? The prophets were the Word become word—hence a lamp; Jesus was the Word become flesh—hence a sunrise!
And those on the mount saw this Word become flesh—become glorified flesh—Jesus was transfigured before their eyes. Now the flesh had become word and spoke of his glory and majesty. So the flesh is not just a temporary instrument, it is a permanent part of redemption—it too can be glorified. “It’s my flesh in the Godhead that I see.” So the despised, lowly flesh becomes redeemed as it redeems.
We saw in another reference that Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus about “his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). His death an accomplishment! Here we see that it was not only an accomplishment but it was God-approved: “This is my Son, my beloved, on whom my favour rests” (Matt. 17:5, NEB). God, the Sum Total of Reality, is behind the Word become flesh! God cannot be behind anything else.
O Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are the fully approved of God and more, becoming fully approved of humans. For the Word become word is waning but you are waxing, for you are the Word become flesh. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: This flesh of mine must become word and reveal the soul’s supreme loyalty.