Ascending - Day 2

When Jesus was transfigured, it was a public scene for chosen eyes only. I say this because Peter, James and John were the human eyes privileged, in their mortal bodies, to witness this onetime epiphany.

They did not ask to go with Jesus. He took them along with Him knowing full well what was about to happen to Him while in His carnal, earthly body. It was an already planned experience of which the witnesses had no idea. Jesus specifically ordered the Three, as they descended the mountain of transfiguration, not to tell anyone what they had seen until the appropriate time. But what did they see?

They saw how their Master’s clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

It was truly a White occasion.

They saw how there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

It was truly a Heavenly occasion.

They saw how a cloud suddenly appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!

It was truly a Teaching Occasion.

Among the many arresting sights which they witnessed and experienced within them, I have been drawn by three facts that have held me fixed, bound and totally pinned. Have you observed that their witness was one of sight, sound and speech?

Sight - They saw things which no ordinary human eyes could see on their own. These were spiritually enabled eyes which saw the impossible. They saw their Master and Lord looking amazingly and brilliantly different. In other words, they saw Him in different look, that which could not be compared to any kind of human look. They saw the heavenly dwellers with the same divine seeing. They did not just see, but they were enabled to recognize and identify whom they were seeing.

Sound - They heard voices. I believe that they heard Jesus, Moses and Elijah speaking, which no carnal, human ears could hear on their own. These were spiritually enabled ears, which heard the impossible. Not only that, but they heard the voice in the cloud which came down and enveloped them. If God the Holy Spirit was in that cloud, they were able to see it and hear the voice within it. In other words, they heard the voice of God, in different tone, that which could not be confused with any kind of human voice. They did not just hear, but they were enabled to understand what was spoken.

Speech - They heard speech, a language. Yes, they heard the tongue of Sovereign God the Holy Spirit. I must let you know that for the first time, I have been made to appreciate how our speaking must never be according to ourselves - that is our carnal, human, sinful natures – for nothing of human self, enhances nor enlightens Divine Spirit. Regardless of how good, right, noble, importune and utterly charitable it may seem to the human ear and eye, they are not of God and He cannot allow human folly to enter Spiritual witnessing. As soon as Peter, with pure learned, normal, expected human mind, opens his mouth, the Three are taught a most valuable life lesson about Spiritual Tongues. No carnal tongue is accepted when in the presence of Spiritual Tongues.

Is this not the case with Pentecost also? O yes, this does remind us of Pentecost.