Focus Two - Part 2

It was indicated that this second specific focus had to be completed. As you follow, you will agree with this needed and wise decision.

The second specific focus was this. He saw a great multitude around them.

When we take another look with different eyes, at this simple scene, does this not gradually dawn upon you in a flood of unbelievable, unique light? Look! In the midst of whatever was going on, there was a most powerful scene, in terms of Master and servants, Teacher and students. Isn’t this testimony in itself? Think it through with me! Experience some really high moments of discovery, as we receive!

The commonplace happening, expectation and manner is for a multitude to be seen around Jesus; on that we agree. But here it is, a multitude is around Jesus’ disciples. Does this not do something for you? Does this not give you, me and all believers, hope that we who are learners, disciples of Jesus, can know and show attributes which are His?

Doesn’t faith allow us to reason even deeper and know that just as people gathered around Jesus, to receive what He had to offer, so too with this present crowd? O! Let us reason long and hard in the Spirit. Had these nine students of Jesus been ordinary men, I mean, men not attached to Jesus, men not known as Jesus’ disciples, men not under the tutelage of Jesus, would that crowd have been surrounding them, as Jesus saw? Indeed, faith leads us to believe that people looked to Jesus’ disciples for the things of Jesus.

Does this not lead us to even more humility and greater understanding of this fact? As long as we claim communion with Jesus, as long as we say that we are His true disciples and as long as we profess to be taught by Him, people will look for the things of Jesus in us. One does not have to go around with the college’s gown, or insignia proudly displayed, for people to see that they are of the house or school of a particular institution. You do not need it for Jesus.

Note this word again. He saw a great multitude around them. We cannot bypass these last two words, around them. Does this not fascinate you? Jesus saw a multitude around His nine students. What was the scene and sense of sight for Jesus? In other words, what did He see, as He descended the mountain top, as the Transfigured Lord? He saw a multitude, not far away, not nearby, not over them or under them even. Jesus saw a multitude around His nine disciples who were left at home alone. Why does the phrase, around them fascinate me so? Does it fascinate you also?

There are two word-images that fascinate me here and lift me in euphoric joy and hope about our Transfigured Jesus.

The first word-image is, surround. When I picture, not a few people, but a multitude of people around those nine, I see how they were surrounded by the people. They were literally hedged in by the multitude. It’s the sort of action Satan accuses God of with Job, when he says, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not make a hedge around him, and around his household, and around all that he has on every side? Job 1: 9b – 10a. Can you see who our Jesus is to us? Even when people hedge us in, even when we are so surrounded by them, that we are lost from sight, our Jesus sees us. We are never hidden from His all-seeing, peering eyes.

The second word-image, a fact of heartfelt joy and peace, which steadies our faith and trust in Jesus is, encircle. I see that massive crowd encircling the nine. Here I see movement, not just a stationary mass, but there is much, intimidating and unrelenting movement of words and more. It’s the sort of seventh-day action one sees as Joshua and his men encircle Jericho, over and over on the seventh day. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. Joshua 6: 4b. Can you see who our Jesus is to us? Despite all who are making us dizzy with fear and anxiety, when we are at our weakest, the all-knowing, all-working eye of Jesus is present and fixed on us.

Our unconquerable belief and trust in Jesus is that when we know Home, with Him, the times when we are, Home Alone, prove His Superior and Unsurpassed powers to protect us, even when a great, intimidating multitude is around us.