June 17
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EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such a declaration as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this declaration made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.19 And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
– 2 Peter 1:16-21
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In this letter, Peter declares his first-hand experience with the Lord Jesus. He explains that he did not make up stories about the power and coming of Christ, but that he was an eyewitness of his majestic Lord. Peter is actually talking about being there during Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist and a dove descended on Jesus and they all heard God spoke “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Can you imagine how it would feel if you actually witnessed this event? Peter was honored and awed at how he was given a chance to take part in this glorious and majestic moment. Are you honored as a believer to know that the Christ whom you believe in is someone whom God is well pleased with?
In verse 19, Peter emphasizes the importance of the prophetic word endowed on those who were key witnesses to this important event. He says that it is important that those spectators will be able to shine the light of Jesus in dark places until He comes back again. What does mean for believers? It means that we must make it our goal to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the unbelieving world and be witnesses to Christ’s work of salvation. We have a mandate to preach the gospel into all the world and to all creation in Mark 16:15.
In verses 20-21, Peter talks about an important matter. He says that prophecy wasn’t an exercise of human will, but a work of the Holy Spirit that was spoken from God himself. Many Christians have not truly witnessed to the great majestic God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is witnessing an important aspect of a Christian’s life?