14 December 2010

Psalm 45; Isa. 9:1-7; 2 Pet. 1:12-21; Luke 22:54-69

The announcement of the promised king, the one of David’s line, the one who will establish peace and justice in the land, is made through Isaiah. What joy Isaiah must have experienced when he saw this vision and heard this announcement from God! What the prophet heard and saw was the end, the establishment of the everlasting kingdom and the king who is Jesus. In the vision there is no more war, “every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.” When we pray for the coming of God’s kingdom in the Lord’s prayer, this should be the vision we long for, the coming of Jesus in glory. Isaiah knew how to worship Him and what to worship Him for although he never knew Him the way we know Him.

There is nothing like peace in this Gospel reading. Jesus is taken and beaten, mocked and tried in secret. Peter’s denial, as Jesus prophesied, is accomplished, he has failed in his hour of trial and temptation. The world finds him innocent for his denials yet he knows and Jesus knows his guilt. Jesus is found guilty although he makes no defense of Himself and refuses to play by their rules, refuses to be put in the dock. What good would it have done for Him to tell them who He is? They must decide based on the testimony of His teaching, His works and the fruit that has been borne. He further prophesies regarding the future, He will be seated at the right hand of God the Father. What Isaiah saw and celebrated, the nation now rejects and prepares to crucify.

Peter here anticipates his own death which Jesus prophesied in John 21, and reflects on two things, the events on the Mount of Transfiguration when he saw Jesus in all his glory, the shekinah glory shining forth from Him through His garments, and the prophetic word concerning Jesus and the coming of the kingdom. What Peter has seen he now testifies, he has seen the transfiguration and he has heard the word spoken from heaven concerning the meaning of the transfiguration. He says an even greater thing is the prophetic word concerning what will be and that word is not only hopeful it is also sure. The man whose faith faltered in the courtyard of the high priest is certain now that the prophetic word will come to pass. He knows the power of prophecy and he rests in that as truth.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness.