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THE GLORIOUS RETURN OF CHRIST IS NO FABLE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
2 Peter 1:16-18
Matthew 5:1-9
 
“They shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.”
 
THE GLORIOUS RETURN OF CHRIST IS NO FABLE
 
Peter did not entertain any doubt about “the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 1:16). As he wrote in the preceding verses, it was his desire to affirm the doctrinal truths that were under attack so that his readers would continue to proclaim them even after his death (2 Pet 1:12-15). Peter’s first firm assertion was that the apostolic teachings about the coming of Jesus in power were not “cunningly devised fables.” There were false teachers who scoffed at the promise of Christ’s return (2 Pet 3:3ff). So Peter affirmed that Jesus’ return in power is a true fact.
 
Peter referred to Jesus’ return as “the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Though the miracles which Jesus performed in His first coming manifested His power, the full revelation of His power and glory is yet to come. Now that He is resurrected and ascended into the glory of heaven, He shall come again to earth in power (Matt 24:30b).
 
Some might have been doubtful whether the One who was crucified could come again in matchless glory. So Peter gave three reasons why his teaching about Christ’s glorious return is not a myth. He drew his reasons from Christ’s experience on the Transfiguration Mount, which he had seen with John and James (“we” and “eyewitnesses”). This account is recorded in Matthew 17.
 
The first reason is that they have seen “his majesty” (2 Pet 1:16). The Greek word translated as “majesty” carries the idea of splendour and grandeur. Many may not think of Jesus, the Crucified, as a glorious King who will return in His majesty. But Peter corrected their doubt about Jesus’ majesty; and assured that He will return in majesty. The second reason is that Peter witnessed Jesus receiving “from God the Father honour and glory.” The third reason is that they also heard the voice of the Father speaking from His “excellent glory” that: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (cf. John 1:14). His experience of Christ’s glory on the Mount was a foretaste of Christ’s return in glory.
 
THOUGHT: We shall see Christ’s glory, though we were not with Him on the Transfiguration Mount.
PRAYER: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20).

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