Eyewitnesses Of His Majesty

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

II Peter 1:16

Once we have seen something we cannot ‘unsee’ it.  Peter was rapidly approaching the end of his earthly life.  He refers to it by saying, ‘knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.’  Because he is about to depart, he wants his readers to have a reminder of what he has preached.  As he begins this reminder, he introduces it with the words of our text.  It is important for us who are this many years beyond the time of Christ to be clear about the truth of what we believe.  The people who wrote the New Testament were ‘eye witnesses.’  What we read is the sober historical account of what they saw and heard, including Christ’s resurrection from the dead.  Therefore, Peter says, ‘we did not follow cunningly devised fables.’  This is the definitive answer to the charge that followers of Christ ‘believe in fairy tales and have an imaginary friend.’  Our faith is vitally connected to the written testimony of eyewitnesses.  Against all opposition, even to the point of imprisonment, torture, and execution, they continued speaking of the things which they had seen and heard.  We are not ashamed of them or of their testimony.  We follow the Christ they preached and repeat the message they proclaimed.  Jesus Christ is Lord.

Our Gracious Master and Our God,
we rejoice that You have manifested Yourself
clearly unto Your  people.
We praise You that our faith stands
upon this sure foundation.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning