Misguided devotion!?

Reflecting on Luke 9:27-36

"Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (Luke 9:35)

My sense is that many Christians are like Peter in this story.
Peter is sincere in his devotion to Moses, and Elijah, and Jesus.
Peter was raised to honour Moses and Elijah as the greatest voices for God.
Moses represented the Law, and Elijah represented the prophets.
Both experienced the blinding glory of God on Mount Sinai.
They shone with and reflected God’s glory in their ministries.
Now Jesus is shining with the glory of God, with them.

Peter’s logic and devotion are clear: each one represents God.
Each one is equally worthy of honour and devotion, and a tent.
The word Peter uses is the word for ‘tabernacle’.
Moses was given instructions to build a tabernacle at Mount Sinai.
It was the Tent of Meeting, where God would live among the people.
Peter is suggesting that tabernacles could be set up for these three.
Afterall, God was communicating equally through Moses, Elijah and Jesus.
“He did not know what he was saying.” (Luke 9:33)

Moses and Elijah did not appear with Jesus as equals.
They appeared as witnesses to the supremacy of Jesus.
Jesus, not Moses and Elijah (read Law and Prophets) is God’s final message.
Placing them side by side as equals is not God’s intention or will.
“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)
Not Moses, not Elijah, not the Law, not the Prophets… Jesus!

When Christians put the Bible at the center, they put others alongside Jesus.
Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Peter, Luke, Paul, John; these are NOT Jesus’s equals.
They are human witnesses that reflect the light, but are not the light.
By all means consider their testimony, but only as it centers Jesus.
Jesus, not the Bible, is the center of our faith.
The bible speaks to specific times and contexts; Jesus speaks to all times.

The reason the church does not look like Jesus is because it doesn’t focus on Him.
We spend all our time studying the signs, we do not see the destination.
We develop our morality from Moses, or Paul, who do not fully reveal God’s will.
They were inspired to point to Jesus, not to be Jesus’s equals.
If the church elevated Jesus and His Words, it would look very different.
The church should measure Moses and Paul, and every other human witness, by Jesus.
I am not saying that Jesus is opposed to Moses, or Elijah, or Paul, or John.
I am saying that Jesus is superior, and clearer, and truer than them.
They are but shadows of the light; Jesus is the light, the reality.
“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)

Whenever I wrestle through scripture, I get confused by its shadowed messages.
Clarity comes to me when I focus on, and listen to, Jesus.
I find specks of gold in the others; I find a treasure chest of gold in Jesus.
Jesus is comforting and convicting and compelling to me like no other.
I make no apologies for setting up my tent to honour Jesus.
And I make no apologies for taking down the tents for Moses and Elijah.
There is one tent, one meeting place, one revelation above all others: Jesus!
I am Jesus-centered, not bible-centered.
I study Jesus, not the bible.
I preach Jesus, not the bible.
I am committed to imitating Jesus, not Moses, Elijah, John or Paul.

God inspired four versions or perspectives of the Jesus stories.
Its as if God could not say it only once, but needed to repeat it.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are not equal to Jesus.
Each version is a different angle, a different perspective.
What stands out from all of them is Jesus – from four angles.
“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Your supremacy over the bible and the church. Thank You for using the bible and the church to help me see and know You. And thank You for releasing me from those limited tabernacles to live IN Jesus, with, like and for You. You are God's chosen Saviour and Lord, I will listen to You!