What the Apostles Saw

We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ… but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16 (NIV)

Peter is talking about the second coming of our Lord Jesus, when He will appear in power and glory, and all His people will be with Him.

Peter says, “This isn’t a cleverly invented story. I know because I’ve seen His power and glory. I saw Him transfigured.” Peter saw the glory of Jesus as one day you will see Him.

The Apostles were eyewitnesses and the New Testament records what they saw, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us… We have seen his glory.” (John 1:14 NIV). “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty… We ourselves heard the voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (1 Peter 1:16, 18 NIV).

The church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20 NIV). The Prophets of the Old Testament point forward to Christ. The Apostles in the New Testament bear witness to Christ. The phrase “the apostles and prophets” is a short-hand way of referring to the whole Bible—the Old Testament and the New.

Jesus Christ is the message of the whole Bible. We see in the Law, He is needed. In the Prophets, He is predicted. In the Psalms, He is worshipped. In the Gospels, He is described. In the Acts, He is proclaimed. In the Epistles, He is explained. In the Revelation, He is unveiled.

React to this statement: “Jesus Christ is the message of the whole Bible.”