Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, Where'er Thy People Meet

Jesus, where’er Thy people meet,
There they behold Thy mercy seat;
Where’er they seek Thee Thou art found,
And every place is hallowed ground.

For Thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring Thee, where they come,
And, going, take Thee to their home.

Dear Shepherd of Thy chosen few,
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here, to our waiting hearts, proclaim
The sweetness of Thy saving name.

Here may we prove the power of prayer
To strengthen faith and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all Heav’n before our eyes.

Behold at Thy commanding word,
We stretch the curtain and the cord;
Come Thou, and fill this wider space,
And bless us with a large increase.

Lord, we are few, but Thou art near;
Nor short Thine arm, nor deaf Thine ear;
O rend the heavens, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts Thine own!

—William Cowper

Other hymns, worship songs, or quotes for this Sunday:

• The Law of God Is Godd and Wise at The Happy Wonderer
• Mostly Reminding Myself at The Outspoken Tulip

Selected Reading, May 2, 2020

A few suggestions for your weekend reading. 

Justification

Justification and the Remonstrants
How the Remonstrants, who were followers of Jacob Arminius, caused a crack in the foundation of the biblical doctrine of justification. In a nutshell, they taught that the believer’s faith is the grounds of their justification rather than the imputed righteousness of Christ. It might seem like a small thing, but it’s a big deal.

Justification and Roman Catholicism
Once again, it’s a question of the grounds of justification. Is it the imputed righteousness of Christ, or a person’s own righteousness granted to them by God Another small foundation crack that compromises the whole building.

Christian History

Why Creeds?
A short defense of creeds. (There’s one statement I’d quibble with. Can you guess what it is?)

Philosophy

Predestination and Human Actions
James Anderson on why Calvinism isn’t fatalism. And as he says, “The distinction … has enormously significant implications for the Christian life.”

Ecclesiology

Why Gather? Thinking About Gathering When Churches Can’t
This isn’t an argument one way or another about whether churches should gather together physically right now. But it is a reminder that a church is by nature a gathering. “Meeting … isn’t just something churches do. A meeting is, in part, what a church is. God has saved us as individuals to be a corporate assembly.”

Theological Term of the Week: Transfiguration

Transfiguration
A transformation in the appearance of Jesus which occurred on a mountain in the presence of Peter, James, and John. Jesus’s face began to shine “like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2 ESV).

• In scripture:

  And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Matthew 17:1-8, ESV)

  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts … . (2 Peter 1:16-19, ESV)

• From D. A. Carson’s commentary on Matthew 17:1-8 in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary:

The effect of the Transfiguration on the disciples reminds us of Daniel (Dan 10:7-9 … .). The visible glory of the Deity brings terror, but Jesus calms his disciples fears… . Matthew alone tells us that the divine splendor the disciples “fell facedown to the ground” (v.6), a prelude to their seeing no one “except Jesus” (v.8). These words are pregnant with meaning. Compared with God’s revelation through him, all other revelations pale. Supporting, pointing, prophetic roles such revelation may enjoy; but that Jesus is God’s Son is primary. Therefore, all must “listen to him” (v. 7.) 

The Transfiguration was largely for the disciples (Jesus brought the inner three to it; he was transfigured before “them”; the Voice spoke to “them” … . ) This does not mean that they understood it fully; but it was a crucial step in the symbol-charged self-disclosure of Jesus that would be much better understood (2 Peter 1:16-19) following the Resurrection. For the present, it indelibly confirmed the disciples’ conviction that Jesus was the Messiah.

Learn more:

1. The Bible: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36
2. Bakers Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Transfiguration
3. Got Questions: What was the meaning and importance of the transfiguration?
4. Ligonier Ministries Blog: The Transfiguration
5. Nick Batzig: The Transfiguration
6. F. F. Bruce: The Transfiguration (pdf)

Related terms: 

• ascension of Jesus
• baptism of Jesus
• deity of Christ
• incarnation
• resurrecton of Jesus
• temptation of Jesus
• triumphal entry

Filed under Person, Work, and Teaching of Christ

---

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.