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Matthew 17

Jesus takes His closest three disciples on a high mountain and is transfigured right before their eyes. Peter, James, and John are amazed at Jesus’ face shining like the sun. The Father then speaks and says, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” Following this incredible event, Matthew records something unfortunate. A boy has a demon that the disciples cannot cast out. Jesus is frustrated at their unbelief, stating this as the reason they fail to help the boy. Jesus strongly advises prayer and fasting! Faith would be crucial very soon, as Jesus again describes that He must die and be raised on the third day. The chapter ends with Jesus casually fetching poll-tax money from a fish’s mouth, indicating how little such things are of concern to Him. 

We have every reason to believe in the power of Christ. He is God’s Son and is testified as such by the Father Himself. We must live by faith in Him. This does not mean we always understand everything about Him. The disciples had questions about what to do on the mountain and the significance of Elijah’s appearance. A lack of understanding is not a lack of faith. But later, the disciples did not trust in Christ’s power to cast out demons through them, and Jesus was extremely upset by their doubt. They needed more prayer and fasting to fortify their trust, especially with great trials coming. We may not always understand, but we must always believe!

Glorious Father of Light, thank You for announcing and proving the name of Jesus. By Your proclamation, and by Jesus’ miracles and life, we believe! Help our unbelief, wherever it may be found. Father, will you hear our questions and continue to be patient with our lack of understanding? We pray this will not be counted as a lack of faith. But Lord, strengthen us to never doubt what Christ can do with us, around us, and through us. Help us to do great things in the name of the One who died and was raised again.  

Thought Questions: 

-       What would it have been like to see Jesus shine as the Father spoke of Him from heaven? What does it look like to live today as if you had seen it?

-       How would prayer and fasting have made all the difference in the disciples being able to cast out demons? What can those practices do for you?

-       If Jesus casually paid poll taxes even though He had every right not to, what does that teach us about where our focus and attention should be?