For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain. 2 Peter 1:16-18 HCSB
I was sitting at the red light waiting for the light to turn green when suddenly a car coming the other direction ran the red light and struck the car that was coming from the side street. I got out of my car and began helping the girl that was in the car that had been hit. The side of her car was bent in and broken glass was everywhere, even in her hair. The paramedics came to assist her and then the police arrived. They wanted a statement from those who had witnessed the accident. I told them what had happened because I was there and had observed everything.
In these verses, Peter is referring to the transfiguration of Jesus(Matthew 17:1-7). Peter was an eyewitness when he went with Jesus, James, and John up on a high mountain. There Jesus was transfigured and His clothes became as white as snow. Moses and Elijah were present talking with Him. A voice from Heaven said Jesus was the beloved Son of God and that He was very pleased with Him. Peter used this experience to validate that what he had taught them was not something he had made up, but it was from the One and Only Powerful God of the Universe.
Challenge: Have you ever wondered how Peter, James, and John identified Moses and Elijah? They did not have pictures to reference. Evidently, they automatically knew who they were. In heaven all believers will have new bodies and will be able to instantly identify others. Thank God for the message of hope and forgiveness that Peter brought to his readers and has now been passed down through the ages to you. You may not have been a witness to the transfiguration, but you are a witness to the transforming power of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior.