Except Jesus Alone

by: Elora C. Seniah (aka Carole L. Haines)

⁷ Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” ⁸ All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. (Matthew 9:7-8)

This is from the story of The Mount of Transfiguration in The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 9. As I paused and re-read the verse, I was struck by a few things I felt I should share.
First, the disciples have just seen Jesus decked out in His Glory Robes.
“His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.“(vs. 4)
Immediately after seeing this vision, a cloud formed and was overshadowing them. This reminds me of how God led the people of Israel in a Pillar of Cloud by Day, and a Pillar of Fire by night.

The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. (Exodus 13:21)
Within this pillar of cloud, God Himself was Obscured, but His Leadership was not. He was leading them in the Pillar of Cloud. Our lives are often cloudy, with the future obscured from our view and understanding. We must follow Jesus within that cloud.

Second, The Father’s Voice came out of that cloud. So often we are so frightened of the Unknown, hidden before us by the Clouds, we don’t recognize God’s Presence in that obscurity, nor do we hear His Voice above the Droning Hum of Fear. We must come away at these times and seek out silence, simply listening to God in His Word and trusting His Sovereign guidance and care. God’s voice will often speak to us in our times of Obscurity, where we feel so powerless and helpless. We must remember that God tells us this:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
(2 Corinthians 12 9a)

Lastly, when God comforts us and speaks to us in our moments of weakness, all of a sudden we see how very powerful He is. Our fear begins to melt away into the ground beneath our feet. That Solid Ground is Jesus.
⁸ All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. (vs 8)
There is a peace that passes understanding that guards our hearts and minds forever in Christ. (Phil. 4:7) We often find this peace when we look all around us and see no one is with us anymore, except Jesus alone. There is a quote I have heard, not sure who wrote it, but it says:
“You will never really know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”
I have found this to be completely true. In those times of Fear and Uncertainty, listen for Jesus’ voice alone. When the Clouds of Obscurity cover your view of what lies ahead, listen for Jesus’ voice amidst those clouds. Let all else fall away until you see nothing else except Jesus alone.