Saturday 16 August, 2014

17 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James with him. He led them up a high mountain. They were all alone. 2 There in front of them his appearance was changed. His face shone like the sun. His clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then Moses and Elijah appeared in front of them. Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud surrounded them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they were terrified. They fell with their faces to the ground. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 They came down the mountain. On the way down, Jesus told them what to do. “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen,” he said. “Wait until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “That’s right. Elijah is supposed to come and make all things new again. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People didn’t recognize him. They have done to him everything they wanted to do. In the same way, they are going to make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Jesus led Peter, James and John up a mountain where they had an amazing encounter with God. They went up a high mountain so it was no easy walk. If Jesus had not led them they would not have had that life changing experience. Jesus did not take all his disciples up the mountain only those closest to him. Jesus appearance radically changed on top of the mountain. He became white as light and basically not of this world!

What gets me most about this passage is that we are not told what Jesus, Moses and Elijah discussed. I totally get why Peter wanted to recognize the significant moment by building memorials but Pete, “What did they talk about?” Record now build later! I guess we’ll will never know.

The other things I take from this passage are that God acknowledged that:

a) Jesus was his son

b) He was pleased with Jesus

c) We should listen to Jesus.

Why should we listen to Jesus? God the father said; because he is my son, my representative and He is doing life well.

Dear God, please enable me to listen to the words of Jesus and do the right things with my life. Amen.

Written by Ainslie Woods