Saturday, February 14, 2015
Matthew 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them ... Peter ... said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles [tents or shelters]: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
A PLACE TO STAY?
Moses saw the glory of the LORD on Mt Sinai. And that is precisely what happened that night when John and James and Peter saw Jesus' appearance shot through with glory on the mountain.
The Scripture say this happened "after six days." Six days after what? After Peter’s great confession: "Jesus said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (John 16:15-16).
The glory in the face of Jesus and the voice from the cloud dramatically confirmed Peter’s confession. So that He would later write: "We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain" (1 Peter 1:16-18).
Peter's idea of putting up shelters on the mountain to prolong the time there sounded odd even to the three disciples at the time (cp. Luke 9:33), yet it is understandable that Peter wanted to prolong the moment. But that was not to be. Dare not be. Jesus must go up to Jerusalem to fulfill the purpose of His coming; to destroy the devil’s work; to make us safe forever.
So Jesus went down the mountain and His disciples followed. They would understand later. We also follow that we might better understand Jesus' mission on our behalf. That's what Lent is for.
