Saturday, February 22, 2014
Matthew 17:5-8 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Do not be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
GOOD TO BE HERE (6)
Our Heavenly Father has a way of guiding us even when we're not looking for it. Peter had not even finished presenting his plan when God intervened with a bright cloud. All of a sudden the disciples were in uncharted territory. How could you bring suggestions for how things should go if you couldn't see? Yet how often don't we do the same thing? We don't know exactly why we were brought to a certain place, and we can scarcely see our hand in front of our face, but we think we know exactly what the Lord should do in this or that situation.
What really brought them terrified to the ground, however, was: the voice. It over-awed them and established Jesus as the Beloved of the Father, worthy to call all the shots. As thrilled as they were to see Moses and Elijah, Jesus was all they needed in life and in death. No matter where they were, on a mountain or in a valley, country or city, in a crowd or alone, in health or sickness, if they were with Jesus, the Father's beloved One, they were safe! How glad they must have been then to feel His touch, to hear His voice, to see His face alone! How glad we can be that He also speaks to us: Get up ... Do not be afraid ... Follow me!
'Tis good, Lord, to be here.
Yet we may not remain;
But since Thou bidst us leave the mount,
Come with us to the plain.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 135:5)
