Mark 9:2-9, The Message
Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.
Peter interrupted, “Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.
Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”
The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.
Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you’re free to talk.” They puzzled over that, wondering what on earth “rising from the dead” meant.
Wouldn’t you love
to have been there?
Of all the biblical stories,
this is the one I’d
like to enter.
And sometimes,
when the sky looks like
this one,
I think I come close.
Do you?
(And I love the way
this encounter ends . . .
‘seeing nothing but Jesus,
only Jesus . . .
Yea, Lord. May it be so.)
Oh, yes, how I would have loved to have been there, Diana! I’ve often thought, though, that I’d be as bumbling as Peter, blurting out an earthly offering at a time that should have rendered him speechless. Gotta love Peter – he’s so much like all of us.
Blessings!
That’s why I love Peter — he puts his foot in it time after time, yet still proves to be faithful and true. I relate to the foot-putting and pray for the faithful trueness!
I remember at meeting once, years ago at Pasadena Covenant, and we were talking about see Christ….the awe, majesty, and power of the Living God….and I remember Roland Tabell saying:
“It’s says something if you see an important person, like the president, walk into the room and everyone there stands out of respect. But if Christ were to come into a room, we would all be on our faces to honor Christ’s majesty.”
I never forgot that….and I think of that when I sing “The glory and the honor of His Name”.
Peter saw Him,
Peter touched Him….the wonder is that Christ showed us how to be human, and we are still so, so like Peter.
Hallelujah, what a Savior.
Oh, how I loved that anthem. And how I miss Roland! And singing in that choir, when it was at its best. I’m grateful for all the life I’ve lived since thoe days, but I do miss them from time to time.