Back-posting to the day before is the sign of a delinquent blogger. Thanks for the grace you offer.The transfiguration has always seemed a mysterious passage to me. Jesus
goes up a mountain with James and John. While he is there a visit occurs
from Moses and Elijah followed by a reconfirmation from the Father that this
is His Son.
Not that I have it all figured out, but a couple things stuck out to me as I
read it this time. First of all when Moses and Elijah appeared they began
speaking to Jesus of, "how He was about to fulfill God's plan by dying in
Jerusalem." Both Moses and Elijah lived lives of faithfulness in the hope
of the coming Messiah. Now He was here. He was about to go to the cross.
What a blessing for them to have precious time of talking to their Savior
about His gracious act that is made not only for the people of that time and
of the future, but also for their very lives.
Second, it seems intriguing to find the disciples asleep knowing that they
will soon sleep again in the garden. They seem to sleep at the most
inopportune times. Times when significant acts of Christ are occurring.
The battle of the flesh rages to pull us away from the spiritual reality
happening around us.
Third, I love to see the Father reconfirming His Son. It would be a
blessing to all three parties. Moses and Elijah rejoicing in the nearer
completion of redemption, Peter and James having eyes opened to a greater
understanding of who Christ is, and Jesus having the good word of the Father
spoken over what He knows to be a tragic, but graciously necessary,
redemption.
2 comments:
Peter wanted to make three shelters as memorials - one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
Luke tells us, "He did not know what he was saying." Was there something wrong with wanting to build these shelters? Some people have surmised that Peter wanted to stay on the mountain top, make the glory last. I think, rather, that Peter thought he was complimenting Jesus by putting him in a category with Moses, the great lawgiver, and with Elijah, the prophet through whom God did great miracles. In fact, Jesus is in a category all his own - the very Son of the Most High. The voice from the cloud sets things straight!
Londa & Deetje,
I am loving the insights you share. It is a great encouragement for a shepherd to be fed by the flock. Thanks!
I had never contemplated as Londa has written that the forward looking faith of Moses and Elijah in life & afterlife was so personally about to be realized. Yes, HOW INCREDIBLY AWESTRUCK & GRATEFUL they must have been there talking with their Hope standing before them. What absolute privilege they must have felt. And then, yes, Deetje, I believe you are right. That Peter would seem to put at equal place the paling trivialiality of Moses & Elijah, & of dead prophets appearing back on earth -- with the mission of the Savior of us all, and His quest to the cross. Unthinkable! Yes, Father, set us all straight about greatness in today's Maundy Thursday & tomorrow's dark but Good / Best Friday.
PPaul
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