EXPLORE THE TEXT
Worship is always the appropriate response to Jesus.
4 Then Peter said to Jesus,
“Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up three shelters here:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them,
and a voice from the cloud said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown and were terrified.
7 Jesus came up, touched them, and said,
“Get up; don’t be afraid.”
8 When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus alone.
Provide more insight into Peter’s words:
Mark and Luke comment that Peter was at a loss for words
and uttered the first thing that came to mind
(Mark 9:5-6; Luke 9:33).
His declaration was that it was “good for us to be here.”
Most likely, Peter was indicating that it was “good”
in the sense that he, James, and John were there to help.
He was not content to observe this scene but wanted to be in the scene.
Apparently, Peter didn’t grasp the significance of the conversation of Jesus with Moses and Elijah
concerning His coming arrest and crucifixion (see Luke 9:31). (PSG, p. 40)
As Peter talked, God stepped into the conversation.
In a scene reminiscent of His actions at Mount Sinai, the Father spoke from a bright cloud.
And, as He had at Jesus’s baptism,
God affirmed Christ as both His Son and as One in whom He was pleased.
His final command was to listen to Jesus.
Instead of talking without thinking,
the disciples were challenged to see Jesus for who He really is
and to respond appropriately.
Once the cloud moved away,
the disciples saw only Jesus standing there.
While the experience made a huge impact on their lives,
the presence of Jesus is really what mattered.
Consider changes that might need to be made
to focus on Jesus first and foremost each day.