Read
The True Glory of Jesus
(Matthew 17.1-8; Mark 9.2-8)
28 About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray. 29While he was praying, his face changed, and his clothes became shining white. 30Suddenly Moses and Elijah were there speaking with him. 31They appeared in heavenly glory and talked about all that Jesus' death in Jerusalem would mean.
32Peter and the other two disciples had been sound asleep. All at once they woke up and saw how glorious Jesus was. They also saw the two men who were with him.
33Moses and Elijah were about to leave, when Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But Peter did not know what he was talking about.
34While Peter was still speaking, a shadow from a cloud passed over, and they were frightened as the cloud covered them. 35 From the cloud a voice spoke, “This is my chosen Son. Listen to what he says!”
36After the voice had spoken, Peter, John, and James saw only Jesus. For some time they kept quiet and did not say anything about what they had seen.
Reflect
Are you awake? That’s the challenging question this story asks us. Peter, James, and John certainly aren’t. Around them, incredible things are happening: Jesus, shining with glory, discussing upcoming events with long dead Jewish prophets Moses and Elijah. And they’re sound asleep! It’s almost comical to imagine them yawning and stretching and then suddenly realizing what was going on.
Their eyes may be wide open at this point in the story, but Peter and the others are still not fully awake. “Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” suggests Peter (v 33). This is when God himself speaks up, and makes it clear. Jesus is the Son of God: not just another great prophet but unique, above all, and the only one deserving obedience. The disciples are stunned into silence. Finally, they’ve woken up.
We often need to wake up too. When life gets busy and full, we can fall asleep – at least in a spiritual sense – if we’re not careful. We’re not fully aware of reality. Sometimes we get so preoccupied that we miss the incredible work God is doing around us. Other times, we’re aware of Jesus but we’ve placed other things in our lives on par with him: church, family, business, fun. God wants us to come awake, and realize that his Son is the one who deserves all the glory in our lives.
Respond
Glorious God, You are above everything and you deserve all of me. Sometimes I lose sight of your majesty. Help me to not put anything above you or on par with you, but to worship you with everything I have. Amen.
Leonard Buhler
Innovative, entrepreneurial and adventurous – these words capture Leonard Buhler’s approach to life and leadership, shaped by many years in business. Leonard served as president of Power to Change from 2004–2015 where it was his passion to see millions of Canadians commit - anytime, anywhere, at any cost, to do anything – in reaching their world for Jesus. Leonard and his wife Debbie live in Abbotsford. They have four adult children and are grandparents.