Thoughts for the Day

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

As we have seen recently, Jesus and his disciples have been travelling far and wide in gentile territories, and two days ago we looked at the moment Peter recognised Jesus as the Messiah. At this point the group were in Caesarea Philippi, way north of Bethesda and close to the 9,000+ feet Mount Hermon from which the river Jordan rises. Many scholars argue this is where the Transfiguration occurred, though others think it occurred on Mount Tabor which is under 2,000 feet and rises from flat land in the south of Galilee. There is no consensus of opinion. The Israeli government show their visitors to the latter mountain, but a map I possess says otherwise!

More to the point is what happens there, and why Jesus goes up a mountain. At his baptism by John, the voice of God came to Jesus to confirm the start of his ministry in the words "With you I am well pleased!" (Mark 1.9-11). Now, a couple of years later Jesus has been trying to teach his disciples what will happen to him when he returns to Jerusalem, but they don't want to hear the message. God again affirms His "Beloved", but this time He speaks to Peter, James and John as well, with the command, "Listen to him!"

Can we look at this familiar passage again with fresh eyes, and ask ourself, first, how often do we go to God to affirm that we are taking a right action? Second, how often do we stop to listen to God's voice?

Heavenly Father,
we are so used to checking every fact
on our phones and computers,
may we be as frequent in checking
all our actions and plans with You.
Help us to listen to the teachings
of Your Son, our Lord Jesus,
and follow his instructions.
Amen.