Listen to Jesus

Introduction

Ever said anything foolish? Who hasn’t. There are times that we speak without thinking and then there are times that we have thought but say something that isn’t appropriate. Back in 1937 a new cereal hit the shelves. Huskies was a product of a company that eventually became Post cereals. It was according to its advertisements “a crisp, golden brown flake with a flavor you have never tasted before.” The problem was that it really was a flavor that the consumer had tasted before in another product called “Wheaties.” Wheaties came out 12 years before Huskies. Both products used athletes to promote their brand. Lou Gehrig was hired in 1938 to promote Huskies. There is a story that says Gehrig was making a radio commercial. The announcer asked Gehrig what cereal really helped him with his strength and stamina and Gehrig promptly responded with “Wheaties.” Our speech betrays us sometimes.

There are times you don’t know what to say and then there are times that we are uncomfortable with the silence and we feel like we need to say something. Following Peter’s confession, Jesus and his disciples continue their ministry. Before the teaching continues, Jesus spends time in prayer. He takes Peter, John, and James with him. It was a time to remain committed to God’s will for him and to the plan that had been laid out so long ago. Jesus wanted and needed to pray. So should we. Let’s begin our time with prayer.

The Glory

Jesus’ ability to spend time praying is well documented in scripture. He knew the importance of spending time with his Father. The disciples ability to remain focused during these prayer times is also documented. Here Jesus and three of his disciples have gone up onto a mountain to pray. We don’t know how long they were on the mountain but long enough for the disciples to fall asleep. I’m sure they intended to join in the prayer time and I’m sure that Jesus kept praying after they had fallen asleep.

During this time of prayer, Jesus is surrounded by Moses and Elijah. Not only do these two great leaders of Israel appear but Jesus’ face and clothes change into a brightness never seen before. All of this happens with little fanfare. The disciples waken from their nap to see the latter part of this event. It appears that Moses and Elijah were leaving just as the disciples were waking up. With little time to respond, Peter suggests that three shelters or booths be built. This may give us some indication about the time of the year this event takes place. Peter seems to have in mind the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. This was a 7 day feast in late September or early October and it was a time to remember that God had delivered his people and that the people had lived in booths in the desert after leaving Egypt.

What prompted this idea? In verse 31, the translation is rightly given as departure but the word is literally Exodus. Peter overhears the discussion of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. These three are talking about Jesus’ exodus which is going to happen at Jerusalem. The exodus discussion leads Peter to propose let’s celebrate God’s deliverance of his people from Egypt. Moses the leader of that group is here; Elijah, the great prophet is here; Jesus’ is here. Let’s keep this celebration going.

Luke tells us that Peter didn’t know what he was saying. In other words, Peter was speaking but without understanding. And as Moses and Elijah are leaving a cloud envelopes the entire group and God, the Father speaks — “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” And when the cloud lifts only Jesus remains. Matthew and Mark’s accounts tell us that Jesus instructs the disciples to remain silent about what they have seen. Luke gives us the bottom line rather than all the details — the disciples kept quiet about what they had seen.

Lessons

Peter, James and John didn’t understand the transfiguration at the time. They did not comprehend its significance nor did they appreciate what it foretold. But this event became pivotal for their ministry later. Peter and John mention this event in their writings as one of those events which revealed the nature and character of Jesus in a profound way. To see the glory of Jesus changed them. At the moment they didn’t understand. It may have precipitated the argument about who was the greatest in verses 46-50 but at that moment it didn’t register as to its significance.

But they were told to listen to Jesus. That is what the glory does. When we see the glory of God, then we know to listen to him. God told the disciples to listen to Jesus. Specifically this included listening to what Jesus said about his death. Immediately preceding and after this event, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to be betrayed, killed, and raised to life. These are words that they do not want to hear nor do they understand how it can be. Such words do not make sense. Jesus is extremely popular. How could he be betrayed and killed?

Listening to Jesus goes beyond the immediate however. Listening to Jesus includes hearing his words and following them. At the end of chapter 9, Jesus says that following him is costly. Following him means that there are times that we leave the comfort of life behind. It means keeping our eyes straight ahead rather than looking around and getting distracted. It means taking both the good and the bad understanding that Jesus is Lord of all. Most of all it means not allowing other voices to persuade us.

But this begins with being convinced about who Jesus is. When we see his glory then things begin to click. God has revealed his glory to his people throughout history. And the generations who have seen his glory have shared the stories and we then can share in what they saw.

God revealed his glory at Sinai following the Exodus and the next generations still rehearsed that event. Standing on the eastern shore of the Jordan River getting ready to cross into the promised land stood hundreds of thousands of God’s people. In Deuteronomy 5, Moses rehearses the events of Sinai as a reminder of the greatness of God. The people he was speaking to did not see the experience but Moses tells the story as if they had.

Peter and John saw the glory of Jesus on a mountain. But when they speak of that which they saw, we who read what they wrote are included. John writes in 1:14 “We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Peter says much the same thing in 2 Peter 1:17-18. He tells his story but as he reminds his readers in verse 15 that the things he writes is so that the reader will remember what has been experienced.

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4 that the gods of this world blind us to the glory of the gospel. There is so much which pulls at us that we lose sight of the glory of God. But in that great triumphant verses 17-18 Paul reminds us, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We keep our eyes on the glory; that which is by faith seen and by faith one day will be ours to share. Listen only to Jesus.

Follow Jesus

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