On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus gave a select few of his disciples a glimpse of his glory. Moses and Elijah, great men of God who represented the Law and the Prophets, unexpectedly appear, possibly reinforcing the fact that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. God’s promises are fully revealed in a person (Jesus), because truth and grace are personal. God the Father puts the exclamation point on this scene by thundering audibly his approval of Jesus. On Mount Sinai, God had revealed his glory by speaking his Name and its attributes. Now He is fully revealing his glory in Jesus, His beloved Son. It was an altogether glorious moment.
Yes, it was a glorious moment…accompanied by a well-intentioned but less-than-glorious response from Peter, who felt the need to say something, even if he had no clue what was appropriate. Awkward! I feel his pain. I mean, what do you say when two of history’s most famous dead guys (I know, I know, Elijah was never technically dead) suddenly appear and then God chimes in from heaven? It’s not an everyday experience. Peter would have done well to have followed the lead of one of those dead guys. When God appeared to Moses on the mountain, Moses simply fell on his face and worshiped (Exodus 34:8). Good thinking.
“Listen to my Son!” was God’s command. Don’t talk. Listen! I wonder if I’m not a lot like Peter, talking when I should be listening. I’m a terrible listener. I admit it. That’s why I preach more than I counsel. I totally relate to Peter on this score, and I feel the necessary reprimand and command from God. Listen to my Son!
I completely identify with another character from today’s reading. It’s the father who cried out, “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus comes down from talking with Moses, Elijah, and his Father, he finds a mess of squabbling people. You can almost sense what a jarring change that was for Jesus when he says, “How long must I put up with you?”
“If you can do anything…” says the desperate Father of the demon-possessed boy to Jesus. This guy did not have the faith of the Centurion. He wasn’t sure Jesus could help him. “If you can?” Jesus repeated, a little taken back by this man’s doubt. “Everything is possible for him who believes,” instructs Jesus.
It’s at this point that this man, if not a man of great faith at least a man of great honesty, cries out, “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!” This is not-so-glorious faith; however, I think most of us can fully relate. I believe in Jesus. But, there are times when I’m afraid. There are times when I doubt, not that God can work but that he wants to. Jesus wanted to heal this boy, in spite of the man’s shaky faith. I’m sure it was Jesus’ compassion that moved him, but maybe, just maybe, Jesus also appreciated this man’s honesty and the fact that the man turned to Him for help with his unbelief. There just might be a great lesson in there somewhere for someone like me…and you.
Kip
woa. that was an excellent point.