November 1
Time to listen
Jesus took Peter, James, and John…and He was transfigured before them. Mark 9:2 (NKJV)
Christ’s ministry has begun to take a turn. In the past, He ministered to the multitudes. But now He starts to invest in His twelve disciples. More and more, the incidents recorded in Mark’s gospel will take place “behind closed doors,” and we see a prime example of this when Jesus allows Peter, James, and John to see Him transfigured.
The word transfigured literally means miraculous transformation, and it describes the act of Jesus temporarily revealing Himself in His glorious and heavenly state. A composite sketch from the gospels describes His appearance as shining like the sun, white as light, white as snow, and glistening. On top of all this, Moses and Elijah appeared alongside Jesus and began talking to Him. It’s at this point that Peter made a mistake:
Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” because he did not know what to say... Mark 9:5-6 (NKJV)
Peter was at a loss for words, but that didn’t stop him from saying something. So instead of simply taking in Christ’s glory, he suggested they do something. Watch what happens next:
A cloud came…a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Mark 9:7 (NKJV)
God the Father personally told Peter point-blank to be quiet and listen to Jesus. Quite often, we can be guilty of the same thing. Instead of being still before the Lord and listening to Him, we start throwing around suggestions. They seem like good ideas to us, but they don’t have any place in the Lord’s agenda.
There’s a time to speak up, but there’s also a time to just bask in the Lord’s glorious presence and listen, and that time is usually when we’re at a loss for words. In those times, be wise. Be still, be quiet, and listen to Him.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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