Peter, He Just Wants Us to Listen

Transfiguration

February 15, 2015

Mark 9:5-6

Peter, He Just Wants Us to Listen

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In the name of the Father

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Mark leads into the account of the Transfiguration with a very specific dateline: "after six days." Six days after what? Going back a bit further you read that it was six days after Peter's confession of Christ:

Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked, "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. " (Mark 8:27-29)

The most important question in the world is Jesus' asking, "Who do you say I am?" And through the Word preached to Peter, Peter answered truthfully, "You are the Christ." With these words Peter confessed that he was a sinner and that Jesus is the Christ, the One anointed by God, to die for our sin.

By including this time stamp on the Transfiguration, it's hard not to contrast Peter's good confession of Christ with his off-the-cuff remarks on the mountain in front of a dazzling and terrifying Christ.

Peter's words earlier will contrast with his words on the mountain:

Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) (Mark 9:5-6)

Chad Bird's comments on Peter's interruption are worth pondering.

But in the middle of this breathtaking scene, what does Peter do? He starts jabbering, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” (Mark 9:5). Mark says, “Peter didn’t know what to answer” because they were terrified. In his version of the account, Luke gently adds that Peter “didn’t realize what he was saying,” (9:33). No kidding. Really, Peter, you want to build tents? You want to do something besides sit there and drink in every word? You want to turn your back on this phenomenal epiphany of Jesus’ glory to hunt down sticks and branches? You want to interrupt the conversation with Jesus and Moses and Elijah to tell them what you’d like to do for them? I have a better idea: hurry up and do nothing. That’s the most important thing you can do right now. It is indeed good for you to be here. So just be there, simply shut up and be there. (Chad Bird, 10 February 2015, "Sometimes God Wants Us to Shut Up", birdchadlouis.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/sometimes-god-wants-us-to-shut-up)

Peter's right about how good it was to be there, scared as he was. But like us, when confronted with things we don't understand, we often feel like we have to say something. And Peter says something.

But Jesus had not asked Peter to say anything. He just wanted him to use his ears and eyes. He never asked him to open his mouth. The words of Psalm 46 come quickly to mind.

Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

And here was God standing in front of him. James and John and Peter were standing, well, cowering before God in illuminated flesh. And later the eyewitness testimony of these three men would bring added proof and comfort to the disciples of Jesus.

Even in this glorious miracle Jesus did not do this for Himself, but for His people. If He had done this for Himself, Elijah and Moses wouldn't have spoken of His coming suffering and death (Luke fills in this information for us). They would of spoken of happier things. No, Moses and Elijah were sent by God to preach the Word one last time to Peter, James, and John.

And this is why Jesus' command to them wasn't strange when He ordered them to keep this to themselves until after His death and resurrection. He didn't want them spreading this visible proof around before His Passion. His glory wasn't why He wanted them to follow Him. His suffering was the reason He came down from heaven. His suffering was the cup He would drink in order to fulfill the justice He demanded for our evil deeds and selfish attitudes.

We remember this silence commanded by Christ to His disciples in a symbolic way when we restrain our Alleluias during the season of Lent. Christ is no less glorious during the forty days of Lent that begin this Wednesday. But for our benefit we direct our eyes and ears to listen to what He does for us. We are still for a while and keep our rejoicing muted during this time. Our joy is still here and filled to overflowing because of the answer to Jesus' most important question: "Who do you say I am?" Our Spirit-given trust our dear Father's answer: "This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!" And in the promise of the Son our ears hear and receive what He does: "Through water and blood, I forgive you now and forever. Amen."

Christ Jesus came into the world

to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Alleluia! Amen.