Matthew 16:28-17:8
New International Version 1984
(NIV1984)
28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste
death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John
the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There
he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes
became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them
Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said
to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three
shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he
was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud
said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the
ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be
afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
I
put the last verse of Chapter 16 with these verses in Chapter 17 because it is
my understanding the men that Jesus was talking about in verse 28, were the
same ones that He took to the mountaintop.
These men saw Jesus in all His glory up on the mountaintop and with Him
were Moses and Elijah. Do you wonder how
these verses relate to us today?
Every time I read this passage I have to kind of chuckle at the response of Peter and I think I chuckle because it may have been my response as well. Sometimes when we don’t know what to do we try to do everything that we don’t need to. Let me try to explain. Peter knew this was a special moment and wanted to do something. I think he was much like Martha who was busy in the kitchen. She wanted everything to be just right for her special guests but just like Martha, Peter was cut short with his desire to “do”. I think it is very important to note what God instructed these men to do. After identifying Jesus as His Son, He tells them to listen to Him. Wow, let’s take a look at what was going on with Mary and Martha and compare. Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset
about many things, 42 but only
one thing is needed.
Mary has chosen what is better,
and it will not be taken away from her.”
What was Mary doing? She was sitting at Jesus feet, listening to what He had to say. What did God instruct the disciples to do? Listen. Just as Peter was busy doing, so was Martha. Sometimes in our lives we seem to get so caught up in what we are “doing” that we forget to listen to what Jesus is telling us. We even seem to forget that the Word of God is at our fingertips.
The disciples fell on the ground, face down at the response that came next and they were terrified. When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus. Today, when we fall down in fear and trembling, when we look up, we see Jesus. Jesus is there to calm our fears and pick us up. Even though we do not have the visible appearance of Jesus we have the Holy Spirit who does just as Jesus. He will touch us, tell us to get up, and gives us Words to listen to.
Are you listening to Jesus today or are you too busy trying to fix everything on your own? Don’t get so caught up in “doing” that you end up missing the opportunity to listen to what the Lord has to tell you. I have often wondered what the disciples missed by trying to “do”. If they would have listened to the conversation with Moses, Elijah, and Jesus what might they have learned? If we will sit and listen to what His words are telling us rather than trying to satisfy Him by doing things, wow, what a blessing we would receive. I believe that everything we do should be done as if doing it for Him but I don’t believe that everything we do is what pleases Him. He made that clear with His response to Martha and to how God responded to Peter.
So many of us try to equate success, happiness, and fulfillment through what we “do” when in actuality we need to realize that the important thing in life is to listen to Him. I have found that out in my struggle with an identity in this world through my “work”. I get frustrated and confused when I think of how things vocationally have turned out for me. But one thing I know is that when I get into the Word, listen to what He is telling me, write it down, and share it in a women’s Bible Study, I grow closer to Him. It isn’t the “doing”, (writing and sharing) that bring me closer to Him, it is the fact that I took the time to “listen” to Him. I don’t’ feel burdened when I write or share because I have taken the time to listen and grow prior to writing and sharing. All that is required is that we first listen to Him. Are you listening to Him today? Success in this world is not gained from what we do but to whom we listen to.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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