MATTHEW 16:13-17:13, MARK 8:27-9:13, LUKE 9:18-36
Jesus was confusing — even to His closest followers. After spending so much time with Him, they still didn’t really understand what was going on. So He decided it was time to get a little more explicit.
He began by asking them a question: “Who do people say I am?” (Mk 8.27-30)
They responded with three very common views about Jesus. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” John had been a wise and moral teacher. Elijah was a miracle-worker. The prophets spoke to the people on behalf of YHWH.
But Jesus pressed, “What about you? Who do you say I am?” In other words, “Do you think I fit into any one of those three categories? Or is there something more?”
It was Peter who finally stepped up and said what many of them may have suspected: “You are the Messiah.”
Bingo! Bull’s eye! For once in his life, Peter got it right on the first try!
But then an odd thing happened. Jesus went on to explain the implications of this whole “Messiah” thing — about how He would suffer and be rejected and die (Mk 8.31-33). Such a thought did not sit well with Peter, so he took Jesus aside and scolded Him for bringing everybody down. Jesus responded with some scolding of His own. He even called Peter a really bad name and accused Peter of trying to sabotage His plan.
Awkward.
We don’t know how the whole thing was resolved, but we can assume there was some tension among them. It’s possible that not a word was spoken for a full week (Mt 17.1, Mk 9.2, Lk 9.28). Jesus knew His mission would ultimately lead Him to the cross, but now He knew that those closest to Him did not understand. It must have been a lonely time for Him. And the disciples must have felt like they were walking on eggshells, wondering what the future held.
After a full week, here’s how Jesus broke the silence. Gathering His three best friends — Peter, James and John — to Him, He climbed a mountaintop and gave them the clearest picture imaginable. His face began to change, glowing, and His clothes did, too. It was as if Jesus reflected — or better, radiated — some bright light.
In the coming days, the disciples would see Jesus beaten beyond recognition. The light they now saw would be extinguished, but they needed to know that the darkness would not have the last word. Jesus’ light radiated from within, and no amount of suffering and humiliation would ever be able to permanently snuff it out.
Interestingly, Moses and Elijah showed up and started talking to Jesus. And the topic that surfaced? “They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment in Jerusalem” (Lk 9.31). Moses and Elijah understood something that Peter failed to grasp, Jesus’ death (His “departure”) was how YHWH’s promises were going to be fulfilled.
Then a cloud appeared and a voice boomed out of the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love; listen to him!” (Mk 9.7). If there was any doubt at all about Jesus’ identity, or any thought of correcting His theology or His methodology, this erased it!
The cloud evaporated. Moses and Elijah vanished from view. The befuddled disciples were left alone with Jesus again, but now, when they looked at Him, He didn’t look quite the same.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I aspire to know You better, and I recognise that at present I am only dimly aware of who You really are and what You are like. Scripture reveals wonderful truths about You, but You are unimaginably more than those words can communicate to me. I affirm that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, but my capacity to understand what that means is bounded. Your majesty and glory are beyond human comprehension, and even in heaven the journey into the knowledge of You will be limitless. And yet You invite me to know You even now. Because intimacy with You is related to trust and obedience, may I respond by obeying what You command me to do as an expression of my love for You. In this way, You will progressively disclose Yourself to me and enlighten the eyes of my heart.
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