When Jesus is around, extraordinary things happen. Yet, this did not mean that the three
disciples of Jesus – Peter, James, and John – perceived the extraordinary and
what it really meant, at the time. The
transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain was incredible. But Luke tells us that the disciples were
confused, sleepy, and walked away silent about the whole affair (Luke 9:28-36).
We are not always told in the Gospel
accounts why Christ’s disciples often did not understand or perceive the
significance of the miraculous, supernatural, and extraordinary events that
took place right in front of them. Maybe
they were distracted. Perhaps they were doing
some ancient form of multi-tasking. Maybe
Peter was texting and driving at the same time on the way to the meeting on the
mountain and had his mind elsewhere. It
could be that James and John were checking their e-mails from the other
disciples while all this was taking place.
Perhaps they were just up too late the night before binge watching on
Netflix. Whatever was going on with the
disciples, they were distracted.
So, we actually have God the Father
step into the scene at the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain and
speak. Now, we need to understand that
God is not in the business of exhorting people to listen unless they are not
paying attention. The Father is quite
clear, succinct, and to the point: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen
to him.”
We are to listen to Jesus because he
is God’s Son, and everything centers round him.
Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, the full representation of
God on earth. Jesus is Savior, Lord and
Master, Teacher and Healer. He is all
that, and more. Jesus is the complete
fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises, and the one that will come again
to judge the living and the dead. Jesus
is the mid-point of history, the one whom we must listen to when he speaks and
acts.
Our identity, then, is to be fully
bent, molded, and shaped in Jesus Christ.
This spiritual formation of our lives happens as we intentionally seek
to be with Jesus, listen to him, and do what he says. Jesus took the three disciples up on the
mountain to experience his transfiguration in a prayer meeting (Luke 9:28). Extraordinary things happen in prayer
meetings. The early church gathered
often in prayer meetings, following the example of their Lord Jesus. As they listened to God and responded to him
(a rhythm of revelation and response), they saw Peter miraculously delivered
from jail, ordinary people delivered from empty lives and demonic influence,
and guidance into how to proceed as a church.
Prayer is as much about listening to God as it is talking to him. It is in listening to God that we are filled
with God’s Spirit and empowered to come down from the mountain and engage in
God’s mission.
There was something that Jesus
wanted the disciples to discern on the mountain. Jesus was changed in front of them. Moses and Elijah showed up and talked with
him about his “departure” which is literally his “exodus.” Moses was the one who listened to God and led
the people in a mass exodus from slavery in Egypt to the freedom of the
Promised Land. Elijah was a prophet who
listened to God and led the people out of centuries of idol worship and dead
religion into the freedom of spiritual and national revival in Israel. Jesus listened to the Father and came as the
final and ultimate agent of freedom from sin, death, and hell. Jesus came so that people can experience new life,
a life of freedom, hope, peace, and joy.
Changed lives are God’s goal for
us. And a changed life will occur when
we listen to God’s Son, learn from him, and lean into faith in him, all of
which takes humility.
Taking a posture of listening is a
prerequisite to obedience, fruitful ministry, and success in the Christian
life. Creating the space and time for
this to occur both individually and corporately through private devotions and
public worship is a must. In so doing,
we may just clear away the distractions and encounter a transfiguration.
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