Meet with God, Part 10

 

“…Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. So Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ (For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.) Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus.” –Mark 9:2-8, NET

What an experience! And then Jesus tells them to tell no one (until He had risen) (v.9). But notice Peter’s foolish idea: to build three shelters (or “tabernacles”) for the three men? Perhaps he wanted to prolong the experience, to dwell in this spiritual high place. Because isn’t that where we experience God? But see the absurdities (I found three):

1. You do not build a tabernacle for THE TABERNACLE
2. You do not seek to honor deceased saints alongside the Son of God
3. You do not seek to set up permanence on top of a mountain when the Savior has purposes at the bottom (vv.9,14-20).

Do you think these men were disappointed when the visible light faded and all they saw was Jesus and his ordinary-looking flesh? For apart from this event and until He appeared to them risen, the disciples did not understand who accompanied them (ex: Mark 4:41; 9:31-32), for the Messiah “had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him,” (Isa 53:2). They walked with the Word (John 1:1), and were constantly encountering God, but they missed Him (John 14:8-10).

Have you?

Dare not to stay or return to some location where you might have caught a glimpse (unless the LORD commands). Meet with God in His word, listening with ears of faith in order to accompany Him wherever He leads.