Mark 9:1-29

By now, the disciples had seen Jesus at his most natural (being tired, mourning his murdered cousin, being misunderstood in his hometown) and his most supernatural (multiplying food for thousands of people, casting out demons, healing people). But when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountaintop with him, the supernatural Jesus was amplified even more. His face shone like the sun. His clothes were like light. And the voice of God said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.”

Imagine that moment. Jesus’ friends were terrified. This was Jesus as they’d never seen or imagined him, not even after he’d performed amazing miracles.

Pay attention to Peter’s response. Instead of sitting in silence and wonder and awe, he tried to take charge of the moment. He speaks (even though he didn’t really know what to say, according to verse 6) and has a plan to try and control a situation that was clearly beyond his control and understanding.

“Let’s make a little memorial for you, Jesus. Let’s contain you, control you, make you into something we can understand and manage.” Poor Peter. He was always trying to make things fit into his plans, his ideas, and his perspective.

Jesus is bigger than anything we can possibly imagine. And he invites us — just like he invited Peter, James, and John — to see his full glory and splendor with love, worship, and thanks.