Is It Good for Us to be Here?

Scripture:

Mark 9:2   Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, ³ and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. ⁷ Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” ⁸ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

Observation:

This is the scene of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. He takes Peter, James and John up the mountain with him and they witness something beyond their imagination. Just six days prior Peter had declared that Jesus was the Messiah, but he was looking for an earthly ruler. Now, God is pulling back the curtain and allowing these three disciples to see Jesus in an entirely different light. 

One author suggests that we take Peter’s phrase and instead of seeing it as an affirmation that it was good that Jesus brought them to this place, that we see it as a question: “Is it good for us to be here?” This would represent the fear that welled up in the disciples hearts as they watched on in amazement as Jesus conversed with Elijah and Moses. Not knowing what they were to do with this information Peter jumped in and somehow related it to the feast of booths and suggested that they put up a booth or tent for each of the men who were present. Sometimes when we are stunned with a situation we just blurt out anything that may be remotely connected to the circumstance. 

Now, covered by a cloud, we discover that the moment is not about Elijah nor Moses, but it is about revealing Christ and opening the eyes of the disciples to greater understanding. The emphasis is on Jesus, not on the great prophets of the past. When the cloud is lifted, only Jesus remains. The journey is leading to the cross and this moment on the mountain shows the disciples that Jesus will fulfill everything from the law and the prophets. The future focus will be on Jesus alone! 

Application:

“Is it good for us to be here?” Framing Peter’s response in the form of a question seems like a plausible suggestion, for one can imagine it would be something that we might blurt out in this situation. Going to the top of a mountain and seeing these prophets conversing with Jesus would have been overwhelming. Terrified by the experience, one may wonder whether they have somehow landed in a place where they should not have been! 

The big question for Peter, James and John is not what to do on the mountain, but what to do when they come down the mountain. Sometimes we have those experiences, wondering what we are doing there, but the point is not for us to stay there, but to do something with what we have learned. We may be frightened by the experience, but it should not be wasted on us. 

The disciples were not supposed to stay up on the mountain, but the experience was to help transform their understanding and lead them down into the valley where they could witness to the holiness of Jesus. We are supposed to take our experiences and use them in service to Christ. This happens when we go out among the people to serve God. 

The next time we have an experience where we are tempted to ask, “Is it good for us to be here?” remember that we are to take something from that moment that will help us to be better followers of Christ. Even the frightening moments when we don’t understand what is happening become experiences that lead us in the direction Jesus, equipping us for ministry as we follow him into the valley. 

Prayer:

Lord, to be honest, I don’t like frightening moments. Thank you for the reminder that you are present, and that it’s not about the fear, but about what I am to learn. Help me to learn from all that you place in my path. Amen.