“Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses,.. talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’ And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
“As they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.” Mark 9:2-10
When Peter saw the transfiguration of Jesus, he could not be still. Always the impetuous, not knowing what to say, he blurted out anyway what he intended to do because he had to do something. However James and John reacted to the marvelous sight of Jesus in gleaming white, it seems silent and thoughtful, but Peter needed some loud instruction. This is my beloved son; listen to him. Look at him only. And keep quiet, hold this experience inside for a while. Peter needed a reordering of his natural bent so the Lord could use him as He planned.
Human nature pushes us to question, to respond, to act. We are wired with impulses that electrify in response to input. Our Creator shapes and refines who we are and how we behave over the course of time, and teaches us from biblical examples the prudence or folly of choices.
What distractions and busyness need we relinquish? In what areas will we hush, gaze at Jesus only, and ponder? How do we regularly listen to Him?
“Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing
who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified;
no angels in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends their burning eye
at mysteries so bright.
Crown him the Lord of peace;
whose power a scepter sways,
from pole to pole that wars may cease,
and all be prayer and praise;
his reign shall know no end
and round his pierced feet,
fair flowers of paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown him the Lord of years,
the potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres,
ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
for thou hast died for me;
thy praise shall never, never fail
throughout eternity.” ~Matthew Bridges (1851)
Lord, so captivate me with You that my only response is praise.
As the rain and snow 