God Pause - Lutheran Seminary - Moved by the Promise for Thursday, 27 February 2014 - Matthew 17:1-9

God Pause - Lutheran Seminary - Moved by the Promise for Thursday, 27 February 2014 - Matthew 17:1 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 3 Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
4 Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7 Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” 8 Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”--World English Bible
Here we see Moses and Elijah—two all-stars of faith, two giants in Israel's story—and they're talking with Jesus. How exciting for the disciples who followed Jesus up the mountain! They already believed Jesus was worth following—but great enough to merit this ultimate summit meeting? Simply amazing. 
Peter proposes setting up camp to keep this grand threesome together. But then the voice from the cloud declares "This is my Son, the Beloved ... listen to him." And when Jesus tells his terrified disciples to get up off the ground, "they saw no one except Jesus himself alone."
While Jesus continues God's work through Moses and Elijah, only he is traveling where no prophet has walked before: to the cross and an empty tomb. Ever since, he has kept traveling with his followers, leading them ever further and deeper into the world.
Gracious God, open my ears to listen to Jesus Christ today. Keep my eyes on your Beloved who is always and everywhere out ahead of us, calling us to follow. Amen.
Jonathan Strandjord
ELCA Churchwide Office, Chicago, Ill. 
Master of Divinity , 1978
Matthew 17:1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.
2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.
3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.
7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid."
8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."--New Revised Standard Version
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