Do you have something nagging on your mind?

Jesus heads up a mountain with his favourite three – Peter, James & John. We don’t know what the three were expecting, but it turns into a huge event. Jesus starts shining (we can only imagine) and then Elijah and Moses, great pillars of Jewish history appear before him. Peter is eager to put up some shelters, but is interrupted by God … but let us go back a few verses first …

It is not often that Matthew indicates an exact time period between events, but in verse 1 he says “after 6 days”. That is the time from when Peter declared his belief to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16v16). Matthew then records, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things …” (16v21). I imagine those next few days were tense ones as Jesus sought to explain and change the disciples’ perception of his task. Not only was he trying to explain to his disciples, but Jesus was also needing to come to terms with it too (remember Gethsemane in 26v36-44).

And so, Jesus heads up the mountain with his closest three, and there his Father speaks from heaven once again, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him” (17v5). As Jesus heads on the road marked with suffering, the Father repeats the assurance he gave when Jesus set out on ministry (4v17). Our Father is a loving Father and he knows our every need. As Jesus withdraws to a select few, God speaks words of comfort.

Taking time out is vital as we journey with God, even more important is to have the space to hear his assurance, “You are my child, whom I love; I am pleased with you.” Let’s allow some time over this Easter period for that reflection if we possibly can.

With much blessing,

Roland