{"id":43993,"date":"2021-02-05T06:29:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T03:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=43993"},"modified":"2025-05-04T00:17:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T21:17:14","slug":"its-good-for-us-to-be-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/02\/05\/its-good-for-us-to-be-here\/","title":{"rendered":"IT’S GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Praise be to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever. Today, by God’s grace, we have another opportunity to learn from Him. I invite you to reflect with me on these words of life, especially as we move closer to that great Day\u2014the day when Christ will return in glory to establish His eternal kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s something profound Peter said during a significant event when the Lord Jesus took him, along with James and John, up a high mountain. If we read this passage carefully, we will see how it reveals the nature of Christ\u2019s glory, His mission, and how we should live on our journey of salvation. Let\u2019s read the account briefly, and then I believe the Lord has something important to teach us today.<\/p>\n

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Luke 9:28-36 (NIV)<\/strong>
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.<\/em>
29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.<\/em>
30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.<\/em>
31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.<\/em>
32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.<\/em>
33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, \u201cMaster, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters\u2014one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.\u201d (He did not know what he was saying.)<\/em>
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.<\/em>
35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, \u201cThis is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.\u201d<\/em>
36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Theological Insight:<\/h3>\n

The Transfiguration of Jesus<\/strong>: The event on the mountain, known as the Transfiguration<\/strong> (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8), reveals Jesus in His divine glory. This moment highlights the fact that, while He walked among humanity in humility, He is the eternal Son of God. As described<\/p>\n

in John 1:14<\/strong>,<\/p>\n

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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  1. \n

    Moses and Elijah<\/strong>: Moses and Elijah\u2019s appearance is not accidental. Moses represents the Law (as the giver of the Ten Commandments) and Elijah represents the Prophets. Together, they symbolize the entirety of the Old Testament Scriptures that point to Christ. Their conversation with Jesus, as noted in Luke 9:31<\/strong>, is about His “departure,” referring to His impending death, resurrection, and ascension. This fulfills what Jesus said in Luke 24:44<\/strong>, that everything written about Him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Glory of Christ Revealed<\/strong>: When Jesus\u2019 face changed and His clothes became dazzling white, it was a visible manifestation of His divine nature. This moment was a glimpse of the glorified Christ<\/strong>, reminding the disciples (and us) that Jesus is not just a teacher or prophet but the Son of God<\/strong>, as confirmed by the voice from the cloud<\/p>\n

    in Luke 9:35<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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    \u201cThis is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.\u201d This voice echoes the affirmation of Jesus’ divinity heard during His baptism in<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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    \u00a0Matthew 3:17<\/strong>: \u201c<\/p>\n

    This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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    1. \n

      Peter\u2019s Response<\/strong>: Peter\u2019s suggestion to build three shelters (or tabernacles) is significant. It was common during Jewish festivals, especially during the Feast of Tabernacles<\/strong> (Leviticus 23:42), to build shelters to remember God\u2019s provision during Israel\u2019s wilderness journey. While Peter\u2019s words came from a place of reverence, he did not fully understand the weight of the moment. His response contrasts with the divine intervention that follows: God\u2019s direct affirmation of Jesus as His Son, and His command to listen to Him (Luke 9:35).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    2. \n

      The Cloud and the Voice of God<\/strong>: The cloud that enveloped them and the voice from within it represent the manifest presence of God<\/strong>, similar to how God appeared in a cloud to Moses and the Israelites (Exodus 16:10, 19:9). The voice from the cloud is not only a confirmation of Jesus\u2019 identity but also a call to obedience: “Listen to him.” This parallels the instruction given in Deuteronomy 18:15<\/strong>, where God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, and the people must listen to Him.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    3. \n

      The Silence and Revelation<\/strong>: After the voice from the cloud, the disciples were left in awe, and they “kept this to themselves” (Luke 9:36). This silence echoes the mystery of God\u2019s revelation<\/strong>. Jesus did not want His full glory to be widely known at that time, as His mission was not yet complete. He came not to be glorified in the eyes of men, but to suffer and die for the salvation of the world<\/strong>. This moment was a glimpse into the future glory, which would be fully revealed after His resurrection.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This passage teaches us several crucial things:<\/p>\n

      Christ\u2019s Divine Nature<\/strong>: Jesus is not just a historical figure or moral teacher; He is the eternal Son of God. The Transfiguration confirms His divine glory and calls us to worship Him as the sovereign Lord. As Colossians 1:15-17<\/strong> affirms, “<\/p>\n

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      The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      Our Response<\/strong>: Like Peter, we may sometimes respond out of ignorance or misunderstanding, but God\u2019s grace is patient with us. Our call is to listen to Jesus, obey His word, and trust in His plan.<\/p>\n

      John 10:27<\/strong> reminds us,<\/p>\n

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      \u201cMy sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n