Mark 9:5-8 "And Peter answered and said
to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three
tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(6) For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
(7) And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came
out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (8) And
suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save
Jesus only with themselves."
There are two thoughts I want to share this morning. These verses are taken from the viewpoint of the three disciples who went with Jesus to the top of the mountain. Mainly, this is Peter's viewpoint of the events. First, I say I cannot imagine the glory and the joy that was experienced by these three men as they watched Jesus being transfigured before their very eyes. This glory went with them for the rest of their lives.
As Peter observed Jesus and Moses and Elijah, we are told that did not know what to say. There are times in each of our lives that we experience something so grand that we do not have words to describe or to relate what we have seen. This surely was one of those moments for Peter. He did not know what to say, but that did not stop him from talking. There have been times in my ministry when I did not know what to say to someone when they were experiencing rough times. I was once told the main thing was not what I said, but just to be there with an individual. Remember Job's three friends? They sat with Job for seven days without speaking and then they began to speak. I've often said they did more good when they were not speaking than after they opened their mouths.
There are two thoughts I want to share this morning. These verses are taken from the viewpoint of the three disciples who went with Jesus to the top of the mountain. Mainly, this is Peter's viewpoint of the events. First, I say I cannot imagine the glory and the joy that was experienced by these three men as they watched Jesus being transfigured before their very eyes. This glory went with them for the rest of their lives.
As Peter observed Jesus and Moses and Elijah, we are told that did not know what to say. There are times in each of our lives that we experience something so grand that we do not have words to describe or to relate what we have seen. This surely was one of those moments for Peter. He did not know what to say, but that did not stop him from talking. There have been times in my ministry when I did not know what to say to someone when they were experiencing rough times. I was once told the main thing was not what I said, but just to be there with an individual. Remember Job's three friends? They sat with Job for seven days without speaking and then they began to speak. I've often said they did more good when they were not speaking than after they opened their mouths.
Peter did not know what to say, but he was so impressed by what he had
experienced that he felt something had to be done. So, he began to speak. This
is such a glorious event that we must do something to honor what we have seen.
We will build three tabernacles. They did not build three tabernacles and they
did remember this day. In Peter's second letter, he wrote of this day when
declaring the certainty of the power of God and the person of Jesus Christ.
There is a sweet song of praise that says, "Lord prepare me to be a
sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true." We are to be living
"tabernacles" unto the glory of God. Again, it has been said by
another that the greatest sermon preached does not occur in the pulpit; rather,
by the lives we live each day.
The second thought I want to leave with you is found in verse 8. "They saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves." That is my desire each time I stand to proclaim the Word of God. I want each listener to be aware of the presence of only one person - Jesus Christ. He is the only One that is worthy of our praise and honor. God the Father pointed them away from Moses and Elijah. Yes, they were saints of God who were used in a mighty way by God, but only Jesus is worthy of our admiration. Our tabernacles are not testimony of men. We are to testify of the goodness of our Lord and the grace of God bestowed upon unworthy sinners. All praise and honor belongs to our Lord. Let us testify of His goodness.
The second thought I want to leave with you is found in verse 8. "They saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves." That is my desire each time I stand to proclaim the Word of God. I want each listener to be aware of the presence of only one person - Jesus Christ. He is the only One that is worthy of our praise and honor. God the Father pointed them away from Moses and Elijah. Yes, they were saints of God who were used in a mighty way by God, but only Jesus is worthy of our admiration. Our tabernacles are not testimony of men. We are to testify of the goodness of our Lord and the grace of God bestowed upon unworthy sinners. All praise and honor belongs to our Lord. Let us testify of His goodness.