Thinking like People Do

The Transfiguration from Matthew 17

In the first thirteen verses of the 17th chapter of the Book of Matthew, the Gospel gives us one of the most amazing moments one can envision themselves being party to, through the imagination of the Gospel's author. We are told that only three of the Twelve were present to witness this, and they were even told to keep this miraculous encounter secret until Christ had risen. Take a look at the story here:

17 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, 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 white as light. ³ And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴ And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁵ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” ⁸ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” ¹⁰ And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” ¹¹ He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

----- Matthew 17:1-13, ESV

We studied the story from this passage in Sunday school this morning, and something came up in one of the questions. The question was, 'what was Peter suggesting in verse 4, and why do you think he spoke up?' And I have always found Peter's response in this passage so telling of humanity itself. First of all, we need to understand who the disciples really thought Jesus was up to this point. Now we know that Jesus has had one conversation about this with them, because it is covered in chapter 16 of Matthew.

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

----- Matthew 16:13-20, ESV

So now we see that Peter has been told both that his realization of Christ's identity was right, and this realization plays a big role in the foundation of Christ's church to come. But just because they have been impressed by miracles, and have even been eased into the divine powers of Jesus - do they really grasp who they follow? I think it is obvious from the story of the Transfiguration that they just did not know what it meant to be with the Son of the Living God. But on that mountaintop, they found out. Boy, did they ever, as the saying goes.

So first of all, I think Peter, being told in not so many terms that on the rock of Peter will be built Christ's church, wanted to start being a key part of that, right here and right now, with the amazing revelation of the presence of Elijah and Moses in their midst. What better way to be a part of this future church than to offer help, and why not count on the disciples to help, since that is exactly what they had done when they passed out bread and fish to the crowds?

But I also think Peter responded the way he did, because what do we as humans often want to do? Why, we want to try too hard, obviously. We want to be included, and we want to add our two cents, and we want to take part, and we want to show that we can take charge if we need to, and we - do you see where I am going with this? Peter, in that very moment, was wrapped up in only what people knew about Jesus at the time, along with Peter's blessed 'realization' that a human ego might ponder with such praise that Jesus gave him in front of his fellow disciples. Per usual, it was the physical presence of God that had to get his attention, along with the other two disciples chosen to experience this Transfigured Jesus.

Observe what happened right after Peter spoke up as people often do - the Lord answered!

All three of them fell prone on their faces, as a cloud and the very voice of God Himself spoke, making sure that the disciples were certain of the true identity of the 'man' they chose to follow. This was the Son of God, and they were told so by God the Father. Imagine yourself in that position. Another question came up in class, and it is one I have heard posed before regarding this story - what would you have done? How would you have reacted?

But you see, I think there is only one reaction possible in that moment, for any normal human. And that reaction is the very same reaction they had. I think they had no choice. Despite the transfigured face and clothes, it was not enough just to see this miracle, along with what we can only assume was some conversation between Jesus and Elijah and Moses that had Jesus mention the two men by name; for how else could the three disciples have known their identities? They'd certainly never met the men. But alas, even this was not miraculous enough for them. But God the Father changed all of that.

What is it that Scriptures say, again?

¹¹ for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

-----Romans 14:11, ESV

These men had no choice but to bow down. The shock and awe of their encounter with God must have shaken these three men to their core. Remember, two of these men die agonizing deaths for what they believe a little further ahead into history, and John the Revelator goes on to live a long time, but only after being boiled alive! The proclamations by these men and the teachings of Christ that they pass down did not come from the ravings of lunatics. These men went on to spread the Gospel because they later remember, especially once Jesus is risen from the dead, THEY HAVE BEEN SHAKEN TO THEIR CORE by the presence of God!

This is the power of God. It is easy to think like people do, in the rest of the world, who have not really given themselves a chance when they have for one reason or another closed off or hardened their hearts to the possibility of any presence outside of their observed reality. This world is broken because we denied God's authority in the first place. That is what people do. Even Peter, in his subconscious quick reaction to the amazing, transfigured sight of Jesus, talking to men that had not existed on this earth for centuries, forgot his place and just wanted to use his new self-perceived importance to help...to take part in this special mountaintop event. And there is part of the whole point.

Is it any wonder that Paul had this to say:

² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

----- Romans 12:2, ESV

When you think of Jesus Christ, do not think of Him like people of this world do. Think of Him how God the Father thinks of Him. Think of the reverence any single one of us should have for the Son of God. Think of the humility we should all show in the presence of the Lord. Think of how powerful God has shown Himself to be in your life, and in world history. Think on these things, focus on these things, turn your eyes upon Jesus - and then, who knows?

Maybe God could use you to help others hear about who Jesus really is. Maybe you can help them not to think like people do.