Anchor My Faith

Peter Did Not Understand

Scripture: Mark 9:6; Luke 9:32-33

We ended the previous lesson with Peter, James and John waking up from sleep and seeing things happen that were difficult to understand.

^{Lk 9:32} “Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.”

How much did they actually see? Did something wake them up soon enough, so they saw it all? It appears that the transfiguration of Jesus began when he was praying, and the disciples were sleeping, but at that moment the transfiguration began maybe God woke them and when fully awake they saw the altered appearance of Jesus and the two men who appeared in glory with him. As they tried to understand what was happening the scene continued to change.

^{Lk 9:33} “And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” ^{Mk 9:6} for he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.”

It appears that the conversation between Jesus and the two men was finished and they were preparing to leave. The disciples, on the other hand, were trying to overcome their fear. This was a time like when Jesus spoke to the storm and the raging sea and told them to be calm and they obeyed, causing the disciples to be more afraid than they were when Jesus first appeared walking on the water toward them, like as a ghost. This event was so unnatural that it terrified the three disciples, and Peter not knowing what to say, blurts out, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Even though Peter was afraid, it must have been a very special event for him as he desires to make some fitting memorial and suggest the making of three tents, one for Jesus one for Moses and one for Elijah. However, this was a foolish desire because he did not comprehend the purpose of the event, he sought to put these two servants on the same level as Jesus, and it was wrong to propose building a fading memorial for men who had been already been admitted to the glory of heaven.

The two men were speaking to Jesus about his sacrifice and death on the cross to provide our salvation and thus provide people for his kingdom. Peter saw this event as sufficient as the two men had returned from heaven alive and Jesus was transfigured. Peter assumed that Jesus would remain in this transfigured state and establish the kingdom now, but he did not yet understand the full implications of the event. Why was his death needed, thought Peter?

Conclusion

Peter is still thinking about Jesus being king over an earthly kingdom. He has not yet made the connection between the sacrifice and death and resurrection of Jesus and the purchase of our salvation to provide us access to a heavenly kingdom. He is satisfied with what he sees in the transfiguration as the beginning of the kingdom and is willing to overlook the conversation the men had with Jesus about what is to happen at Jerusalem.