The Importance of a Father's Words! Click Below to Listen to the Podcast!

The Transfiguration

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

We often talk about the "mountaintop experience".  I wonder if this story is where the term gets its name.

Jesus had just finished telling the disciples in Mark 8 that he was going to suffer and die at the hands of the chief priests and Pharisees.  Then he challenges them if they want to follow him they must take up their cross and lose their lives for his sake.  It would have been interesting to hear what the disciples had to say to each other that night.  Maybe Jesus knew the disciples needed a little encouragement after that's night lesson.  

A week later he takes his inner circle of Peter, James and John up on a mountaintop where they see Jesus transfigured before them.  Mark says Jesus' clothes turned into a dazzling white. Matthew's gospel says his face shone like the sun.  In Luke, his clothes became like lightning and the appearance of his face changed.Jesus gave these three a glimpse of what he would look like in heaven when he returned to the Father. 

I believe as important is when the Father says these words, "This is my Son whom I love and with him I am well pleased." 

At the National Center for Fathering, when they speak to men they typically ask, “Please raise your hand if your father told you that he loved you on a consistent basis.” The results are predictable, as are the jaws that drop in amazement. Usually only 3-4% percent of the dads will raise their hands! 

Just as much as the disciples needed to see the glory of Jesus and what they could look forward to, we might guess that Jesus needed to hear the words he heard when he was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist.  

As we pursue our own calling in this world, we will have some mountaintop experiences and plenty of time in the valley as well.  When we fall down and bloody our knees as we climb the mountain we need to hear the words, "You are my son or daughter and with you I am well pleased."  As we live life in community we need to remind each other of these words. 

Friends one day Jesus will return in great and promised glory to take us home, but for now we live by faith in Son of God who loved us and gave his life for us.  As you live that life of faith remember your Father in Heaven is well pleased with you.