Read: Mark 9:5-13
This is my beloved Son; listen to him. (v. 7)
We saw in yesterday’s reading that even Jesus needed encouragement. And he got it from Moses and Elijah. But the disciples needed encouragement, as do we. Sometimes it is just a pat on the back from a friend. Other times the encouragement may come through the words of a pastor or a counselor or fellow church member. But sometimes we need more than that. Thankfully, often God himself provides the authoritative word we are seeking.
Certainly, that is what happened up on the mountaintop for the disciples. They must have been crushed by Jesus’ words that he was going to Jerusalem to die. Peter had stood up to him by saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matt. 16:22). But here, up on the mountaintop, the voice of God thunders out, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” In other words, “Don’t doubt what he says! He’s right! He will suffer and be killed. But this is the way it must be.”
It is obvious from the end of this passage that the disciples didn’t understand it all. But they did know the voice of God when they heard it. And they continued to follow Jesus. We don’t always understand God’s ways either. But like the disciples, when we hear God’s words in the Bible, we realize that they speak authoritatively. Whether we understand or not, our part is to listen, believe, and keep on following him.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for still speaking to us today. Amen.
About the Author
Rev. John Koedyker has been a pastor in the Reformed Church in America for more than forty years. His ministry began in Japan where he served as a missionary for ten years. After that he has served churches in Iowa and Michigan. He has served as the Stated Clerk of Muskegon Classis, RCA, for the past sixteen years and also presently serves as pastor of congregational care at First Reformed Church of Grand Haven, Michigan. John has written a number of times previously for Words of Hope and he has a bi-monthly religion column in the Grand Haven Tribune. He is married to Marilyn, and they have four grown children and seven grandchildren.
