THE SELECT FEW
Ever since Peter had been called by Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Peter probably thought that he was on his way to greatness. So, when Jesus asked Peter to go up the mountain with James and John, this was powerful validation. Peter probably thought, ‘The others are being left behind, but Jesus is taking us up the mountain for something big, I’m one of the privileged few.’
I know how that feels. When I am asked to take on a major project; or when a powerful person confides in me; or when I am one of the few people who are invited to a special event, I feel a strong sense of validation. But when Jesus asked Peter to go up the high mountain, he may have felt more than validation, perhaps he felt vindicated, because just that week Peter had a shocking argument with Jesus.

GET BEHIND ME
When Jesus told the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him … Peter rebuked Jesus, saying, ‘God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.’ Peter had not signed up for suffering and dying; he was destined for greatness. So, Peter tells Jesus that this is not part of the plan. But Jesus turns to Peter and says, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.’
Being publicly rebuked is awful. It is crushing, mortifying, devastating, and Peter must have felt horrible in that moment. So to be chosen by Jesus for this special mission to go up the high mountain must have been thrilling. In an instant, Peter is back in good graces, all has been forgotten, and he’s going up the mountain with Jesus, and he’s back on the path to greatness.

TERRIFYING CLARITY
Suddenly, Peter beholds the Lord transfigured in glory, speaking with Moses and Elijah. At first Peter is exultant. He says, ‘Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ It is almost as if Peter is doing a victory dance, and saying, ‘Yes Lord, now this is what I was talking about all along. We can forget all about that suffering and getting killed nonsense …’ but then Peter is interrupted.
A bright cloud overshadows them, and Peter must have known what this meant. The Lord went before the people of Israel in a pillar of cloud as he led them out of captivity in Egypt (Exodus 13). A thick cloud overshadowed Mount Sinai when Moses encountered the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Exodus 19) Now Peter is overshadowed by this same cloud, and he hears the voice of God the Father saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’
Immediately Peter and the others fall on their faces. But why the sudden pivot from victory dance to cowering in fear?
In that moment, Peter knew that he was dead wrong. He had hoped that maybe Jesus was mistaken about suffering and dying in Jerusalem. But God the Father confirms that what Jesus has said is true.
We all have ideas about our own importance, and how our plans are righteous. But sometimes God places something in our path and says, ‘No, this is not going to work out as you have planned it. Your ways are not my ways’ (Isaiah 55). Getting knocked down like this can make us feel fearful and hopeless. Yet, the same God who places obstacles in our way to keep us from going astray, also lifts us up and guides us on the narrow path of life.

HAVE NO FEAR
In the moment that Peter falls to the ground in fear, Jesus comes to him and says, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ And when Peter gets up all he sees is Jesus alone. Maybe in that still, quiet moment, Peter began to let go of his plans for greatness, and to focus more clearly on Jesus Christ, on his love, and on his teaching. And in our moments of setback, Christ comes to us and says, ‘Arise, have no fear.’
Peter will go on to face further temptations, and so will we. But no matter where we find ourselves, Christ always finds us, and says, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ For God has work for us to do, just like he had work for Peter to do. That work is to bring the love and mercy and hope of the Lord to others.
God casts out fear and calls us to serve. He calls us to minister to those who cower in fear, so that they too might be raised up in the hope of new and everlasting life in Jesus Christ. As we celebrate the Transfiguration today, be illumined by the love of Christ, and be filled with the courage to serve others.