Mark 9, Part 2: Quick to speak, slow to listen

As I said yesterday, I recently read Mark 9, and today's post will be about Peter's response to Jesus being transfigured. First, the context, Jesus has climbed a mountain outside the city, as I noted yesterday, this was  a mountain covered with symbolism. People would place their idol on the mountain, and the higher the idol was placed, the higher the god was symbolically higher than the gods below. Jesus goes to the top of the mountain, and appears in his Glory.


After six days, Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up to a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than anyone could bleach them. And there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, who were talking with Jesus.

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" (He did not know what to say, he was so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud, "This is my son, whom I love. Listen to him." Mark 9:2-7


So, to recap, Jesus is suddenly shining with Glory, the great fathers of the faith have suddenly shown up to have a chat with Jesus, and Peter, who is understandably scared, offers to start construction. Now, it may be that Peter wanted to shelter these men from the elements, it may be that he was thinking that they could start a religious institution right there, or perhaps have a little show, and charge admission, but in any case, Peter takes this opportunity to offer up his opinion. In response to Peter, who when he doesn't know what to say, says whatever pops into his head, God, in the form of a cloud, envelops the whole group. God says to Peter, "Listen".

This isn't the only time that scripture counsels listening. "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19 This also makes me think of another blog I read this morning. I would like to highly recommend, Not the Religious type, which is written by Dave Schmelzer, a pastor in Boston. The post I linked to talks more about the idea of being slow to speak and quick to listen.