Scripture Reading:  Luke 9:18-36

The thought of Jesus leaving them was to the disciples, an unwelcome and frightening proposal.  Peter, as the spokesperson for this motley band of Christ-followers, did not veil his opposition to Jesus’ insistence that He must leave.  It was this very opposition to the plan of departure revealed by Jesus that earned Peter the strong rebuke from the Master (Matthew 16:21-23). 

Just a week later, Peter flaunted his disapproval of Christ’s intention to leave by suggesting the erecting of three tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah on the mountain where they could dwell undisturbed by the crowds below.  This attempt to thwart the Divine plan earned Peter yet another rebuke, this time from the Father in heaven, who directed Peter to lay aside his agenda and listen to Jesus (Luke 9:28-36).

 Interestingly, readers of the Gospels are not left to wonder about the subject of discussion between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration.  They discussed His “decease”, the very thing to which Peter stood in protest (Luke 9:31).  The word rendered “decease” is the Greek word “exodus” and it speaks of departure, or a coming away from the journey.  Both Elijah and Moses understood what that entailed and what possibilities it provided.  It was not until Moses died and the baton of leadership was handed to Joshua that the people of God were able to enter and inherit the land of promise.  It was not until Elijah was swept away by the chariot of God that a double portion of God’s Spirit in him was released in Elisha.

The departure of Jesus which would come by way of Calvary, a vacated tomb, and a majestic ascension which would leave the disciples gazing into the sky, would afford to them greater power, potential, and possibility than they had ever known.  It would be to their advantage that Jesus leave and go to the Father because with His departure, the Spirit would descend, and His followers would do greater works than even Jesus had done (John 14:12; 16:7).  If Jesus had not gone, the greater works would not be possible.

Two powerful truths confront us when we understand this reality.  One, we are still living in the day of advantage-the day when Christ has gone away but His Spirit has come.  We are empowered and indeed called upon to do greater works.  His departure was necessary and affords to us a marvelous and rich world of possibility.

Two, we must reject the human tendency displayed in Peter, to unrelentingly embrace the known and comfortable.  To do so is to our own peril.  Peter tried to cling to the earthly and physical presence of Jesus and refused to let go.  Had he succeeded, the power of God’s Spirit would never have been unleashed and the ministry of Peter, the apostles, and the New Testament church never realized.  May we be willing to let go of the comfortable and the known so that we might experience the glorious advantage that comes when the Divine plan and purpose are unveiled in us!

Prayer:  Father, help us to be like Paul, who willingly laid aside all things, all rights and aspirations, considering them all as rubbish, that he might gain Christ.  Amen.