- Fear and following. Fear and following. That’s what this passage is about for us today.
- Disciples struck scared by God’s presence. Ineffable. Dazzling.
- Scared from Jesus’ prediction: will die in Jerusalem. Maybe scared from Peter’s proclamation of Jesus being the Christ.
- Maybe punchy. Weighed down with sleep but remained awake. Guard down to see what’s truly happening – fear can’t get in the way.
- Law and Prophets. Fulfillment. Continuation. Next chapter but more: Actually God
- Behind on pledges for the year. Deficit budget. Anxiety for future. Fear for future.
- Even with all their fears God’s voice speaks to them.
- Cloud, presence of God. Glowing face, presence of God. God is the clear actor in this passage. The rest are side characters for God’s activity
- “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” same thing as at baptism. Public ministry -> ministry on behalf of the world, setting face to Jerusalem
- “Listen to him” is important – going to Jerusalem to die, listen to him. Death won’t be the end. The Messiah, the one who is finally come, but in a way you don’t expect. Listen to him.
- Throughout this story God is in control. In our fear and anxiety, God is in control.
- Told no one then, but after the resurrection they remembered and it made sense. Peter writes about it in epistle.
- God is in control, need not fear. God is in control, we experience his glory. Time to tell others. God is in control, will all work out.
- Even in our fear God tells us to listen to Jesus, and to follow him in the Way.