The Transfiguration

“Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters – one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” Matthew 17:4
At the Transfiguration, we see a glimpse of Jesus in His future glory. He took three of the disciples – Peter, James, and John – to a high mountain. His face and clothes began to glow, as if light was radiating outwards from Him. Then Moses and Elijah appeared, and Jesus was talking with them.
It was at this point that Peter opens his mouth, which invariably means that something foolish is bound to come out. In awe, Peter offers to build three shelters for the three people he sees. (Some suggest that this event occurred around the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.) But in doing so, he makes a grave mistake: he unwittingly puts Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. In Matt. 17:5 a bright cloud envelops them and a voice from the cloud responds, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
Jesus is on a different plane from every other person, even those as illustrious as Moses and Elijah (who in Jewish thinking represent the Law and the Prophets). It is a mistake to compare Jesus with any other religious figure. He is the Son of God, and He is God the Son. Despite Peter’s confession (Matt. 16:16), he still had a lot to learn. But I am thankful for Peter. He was not perfect, and yet he was used mightily by God. There is hope for all of us.