An Easter Week Devotion by Barbara Baker
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses and they were talking with Jesus… Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Mark 9:2-5, 9-10
Can you imagine being Peter, James, or John in this situation? This was heady stuff for these poor fishermen to comprehend. After witnessing Jesus transfigured before them and conversing with two heroes of their faith, they’re instructed by Christ not to tell
anyone what they had seen until after He, the Son of Man, had risen from the dead.
What did this mean? They had already seen Lazarus and others released from the hold of death. So, who else was going to die and be raised? And why did they have to keep the miraculous meeting on the mountain a secret?
Are you any good at keeping secrets? I try, but it is hard. If God tells me to keep a secret, I try even harder. This has been the case for me a few times, but even then, I had to pray hard and seek Him to hold onto the good news.
Once, Papa God told me a secret that He was going to give a baby to a couple at an unexpected time. It was several months before He released me to tell them, but I was so glad I had kept the news because His timing was perfect.
This was the case when Jesus asked the disciples to keep the meeting with prophets of old and his upcoming death and resurrection to themselves until the right time. People weren’t quite ready to understand or believe.
Even after the crucifixion, the disciples didn’t comprehend what had happened or that there was more to come. It must have been beyond comprehension to see the man Jesus – the person they had lived and ministered with for the last few years – die a cruel and senseless death. Was this all for naught? Was it the end?
John 20:9-10 says, “For as yet they did not know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.” Gradually, the reality of the resurrection and the empty tomb came to life for Jesus’ band of folowers. Jesus himself spent the forty days folowing His resurrection sharing the secrets of the Kingdom of God.
Praise God for the empty tomb and the resurrection of our Lord! The secret is out! There is salvation for all who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior! Praise His Holy Name!
Jesus loves you! Me, too!