This passage is one of the times that the disciples have unquestioning proof that Jesus is God’s son. God provides data that the disciples will understand: the linear progression from Moses to Elijah to Jesus. Even before God speaks to them from the cloud, the disciples react with terror. Peter, in particular, resorts to good-intentioned babbling about tents and rest. God explains what they are seeing, then Jesus tells them not to tell anyone until after the resurrection.

How can these disciples keep such a transformative experience bottled up? It seems to me that if this happened today, it would be best to make the transfiguration story go viral to create new followers of Jesus. But God’s timing is different—viral videos versus delayed gratification, sensational gossip versus steadfast faith. Peter, James, and John aren’t ready to tell the story yet because they haven’t experienced the resurrection of Christ. They are not yet the seasoned disciples we see in the book of Acts.

MOVING FORWARD: Imagine a social media post about the Transfiguration. What would it say? Share it with us at #ForwardDaybyDay.