“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus said to his disciples. They’d just seen him talking to Moses and Elijah, and heard God’s voice—and unusual events like that can trigger fear. Then Jesus told them that what had happened to John the Baptist (John had been executed—cf. Matthew 14:1-12) would happen to him, too. “Don’t be afraid” was as much a preface to that frightening statement as it was comfort after the supernatural event on the mountain.

• Most Jews expected the Messiah to be a powerful, conquering figure. Scholar William Barclay noted, “In the century previous to the Crucifixion no fewer than 200,000 Jews lost their lives in futile rebellions.” When Jesus told the disciples that the authorities would mistreat and kill him, like John, nothing in them easily accepted that. Could it be that this teaching was one main reason God’s voice said, “Listen to him”? What is one teaching of Jesus you need to listen to because it challenges our world’s “wisdom”?
• The paradox of this scene is that Moses, Elijah, a flash of light and God’s voice looked like greatness to human eyes. But in God’s purpose, this was just a preparation for the cross, the deepest revelation of God’s glory (cf. John 12:20-33). What aspect of your church better shows God’s glory—large attendance, or efforts to live out God’s love to the poor and outcast? In what ways do you define and pursue glory in your personal life?