I was reading this morning in Luke 9 about Jesus’ transfiguration on the top of a mountain. One thing that struck me about the Lukan account was that Luke writes, “Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep” (9:32). He literally tells the reader unashamedly how Peter, James, and John were SLEEPY on the top of the mountain. To anyone who has perhaps drifted off in a Sunday sermon, or taken a catnap during worship at Passion (cough cough Shion), you can probably relate to the disciples – staying awake is hard. As a college student, I am fully aware of the difficulty of keeping your eyelids open for 16+ hrs a day. (Yes, I do require a full 8 hours of sleep to function.)
Ok, I’ll give Peter, James and John some credit. Being a disciple is tiring. They had just hiked a mountain for Pete’s sake. But need I remind you of what had just occurred pre-doziness: “As he [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white” (9:29). Jesus was being transfigured before their very eyes, and the disciples were tired?!?
My outrage at the disciples for their exhaustion just made me realize that this probably happens to me far more often than I let myself admit. Jesus is transforming the world daily and revealing his glory to me in new ways moment by moment; am I too tired to see it?
Thankfully for the disciples, they came to their senses before the moment had completely passed. “When they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him” (9:32). And Peter, being the good Rock that he is, sprung into action, desiring to make tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.
I have a feeling that being out on the mission field for 11 whole months with nothing more than the sac on my back is going to be a whole new level of “tired.” I’ve felt it before – when the only thing holding you together are the promises of Scripture. (If you’re in that place right now see: Isaiah 40:29, Psalm 73:26.) My prayer this morning is that my heart would be positioned like Peter’s. Y’all, I get it, we’re tired. As the end of the semester draws near, that’s about the only word my fellow classmates use to describe themselves anymore. Lord, let us “become fully awake” and recognize the glory around us! And may we spring into action in an appropriate response to the glimpse of glory You’ve revealed for us.
Forever His,
Grace
