Peter, not so clueless after all - 15 October 2026
Imogen Campbell
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)Mark 9:2-6, NIV
Peter is often portrayed as someone who is impulsive, spontaneous, and a flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of guy. Not goofy, but sometimes the one to rush in where angels fear to tread.
Time and time again, he speaks out of turn. Peter is all of us who struggle to articulate thoughts appropriately; the person who kicks themselves later when a more apt or witty response comes to mind.
In this passage, none of the others say anything but Peter, he had to say something. An oddball request to put up booths or shelters is what came out. Or is it oddball? Why did he blurt that out?
I have to give Peter some credit here. He managed to grasp something profound about the situation before him. He saw the bright light that could be described in terms of what later Jewish tradition called Shekinah glory. He saw Moses, who led Israel through the wilderness at the time when the pillar of fire and cloud were accompanying the fledgling nation.
Elijah, on the other hand, was known as the prophet of fire. His mind immediately connected the dots, but his final words sounded inane.
Yet, Peter seemed to understand that God was “tabernacling” with man. He had the proof in front of his eyes. But no, it was not time for the Festival of Booths.
Interestingly, in this account, Mark makes mention of clothes so supernaturally white no one could bleach them. This echoes the imagery of John’s vision at Patmos in Revelation 1 and recalls Daniel 7, where the Ancient of Days wore such overwhelmingly light apparel.
Jesus was the last man standing. The man, Moses, represented the Law, and Elijah the other prophets, both pointed to Jesus, the One God told us to listen to, similar to the way he spoke that day at the Jordan River. The three apostles had a front-row seat to the supernatural meetup of the titans.
Yet, every day, we have an opportunity to meet with God in our prayer and quiet times. We get to commune with God and read hs transforming Word. Do you make time to do so?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the opportunity to read your Word whenever we need it. We praise your Son who came to dwell with humanity and open a living way to you. Amen.