It is Good for Us to Be Here - Luke 9:33

The beloved physician Luke wrote, “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him”, and in chapter nine and verse thirty-three of his book Luke shared how Peter said, “it is good for us to be here” where we read:

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here:” Luke began with the words, “and it came to pass” or “and it happened and came into existence that”, “as they departed from him” which means “when Moses and Elijah left and separated themselves from Jesus”, “Peter” or “Jesus' disciple Peter whose name means a little rock or stone” “said unto Jesus” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “Master” or “teacher or instructor who served as an appointee or commander over people”, “it is good for us to be here” which means “it is beautiful, commendable, admirable and excellent for Jesus, Peter, James and John to be in their present location”. Luke shared while “Moses and Elijah” were leaving Jesus, His disciple “Peter” told Him it was a good thing for He and His disciples to be in that location.

The verse continues, “and let us make three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.” Luke added the words, “and let us make three tabernacles” which means “and allow and permit them, His three disciples, to make ready, prepare and produce three tents or tabernacles”; “one for you” or “one of the three tabernacles would be prepared for Jesus”, “and one for Moses” which means “and one of the three tabernacles would be prepared for Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion”, “and one for Elias” or “and one of the three tabernacles would be prepared for Elijah whose name means my God is Jehovah and was a prophet born at Thisbe, the unflinching champion of the theocracy in the reigns of the idolatrous kings Ahab and Ahaziah. He was taken up to heaven without dying, whence the Jews expected he would return just before the advent of the Messiah, whom he would prepare the minds of the Israelites to receive”: “not knowing what he said” which means “in no way perceiving, understanding, discerning and discovering what he was saying”. Luke shared how Peter suggested that he and the other two disciples build “three tents or dwelling places” for “Jesus, Moses and Elijah”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Peter did not restrain himself after seeing the transfigured body of Jesus, Moses and Elijah. He spoke out with the idea of “building three tabernacles” in which Jesus, Moses and Elijah could stay. Jesus knew His purpose and plan for the salvation of mankind, and Peter was overwhelmed when he was Him with “Moses and Elijah”,. God desires to have a relationship with people based upon their faith and trust in His Son Jesus, and those who are wise will allow Him to come into their hearts with a willingness to listen to Him rather than convey their own ideas about what He should do.

Next time Luke shares how, “there came a cloud, and overshadowed them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".