Luk 9:32 | KingComments | STEP | The climb up the mountain has probably been quite strenuous for the men. When the Lord has gone into prayer, Peter and the other two disciples are overcome with sleep. They are so little impressed by their praying Master that they could not resist the sleep that overwhelmed them. As a result, they miss much of the Lord’s conversation with the two men standing with Him. Fortunately, they are not awake thus late that they don’t see anything of the whole scene. And for this they were allowed to go up the mountain. Often we too miss much of the glory of the Lord Jesus due to indulgence in earthly needs at times when we would have to put them in the background. We sleep at times when we need to be awake and are awake when we need to sleep, like in the storm on the lake. By the grace of God they still get an impression of His glory. They also see the two men standing with Him. It is an exalted scene in connection with heaven, and at the same time it takes place on earth and perceivable persons take part in it. The disciples wake up when the two men are about to leave the Lord. Peter, the first one mentioned as having been overcome with sleep, is also the first to react to what he sees. Impulsive as he is, he wants to hold on to this scene. This is because he missed what Moses and Elijah spoke about with the Lord. If he had heard that, he might have understood that this transfiguration was a passing matter, a foretaste, because first there is another departure to accomplish by Him at Jerusalem. Because he does not understand the actual situation and only relies on what he sees at that moment, he concludes in hubris that it is good that “we” are here. He places himself on the same level with the Lord. This is always the case with believers when they sleep, while the Lord speaks of His suffering. His speaking about the suffering then passes them by. Such believers think only of glory and they want to hold on to it, sometimes even enforce it. They float on their emotions of the moment. Just like Peter, they don’t know what they are saying. Peter wants to make three tents. He puts the Lord first, but still places Moses and Elijah on an equal footing with Him. Peter shows good intentions, but they do lead to wrong conclusions. The Father therefore intervenes immediately.

‏ Luke 9:32

Peter’s Proposal

The climb up the mountain has probably been quite strenuous for the men. When the Lord has gone into prayer, Peter and the other two disciples are overcome with sleep. They are so little impressed by their praying Master that they could not resist the sleep that overwhelmed them. As a result, they miss much of the Lord’s conversation with the two men standing with Him. Fortunately, they are not awake thus late that they don’t see anything of the whole scene. And for this they were allowed to go up the mountain.

Often we too miss much of the glory of the Lord Jesus due to indulgence in earthly needs at times when we would have to put them in the background. We sleep at times when we need to be awake and are awake when we need to sleep, like in the storm on the lake.

By the grace of God they still get an impression of His glory. They also see the two men standing with Him. It is an exalted scene in connection with heaven, and at the same time it takes place on earth and perceivable persons take part in it. The disciples wake up when the two men are about to leave the Lord.

Peter, the first one mentioned as having been overcome with sleep, is also the first to react to what he sees. Impulsive as he is, he wants to hold on to this scene. This is because he missed what Moses and Elijah spoke about with the Lord. If he had heard that, he might have understood that this transfiguration was a passing matter, a foretaste, because first there is another departure to accomplish by Him at Jerusalem. Because he does not understand the actual situation and only relies on what he sees at that moment, he concludes in hubris that it is good that “we” are here. He places himself on the same level with the Lord.

This is always the case with believers when they sleep, while the Lord speaks of His suffering. His speaking about the suffering then passes them by. Such believers think only of glory and they want to hold on to it, sometimes even enforce it. They float on their emotions of the moment. Just like Peter, they don’t know what they are saying. Peter wants to make three tents. He puts the Lord first, but still places Moses and Elijah on an equal footing with Him. Peter shows good intentions, but they do lead to wrong conclusions. The Father therefore intervenes immediately.