Peter is petrified.

And yet practical and proactive as ever. Standing before Moses, Elijah, and Jesus All Glorious, he says: It’s good to be here. Let’s make three tents.

What was Peter thinking? A few guesses are worth considering. One, he wants to show hospitality. Two, he wants to hold a Feast of Tabernacles. Three, he wants to institutionalise this awesome visitation of Moses and Elijah.

Good ideas. But are they God-ideas?

We love to paint Peter as impetuous, impulsive, impatient, and impossible. Any other imps? Yes. Impressive!

He’s on a sharp learning curve. He is spiritually perceptive. He can recognise Moses and Elijah without checking Instagram. He shares his ideas even when he’s not sure.

He’s a man of action, effort, and initiative. He doesn’t bury his talent. Of the Twelve Apostles, he is the greatest risk-taker – a diamond in the rough, a rock in formation.

Peter’s errors are few. And if he errs more than others, it’s because he tries harder.

His first big mistake was to try and talk Jesus out of the Cross. And now, his Three-Tent Plan on the mountaintop represents a fundamental error in theology. He wants to put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah.

The voice from the cloud settles it for Peter once and for all: This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him. 

Moses stands for the Law. Elijah stands for the Prophets. Jesus stands for the Kingdom (Luke 16:16). But now, both Moses and Elijah vanish into thin mountain air. Jesus stands alone. Unique. Forever. All Glorious.

Today’s Church needs to rediscover the absolute and final authority of Jesus Christ and His teaching. He’s not just another messenger. He’s the Message, the Logos, the Alpha, the Omega, the Word made flesh.

He’s not equal to Moses or Elijah or any other man. He’s equal to God alone. Jesus Christ is the one Word of God whom we have to hear, trust and obey in life and in death (Karl Barth). Listen to Him. Peter listens to Jesus. Will you?

PrayerWatch

• It’s time for the Church to rediscover who Christ is and celebrate what we believe. With so many false teachers on the loose, to-ing and fro-ing, we need to confess the Creeds, especially when God’s people gather for worship.
   
  Some might dismiss this as old school. Uncool. Human tradition.
   
  Think again. There’s power in confessing the Truth. There’s power in pledging ourselves to a set of biblical convictions. There’s power in professing our common faith, majoring on the essentials that unite us.
   
  Today, confess the Nicene Creed, the most famous and influential creed in Church history:
   
  We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
   
  We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father.
   
  Through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
   
  For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
   
  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His Kingdom will have no end.
   
  We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
   
  We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

• Peter had a high regard for Moses and Elijah. So should we. These were faithful and fearless servants of God. Emulate them. Don’t idolise them. Christ has surpassed them (Hebrews 1:1-2, 3:3-6). Exalt Christ, the All Glorious One, whose Name is above every name.
   
  Big name prophets and teachers visit our city often, some not as sound as Moses and Elijah. Are we building camps around them? Putting them on pedestals? If so, repent.
   
  Novelty and sensationalism are on the increase. Discern what is of God, what is not. Don’t chase after “words” and manifestations. Pray for greater vigilance. Centre on Christ. Cultivate intimacy with Him in the Word and prayer. Ask Him to awaken your ear to listen as a disciple, as one being taught (Isaiah 50:4).
   
• Do you often feel compelled to take charge, say something, do something, even when you’re not sure what’s going on? Does inactivity frighten you? Are you trigger happy with your ideas?
   
  Slow down. Be still. Listen deeply to God for His ideas. Pray for your pastors and leaders. Ask God to stop us in our tracks when we err, and redeem our mistakes for His glory!

Read the devotional from Day 13, July 13: Peter’s citizenship here.