Are You Awake?

Are you awake? That’s the challenging question this story asks us. Peter, James, and John certainly aren’t. Around them, incredible things are happening: Jesus, shining with glory, discussing upcoming events with long-dead Jewish prophets Moses and Elijah. And they’re sound asleep! It’s almost comical to imagine them yawning and stretching and then suddenly realizing what was going on.

Their eyes may be wide open at this point in the story, but Peter and the others are still not fully awake. “Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” suggests Peter (v 33). This is when God himself speaks up and makes it clear. Jesus is the Son of God: not just another great prophet but unique, above all, and the only one deserving of obedience. The disciples are stunned into silence. Finally, they’ve woken up.

We often need to wake up, too. When life gets busy and full, we can fall asleep—at least in a spiritual sense—if we’re not careful. We’re not fully aware of reality. Sometimes we get so preoccupied that we miss the incredible work God is doing around us. Other times, we’re aware of Jesus, but we’ve placed other things in our lives on par with him: church, family, business, fun. God wants us to come awake and realize that his Son is the one who deserves all the glory in our lives.

Respond in Prayer

Glorious God, You are above everything, and you deserve all of me. Sometimes I lose sight of your majesty. Help me to not put anything above you or on par with you, but to worship you with everything I have. Amen.

Leonard Buhler

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).