When God Speaks with an Audible Voice...

Not too many times do we hear God speaking with audible voice – either personally or in the recorded history. In fact, such occurrences are quite rare. It's as if He prefers the whisper over a megaphone. 

But, when He chooses to speak audibly, we can be sure that He must be saying something rather important.  Something He wants us to hear.  Really hear.  And, remember. 

In this particular instance, in response to Peter’s well-intentioned yet ignorant clumping of Moses, Elijah and Jesus all together, this is what He says:

This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!

In Peter’s mind, the three stand in the category by themselves. The Israel’s Biggies. Equally worthy of honor and veneration.  He might have even thought that he was doing Jesus a special favor by putting Him in the same rank with the faith giants like Moses and Elijah. The Billy Graham's of their times. 

But, God the Father sees it from a different perspective. His beloved Son is in a rank all by Himself.  That wonderful, perfect, wise, gracious, courageous, truthful, responsive, obedient, long-suffering, kind and humble(!) child none of us are nor we'll ever be on this side of heaven.


Therefore, He wants us to listen to Him, and Him alone. 

As if to emphasize the point, He clouds up their vision (obviously already fogged up) and when the cloud clears, Moses and Elijah are gone. Only Jesus is left.

And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

Lifting up their eyes…

…they saw no one…

…except…

…Jesus…

…by Himself…

… alone.