Speaking Before Understanding: Mark 9:5-6
Sometimes the lack of human comprehension of God’s hand in motion is nothing less than dumbfounding. In saying this, please don’t hear it in a tone of judgment. That umbrella statement needs to be applied to this entire post, which is going to focus on Peter’s reaction to the transfiguration. This examination is meant in an academic sense to illustrate what we can learn. I have no doubt that if I were in the same situation I’d have made equally similar and equally foolish errors – perhaps even worse ones.
After seeing Moses and Elijah appear – an absolutely mind-blowing event – Peter does what most human beings do when they don’t understand. Peter opens his mouth and starts talking. I am all too familiar with how frequently people choose to talk out of their ignorance when the appropriate stance would be to open one’s ears rather than one’s mouth.
There are many reasons we speak at the exact moment we should be listening. Sometimes we speak to convince the people around us we do understand. That’s about saving face. Sometimes we speak because we are so excited we can’t contain ourselves. That’s about getting nervous energy out of our system. Sometimes we speak because we think we understand and need to hear our thoughts to make sure. That’s a genuine part of the learning process and can be beneficial. Sometimes we speak because we overestimate what we understand. That’s about our ego.
Peter speaks because he didn’t know what to say. Giving him the benefit of the doubt means we chalk it up to nervous energy. It’s understandable. Two of the most important Jewish people come back from the dead to meet Jesus and Peter is there to witness it. That moment will create a heap of nervous energy.
Look at what Peter says. He suggests building tents so they can stay a while. This fits the nervous energy diagnosis. Peter can feel how cool this moment is and also knows he’s having trouble soaking it up. By making tents, he can stretch this moment out and give his mind and emotions time to catch up and soak in the experience. Peter wants the moment to last.
The problem is Peter’s suggestion stands in opposition to God’s will. Jesus is headed to the cross. He’s near the point of bringing salvation to mankind. Peter’s suggestion would cause that event to not happen or be delayed. Unlike earlier, where Peter rebukes Jesus and gets in the way of God’s will intentionally, now he stumbles into contradiction with God’s will.
Peter’s not trying to get in God’s way. This is an innocent case of not knowing what to say and instead of choosing to listen Peter chooses to say the first thing that pops into his mind. He speaks before understanding God’s hand at work. It’s a mistake we all make frequently. Sometimes the lack of human comprehension of God’s hand in motion is nothing less than dumbfounding.
