Have you been inside a cloud? Have you been on a mountain and a cloud envelopes it? Have you flown through a cloud on an airplane? Have been a dense fog? Did you notice it is a bit challenging to see? Did you notice sound can be disarming?
Flying through clouds seems like flying through cotton candy, until there is lighting. Then it can be both beautiful and frightening. Standing on a mountain as a cloud passes over it, encompassing the mountain in the cloud, can be surreal.
If you have not ever been in a cloud, dense fog is very similar. The main difference between the fog and a cloud is a cloud often has pockets of clear space. As the cloud surrounds you, you can see for some distance at times and not see anything at others. The cloud continues to move on the wind, changing shapes, opening spaces, and closing them up again. It almost seems as though the cloud is alive.
I can imagine Peter, John, and James being encompassed by the cloud with Jesus. Perhaps they couldn’t see Him. Then they hear this booming voice coming from the cloud. Maybe there was also some lightning lighting up various parts of the cloud as the voice speaks. Imagine that! The cloud now seems to be even more alive than before.
God tells the apostles that Jesus is His Son, that God has chosen Him, and they are to listen to Him. That is quite a message in an amazing setting. The apostles thought they were going to the mountain to pray. They never thought God would speak to them directly while there.
The message God gave the apostles on the mountain is an important one for us today. It is one that gives us confidence that Jesus is who He says He is, and it gives us instruction. We are to listen to Jesus. God sent Him to be his spokesman, ambassador, and teacher. When we listen, we learn and become ambassador’s and teachers of God’s Word.
I pray we all choose to adhere to God’s instruction. I pray we listen to Jesus’ teaching. I pray each one of us choose to be an ambassador of God and a teacher of His Word. Be amazed by God. Hear God’s voice. Listen to His instruction. Listen to Jesus’ words. Be His ambassador.
Luke 9:34-35 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
Marty Pressey 