Mark 9:5-7 - It is good for us to be here

9:5,6

Peter, true to character, puts his foot in it. The situation is so amazing, and frightening, that he doesn’t know how to react, or what to make of it. However, being Peter, he feels that he has to say something!  So he offers to put up three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Elijah and one for Moses. He also addresses Jesus as “Rabbi”, which is rather inadequate for the situation, and announces that “it is good for us to be here”. Perhaps, after being rebuked for telling Jesus not to let Himself suffer, Peter is wanting to stress that he is totally on board with whatever Jesus is doing!

9:7

While Peter is spouting nonsense, God Himself speaks. A cloud appears, which is reminiscent of some of the appearances in the Old Testament, especially with Modes. A voice came from the cloud saying “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!” The command to “listen to Him” would remind them of Moses’ words in Deut 18:15, telling of one who would come after him, and this One was to be listened to. All this is assuring them that everything, including the suffering, is in line with God’s plan.