Listen to him!

I don’t find it much a coincidence that shortly after Peter had been arguing with Jesus over his mission, the Father said what he did.

On that high mountain, for the first time, Peter, James, and John, caught a glimpse of Jesus’ true glory. And then the Father spoke.

“This is my beloved Son; listen to him! (Mark 9:7)

That word “listen” also has the strong nuance of, “obey.”

I can’t help but think Peter heard the Father’s words as a rebuke. “Don’t argue with my beloved Son. Obey him!”

I also don’t find it a coincidence that Moses appeared with Jesus on that mountain. Moses himself had told the Israelites,

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers and sisters. You must listen to everything he tells you.

And everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be completely cut off from the people. (Acts 3:22-23, see also Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

Years later, the writer of Hebrews said something similar in Hebrews 3, comparing Moses and Jesus. His point?

“Don’t rebel like the Israelites did against Moses. Someone far greater has come. Moses was a mere servant. But Jesus is God’s Son. Listen to him! Believe him! Obey him! If you do, you will find rest. If you don’t, you will be judged.”

Let us not argue with our Lord as Peter did. But each day, let us listen to, believe, and obey him.