Some Mysteries are Never Understood

Mark 9:5 (NET) So Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 (For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.) 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.

Open mouth, press accelerator

That was Peter’s philosophy. If in doubt, say anything. If the situation is awkward, make it more awkward by saying something inappropriate. He was never one to keep his mouth shut.

It makes me wonder, how many times did Jesus or the other disciples do an eye roll when Peter said something? In every group, there’s that one person who has to say something. He can’t stand silence. Peter was the one.

God’s presence in the cloud

Throughout Scripture, God’s presence is in a cloud. A cloud appeared to the children of Israel before entering the Promised Land. In the wilderness, a cloud led them. A cloud was often over the tabernacle in the wilderness. When Solomon dedicated the temple, a cloud filled it.

Here, a cloud was over them after the transfiguration and God spoke from it.

Some mysteries are never understood, only discerned

Jesus instructed his three followers not to tell anyone about the transfiguration until after his resurrection. They were puzzled. The did not understand what rising from the dead meant. They did not understand many of the mysteries Jesus told them until after he rose. Some, they didn’t understand until after they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Many mysteries of Scripture are understood only by those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. Some mysteries are never understood, only discerned.