Matthew 17:12 NKJV
“But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise, the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”
Peter, James, and John had an opportunity to see something that no one else witnessed — the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. They saw him shine as a bright light; they saw Moses and Elijah speaking to him; they even heard the voice of God saying, “Listen to what Jesus has to say,” but they came off the mountain and became stressed because they didn’t have the money, they needed to pay taxes.
These men had a dream of what their world would look like when the Savior came. They believed he would shake things up and grant them riches, power, and dominance, so the moment didn’t change them because it didn’t look the way they wanted it to. They didn’t recognize it for what it was. Elijah had already come, and now the Savior Himself was with them — their prayers had been answered.
A woman I knew once prayed and asked God to send her someone to take away her loneliness. Well, what she had in mind was a good-looking man who would wine and dine her, read poetry to her, gaze into her eyes, and tell her how much he loved her. Instead, what God sent was a mangy old mutt named Brutus, and he turned out to be the best friend she ever had. No, he didn’t read poetry, but he enjoyed long walks in the park. He didn’t wine and dine her, but he appreciated every meal she prepared. He never gazed into her eyes and said ‘I love you,’ but he never left her side. Have you been asking God for something? Is it possible that he has already given it to you, but you don’t recognize it because it didn’t come in the form you want? May you have the courage to look carefully at the things in your life. You may just discover that the one thing you always wanted, you already have.
