A Loving Rebuke

Have you ever met someone whom you genuinely wanted to impress? You really wanted to say just the right thing, but you ended up blurting out something so absurd and foolish that you couldn’t believe you actually said it.

I think that’s how Peter felt when He saw Jesus’s transfiguration on the mountaintop. He wanted to say something profound, something insightful. But instead he said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4 NKJV).

One reason Peter spoke up, according to Mark’s gospel, is that “he did not know what to say” (Mark 9:6 NKJV). Another reason is that he was “heavy with sleep” (Luke 9:32 NKJV).

I wonder if Moses or Elijah turned to Jesus and said, “Who is that exactly?”

The Bible tells us that while Peter was still speaking, God actually spoke from Heaven. The Father addressed the situation and said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5 NKJV).

It appears that God the Father personally rebuked Peter. Now, that’s significant. First Jesus rebuked him at Caesarea Philippi and then he’s rebuked by the Father. That would be enough to ruin your decade, wouldn’t it?

But Peter was resilient. He came back stronger and learned from his mistakes. The Bible reminds us, “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child” (Hebrews 12:6 NLT).

When the Lord takes the time to rebuke you, to convict you, or to show you that you’re doing something wrong, it isn’t because He hates you. Rather, it’s because He loves you. And that very discipline is a reminder of your relationship with Him.