The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29.

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2.

In this chapter, I truly feel an affinity with the disciples. I feel their pain, their weakness, their inadequate struggle to understand. And as I read Jesus’ words, I am reminded He is Creator God, the Son, and Him I can follow. He knows. After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters – one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He was talking to them about John the Baptist. v. 1-13. And right on the heels of this beyond amazing experience with Jesus and for the disciples, reality of how things are here intrudes. The disciples who were still waiting had been trying to remove a demon from a child at the request of his father, but were unable to heal him. The father kneels before Jesus and asks His help. And Jesus says words that have always cut to the heart of anyone reading this…“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” v. 14-21. And leaving there and returning to Capernaum, Jesus again tells the disciples what will happen. “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. v. 22-23. And Peter receives another lesson in the difference between us and Jesus. Peter was asked privately if Jesus paid the temple tax, two-drachmas. Peter assured the tax collector that Jesus did. Knowing what was said before Peter tells Him, Jesus instructed Peter to go to the lake and the first fish he catches will hold twice that amount in a coin that Peter will pay for Jesus and for himself. But Jesus tells Peter that just as a king and his children pay no tax, neither is it required for Jesus to pay tax, but to cause no offense, the tax will be paid. v. 24-27.

As we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Son, we can begin to walk with Him and the faith we so need- is faith in Him. In their own power the disciples couldn’t drive out the demon from that child. And a difference between the disciples and Jesus or between us and Jesus today is that Jesus, even though fully God and fully human, put all of His trust in the Father. He knew the Father. All things have been committed to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit know. Listen. Listen to Creator God. All things have been committed to Jesus by the Father. That includes us. And every step we take with God is a step of faith. Let them finish the work so needed in this world and in you and me. Steps of faith small and large.