CELEBRITY

The story is told of a woman who happened to be a big sports fan who was in a small shop one day when she spots a rather large, athletic man. She thinks he looks familiar – like he’s some celebrity - but she can’t quite place him. Maybe he’s a professional football player. 

There’s only one other person in the shop, a “smaller weird-looking guy”, but this woman decides to saddle up beside him and ask, “Do you happen to know who the big, fit guy is over there?”

The small man answered, “Yes. That’s my bodyguard.”

The weird guy was Elton John.

The woman completely missed the true celebrity in the shop. 

You get the same feel from the story of Jesus’ transfiguration in Matthew 17.

When Peter sees Jesus in the company of the biggest celebrities of Israel’s history, Moses and Elijah, he wants to build three shelters to commemorate the moment.

It’s almost as if Peter is impressed that Jesus is in the same league as Moses and Elijah!

The voice of God clears up Peter’s mistaken valuation of the situation:

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

It is Moses and Elijah who should be honored to be in Jesus’ presence, not the other way around. 

Peter, James, and John all drop in terror, face down on the ground. Peter must be thinking, “I’ve made the mother of all social faux pas!”

Jesus is way bigger, way more important than he had realized. 

It’s healthy to come to the same realization in our own lives sometimes!

And how does Jesus respond? 

He comes to where the three are lying trembling on the ground, and he touches them. What an incredible detail! And he simply says, “Get up. Do not be afraid.” 

My impression is that Jesus was not willing to waste time dwelling on their underestimation of him – he was already looking toward the job he had for them. 

These three would be soon laboring to build his Church.