Matthew 17:8

Matthew 17:6-8 When the disciples heard it (God's voice), they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. "Don't be afraid." When they opened their eyes and looked around all the saw was Jesus, only Jesus. (The Message)

In this story, Jesus led Peter and brothers, John and James up on a high mountain. Jesus wanted to show them who he was and was transfigured. Sunlight poured from his face, his clothes were filled with light. Jesus was changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Then when God spoke, they fell to the ground, terrified.

At the condo where we were staying on vacation, there were stairs going up to the two bedrooms. Jacob doesn't have any experience with stairs, for the most part, so Bec had to show him how to go down by sliding on his belly, feet first. He could slide down those stairs at an amazing clip - what I swear had to be record speeds.

At two years old, you don't always think and one particular day, he decided he could go down big boy style. He even chose not to hang on to the railing to walk down. Bec quickly noticed him doing this and told him to get onto his belly. As he was turning around getting to his knees, thinking all was funny, he promptly lost his balance and did a log roll down the last 10 stairs and went right into the wall.

Bec, who immediately thought he had smacked his head on the ceramic tiles at the bottom, raced down the stairs and picked him up. He was crying hard, but thankfully he was more scared than hurt. She started saying,"Jake, Mama's here, shhhhh, it's ok." He calmed down and was back to being Jacob again after a few minutes.

The NIV foot note says 'this was a beneficial experience for the disciples who were discouraged after having been reminded so recently of Jesus' impending suffering and death. (I hope this was a beneficial experience for Jacob as well)

I think about how John, James and Peter must have felt when they saw Jesus' face and when he touched them and said, "Don't be afraid". Sort of how Jacob must have felt when he saw his mama's face.

When we fall as a child, we need our mama's words and loving face for comfort and as children of God, we not only need, but have Jesus' words and loving face for comfort.

Nancy