Listen

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’” Matthew 16:13 (NIV) 

They answered with what they had heard—John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets. Then Jesus made it personal:

“‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’” Matthew 16:13 (NIV) 

Simon Peter boldly declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (v.16) In that moment, Peter was confident, sure of who Jesus was. But just a few verses later, his understanding faltered.

“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’

Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’” Matthew 16:21–23 (NIV)

Peter went from declaring truth to resisting it—confident one moment, confused the next.

He loved Jesus deeply, yet struggled to understand what that love required.

A short time later, in Matthew 17, Peter witnessed the glory of God revealed:

“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 as 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.’” Matthew 17:1–4 (NIV)

And while Peter was still speaking, God Himself interrupted:

“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!’” Matthew 17:5 (NIV)

Peter was passionate, impulsive, full of faith and fear all at once. He wanted to protect Jesus from pain, to preserve the moment of glory, to act when all he really needed to do was listen.

Sometimes we do the same. We speak before we hear. We act before we trust. We hold onto moments when God is calling us to move forward—or we run from the unknown because it doesn’t fit our expectations.

Yet even in Peter’s confusion and carelessness, Jesus never gave up on him. He continued to teach, to love, to restore.

If you’ve been running—toward control, away from confusion, or just in circles of uncertainty—pause long enough to listen. The same voice that spoke on the mountain still speaks today:

“This is my Son, whom I love… listen to Him.”