Moses, Elijah, a flash of light, God’s voice—THAT looked like greatness to human eyes. For Peter, John and James, seeing the greatness and glory of Jesus was so overwhelming it left them speechless. But true greatness in God’s kingdom wasn’t on a mountaintop. When they came down from that experience, Jesus defined greatness as having childlike trust in God, healing the sick and broken, serving people’s needs, and even suffering at human hands.

• The drama of the scene was stunning: Jesus’ face and clothes flashed like lightning, Moses and Elijah appeared, and God’s presence manifested in a cloud overshadowed Peter, John and James. In the midst of it all, God’s voice said of Jesus, "This is my Son, my chosen one. Listen to him!" Here’s a straightforward question for you to ponder: what does it mean for you to listen to Jesus? Are you willing to do it?
• Peter, John, and James probably expected Jesus to descend the mountain, call in the cavalry, and drive out the Roman oppressors! They couldn’t yet grasp that greatness in God’s kingdom often looks very different from the world’s idea of greatness. True greatness, as Jesus lived it, involved serving others, trusting God as a child would and saving the world by giving himself. How do you define greatness? In what specific ways do greatness according to God and greatness according to the world differ?