As if often the case in each one of our lives Jesus leaves an incredible experience and is immediately met by a difficult, even frustrating one. As we discussed two weeks ago, the transfiguration of Jesus was a gift of the Father to the Son. Jesus took Peter, James and John up on a mountain and in that place the veil of His humanity was lifted and Jesus stood before them in all of the glory of His divinity. As His face shone like “the glory of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14), Moses and Elijah stood on the mountain and spoke with Jesus about His death, they encouraged and strengthened Him and then the Father spoke from heaven saying “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Those words were both an encouragement to Jesus and a command to the three apostles. When this incredible event is over, Jesus and the three apostles came down the mountain and the first thing they see is a crowd of people with the scribes arguing with the disciples that had not been on the mountain with Jesus. The old saying is “there is no rest for the weary”; Jesus has to go from an experience of rest and encouragement right back into the fire of His calling, being the Messiah, revealing the Father and preparing the hearts of those that would be willing for the salvation He would win. Tonight’s text has arguments, some frustration, an open and honest conversation followed by a healing and a brief but powerful teaching about the power of prayer. The transfiguration had been a gift from the Father to Jesus, that gift is what strengthened Jesus to return to His work of giving Himself as a gift to us.