“As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.”Luke 9:34 ESV
Reflection: how do you envision the return of Jesus will be?
I have always been fascinated by clouds. The shape of them, their movement and constant change can be a bit mesmerizing to watch. And with my job, I often had to travel by plane which provides a whole different insight into clouds. To actually fly into them and through them. If you have only flown a few times, it might surprise you, even frighten you, flying into a cloud.
The first thing you notice is losing all visibility. While in the clouds, the pilots need to fully trust their instruments to fly the plane. And secondly, you notice a force, a power in the clouds that is different than outside of the clouds, and it might cause the airplane to be tossed around a bit, or a lot depending on the type of clouds.
Peter, John and James were with Jesus to the top of this mountain where they got a glimpse behind the veil. They saw into the heavenly realm, saw Jesus transformed, talking with Moses and Elijah. They were in shock, as we learn of Peter speaking nonsense. And we should imagine seeing something like that would possibly scare them, right? Like wanting to flee, run away. But it doesn’t say that. However, what happened next, frightened them to the core. It says that
“a came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.” Luke 9:34b ESV
This cloud they saw moving in, first covered Jesus, Moses and Elijah. They were overshadowed. Disappeared in the cloud. And then the cloud moved so that Peter, John and James also entered the cloud. No visibility. They were entering the presence, the power of a Holy God. And, God Himself spoke to them, “And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”” Luke 9:35 ESV. DisapNow the word “afraid” here doesn’t describe their experience well. They were frightened, absolutely terrified.
The glory, the holiness of God.
We might be reminded of this presence of God as a cloud from the Old Testament, as He led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wildernesst. And as Jesus talked about his return, but this time he will come “on the clouds of heaven”.
““Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31 ESV
We also read from Revelation, the vision John was given. “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:14-16 ESV.
Someday our Savior, our Lord will return. Perhaps soon. There will be no doubt that it is Him, coming on the “clouds of heaven”, with power and great glory. Let’s be ready, and never be fooled by imitators.