It is good to be with the Lord… but there needs to be a finishing of sufferings and sacrifice of the flesh to reach total union.
Listen to Jesus.
The Psalmist says:
“How wonderful it is, how good it is, for brothers and sisters to live together in unity!”
— Psalm 133:1
And again:
“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!’”— Psalm 122:1
It is good to be in the Lord’s house. It is good to be with Jesus. It is good to experience His presence.
But Jesus calls us beyond simply being with Him. He calls us into total union with Him.
“It is good for us to be here…”
On the mountain of the Transfiguration, Peter experienced the glory of Jesus and said:
«“Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
— Matthew 17:4»
Peter wanted to remain there in that beautiful experience of the Lord.
But then:
«“While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’”
— Matthew 17:5»
Listen to Jesus.
Jesus did not remain on the mountain. He had to go down from the mountain and walk towards Jerusalem—to suffer from His enemies, to be crucified, to die, and to rise again on the third day.
Jesus Himself said:
«“The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
— Mark 8:31»
So, it is good to be with the Lord.
But there needs to be a finishing of sufferings and sacrifice of the flesh to reach total union.
The glory of the mountain was not the end.
The Cross had to come before the Resurrection.
The one who knows the price of water…
The one who has experienced the desert knows the price of water.
The one who has struggled to get a child knows the value of children.
The one who gave His life to redeem the souls knows the value of our soul.
Jesus knows the value of our soul because He paid the greatest price for it.
He gave His life for us.
«“For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:20»
And God's desire for us is not a casual desire.
«“He yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us.”
— James 4:5»
God jealously desires our soul.
Jesus desires our soul so, so deeply that He will never let us go.
His love is a love that suffers.
His love is a love that sacrifices.
His love is a love that empties itself.
His love is a love that goes all the way to the Cross.
And He calls us into that same surrender.
My soul must thirst for my Lord
The one who has truly thirsted understands the value of water.
The one who has truly suffered understands the value of what was received.
And the one who understands the sacrifice of Jesus begins to understand the immeasurable value of the soul.
The Psalmist cries:
«“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
— Psalm 42:1–2»
As the deer panteth for the water, my soul must thirst for my Lord.
Not only for His blessings.
Not only for His consolations.
Not only for His presence on the mountain.
But for Jesus Himself.
Let my soul thirst for You, Lord.
Let every suffering draw me closer to You.
Let every sacrifice empty me of myself.
Let every surrender bring me into deeper union with You.
Jesus, You desire my soul so deeply. Never let me go.
And when You say,
«“This is my Son, the Beloved… listen to him!”»
Let me listen.
Let me follow.
Let me surrender.
Let me carry my cross.
And let me journey with You—from the mountain, through the Cross, into the Resurrection—until I reach total union with You.