When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
There on the mount of transfiguration, the most terrifying experience of Peter, James, and John’s lives fell upon them unexpectedly. Jesus brought these disciples off to pray or talk on other occasions, but on this one, God the Father Himself showed up in a visible form.
Until this point in history, until Jesus the Messiah entered earth as a man, those who saw God died (see e.g., Exodus 33:20). The disciples fell on their faces and were terrified as they believed death to be imminent!
Jesus walks up, touches them, and instructs them not to fear the destruction of God.
When we fall on our faces in worship before God, we recognize His absolute holiness, purity, beauty, and goodness. It’s so overwhelmingly “other” that we cannot stand beside it. We must fall as Peter, James, and John did, but not out of fear of destruction. We must fall out of awe and humility. The work of Jesus allows us to look upon God and live!
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to look upon His face. Perhaps God wants you to bow low today as you recognize who He is and His qualities. Maybe God wants you to stand unafraid in His presence as the son or daughter that He has made you to be. Perhaps today is a good day to worship.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 439–441, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 17:4–8) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).