Today we celebrate one of the most neglected passages in the Bible. It's possible that more sermons have been preached from some of the obscure places in First and Second Chronicles than from this tremendously significant scripture which describes the transfiguration of our Lord. At the time of the transfiguration, Peter finally broke the awed silence, but the Gospel writer says that he knew not what to say. I expect we preachers and teachers still feel a bit that way when we approach this story; probably some of us fear that, when we finally have our say, our words will be as inept or inadequate as were Peter's. 

Let's review the story to see why it awes us. It was one of those occasions Jesus took Peter, James, and John -- his three closest associates -- to be alone with him. We see thi…