There is joy and blessedness in being permitted to witness in an age of doubt and unbelief to that precious faith committed unto us. 
The Rt Rev'd H.B. Whipple, Founder of The Church of the Good Shepherd, Maitland, Florida, 1881

Dearly Beloved in Christ,
When Peter wants to bolster the Christian community's faith against a time when their faith will be tested he reminds them of his first-hand witness of an event that is seared into his memory.  He recalls his time on the holy mountain in the company of the brothers James and John, and the Lord. 

Just six days before going up the mountain, through the power of the Holy Spirit, he had acknowledged Jesus as Messiah, Son of the living God.  But he refused to believe Jesus when he told them that they were headed to Jerusalem where Messiah would suffer and die, and on the third day be raised. 

And so Jesus takes the three up the mountain, and there Peter receives confirmation of his budding faith.  This itinerant preacher, this rabbi, this miracle worker is indeed the Messiah spoken of in the Law and the Prophets.  His glory is revealed to them, and his messiahship confirmed as he stands in conversation with those figures in Jewish history who represented in the minds of the people the Law and the Prophets, Moses and Elijah.

If that were not enough God the Father's presence is made known in a cloud that descends upon them and from which he speaks directly to them: "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him."  Listen to him.  Yes, Peter, he is Messiah.  And yes, Peter, he will suffer.  And yes, Peter, he will be killed.  But Peter, on the third day he will be raised from the dead.

And after he is raised and ascends to the Father Peter returns to that time on the mountain, to the preview of the glory that is his Lord's now.  And he can say with complete authority - I was there - I saw it - this was no cleverly devised myth - this Christ is real.

Beloved our faith is not founded on a cleverly devised myth, but on a real Messiah, Son of the living God and Son of Man, whose coming and suffering was foretold by the prophets, of whom the apostles bear first-hand witness, and who comes and reveals himself to each of us - would that we have eyes to see and hearts to respond.

In His Peace, Grace, and Love,
Rev'd Sarah+