Do you remember learning to swim? I learned to swim as a young child in a pool. The scary part of the pool was the deep end where I couldn't touch bottom. Taking a swim in the deep end was petrifying. The only way I would swim in the deep end was if an adult was with me. They could help me. If an adult was with me, I knew it would be ok. In a similar way, Jesus just told the crowds what it would take to be his disciple. Everyone who is a disciple of Jesus needs to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. That is scary. Those who follow Jesus need to be willing to give up their life! That is scarier than swimming in the deep end of the pool! Wouldn't it be nice it there was a way Jesus could help them so they knew that even if they lost everything for Jesus, it would be ok? As we come to the transfiguration, that is exactly what Jesus does.
