I’ve just noticed something interesting about the synoptics’ report of the transfiguration, in which God declares, “This is my son… listen to him”. In all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9), this scene is immediately followed by a scene in which a man brings attention to “my son” – or as Luke specifies, “my only child”: The son is suffering terribly, and the disciples have completely misunderstood the situation and been unable to do anything about it. Jesus is anguished at having to put up with a faithless generation, and, according to Matthew, berates the disciples for their lack of faith.
I wonder if the Gospel writers are attempting to do something with this juxtaposition of “son” stories: In the first (the transfigured son), the disciples foolishly get over-excited, thinking they can bring this glorious vision into fixed present habitation; in the second (the seized son), the disciples are unable to deal with the son who suffers (to the point of apparent death, according to Mark).
The disciples, to the despair of Jesus, still fail to recognise what his royal Sonship entails.
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