GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 9-6
Athlete’s Tongue
Sometimes I hobble around clumsily because I have one foot in my mouth, and one such day occurred recently. As Alice struggles with her chemotherapy regimen, there are days when she does not feel like getting out of bed—not many, but a few. It was one of those days. By evening, she began to improve, got up, and ate a small portion of food. “It really bothers me to be in bed all day,” she said.
The Apostle Peter was responsible for teaching his young associate Mark about Jesus’ life and ministry. Mark wrote about Peter’s description of the three disciples’ climb up a mountain with Jesus to pray. The disciples fell asleep, and when they awoke, they saw Jesus conversing with Elijah and Moses. “And answering, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. So let us make three tabernacles—one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” (Mark 9:5-6)
I’ve always felt sympathy for Peter, who was terrified and blurted out his comment about building tabernacles, or shelters, for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. From my own experience, I can’t be critical of Peter.
A teacher described this condition as athlete’s tongue—the experience of putting the foot in the mouth. President Bush once said, “They misunderestimate me.” Yes, people often get a case of athlete’s tongue in public. Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” comment probably cost her a presidential election.
I doubt there’s a way to completely avoid athlete’s tongue, but Peter found himself wrapped in a divine cloud, hearing the heavenly voice.
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