The Transfiguration

The word transfiguration means metamorphosis. It means a spiritual change like from sorrow to joy.

These are not easy times in which we are now living. The times have always been difficult, but I see these times as singularly difficult, which makes the Transfiguration of Jesus all the more meaningful.

Jesus very much wanted His disciples to know that He would have to suffer, be murdered and then raised to glory. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Luke 9:22

It has been said many times that Christ’s transfiguration was to give those three disciples a clearer understanding of who Jesus was. It would take them awhile to come to some understanding of who Jesus really is. They would know Him through His physical appearance to them.  The transfiguration gave them a glimpse into His glory.  

It would be very difficult for them to accept what He told them about His having to die. But they never forgot that mountain top experience.  John would write the following. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

It was an exceptional experience for them to see Moses and Elijah but not nearly as important as to hear the voice of God telling them to “Listen to Him,” meaning that the old way is passed and gone and gives way to the new which is the coming glory and splendor of Christ becoming the King of kings and Lord of lords.

It is extremely trying at times to see how mankind goes about gaining power.  In fact it can be downright demeaning if it were not for the glory that shall be ours. Again I turn to a blog by David Mathis entitled “The Story of Our Glory.”

“Not only will we see him in all his glory — which might be thrilling enough — but we will share in his glory as he transforms “our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:21 Rightly did C. S. Lewis observe that “the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship”