The Transfiguration

**Note:  This is a re-post from 2009.  Have a wonderful Lord's Day!**

"This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him." Mark 9:7b

If you're not familiar with this passage, please take some time to look it up. (Mark 9:2-10) It is what is commonly known as the Transfiguration. Bear with me, because I truly love, love, love this account of an amazing event in Christ's life.

This is the story in a nutshell: Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain with Him to pray. While He was there, He was "transfigured". Literally, He changed in appearance. They saw Him in His glory. (Yet another proof of His deity.) He was bright and shining, and His garments were white. Moses and Elijah appeared there with Him. The disciples fell on their faces. In the midst of all of it, God spoke to them, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him." Wow! What an incredible experience this must have been for Peter, James, and John!

Peter got a little confused in all of this. He wanted to build tabernacles for each of them: Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. But God set it all straight. Only Jesus deserved their worship. And how I do love this phrase, that when they looked up again, they saw, "Jesus only." Oh, my friends, may our lives be set on that course, too. That our focus is on Him alone. This world has so many distractions for us, but He alone deserves our praise.

And that is what Lent is truly all about. Regaining our focus. Setting aside worldly distractions to get back on track...

Second Sunday of Lent

I've lost track of what day of Lent this is! :o) Oh, well. That title was getting a bit monotonous anyway...

"This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him." Mark 9:7b

If you're not familiar with this passage, please take some time to look it up. (Mark 9:2-10) It is what is commonly known as the Transfiguration. Bear with me, because I truly love, love, love this account of an amazing event in Christ's life.

This is the story in a nutshell: Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain with Him to pray. While He was there, He was "transfigured". Literally, He changed in appearance. They saw Him in His glory. (Yet another proof of His deity.) He was bright and shining, and His garments were white. Moses and Elijah appeared there with Him. The disciples fell on their faces. In the midst of all of it, God spoke to them, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him." Wow! What an incredible experience this must have been for Peter, James, and John!

Peter got a little confused in all of this. He wanted to build tabernacles for each of them: Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. But God set it all straight. Only Jesus deserved their worship. And how I do love this phrase, that when they looked up again, they saw, "Jesus only." Oh, my friends, may our lives be set on that course, too. That our focus is on Him alone. This world has so many distractions for us, but He alone deserves our praise.

And that is what Lent is truly all about. Regaining our focus. Setting aside worldly distractions to get back on track...

My offering to God: I will spend an hour today reading from Jesus' teachings in the Gospels and meditating on them.

They Saw Jesus Alone

Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration. What a wonderful story of Jesus revealing His glory to His disciples. I've always figured Peter's suggestion was the result of being so overwhelmed by what he witnessed...he knew he needed to do or say something after seeing the great prophets and the glory of his Lord. Of course, God wanted Peter and the others to remember who was the only One worthy of praise.

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only." (Matthew 17:1-8)

That's my favorite part of the verse: They only saw Jesus. All the other distractions were gone. I often wonder if the lesson for us today is that we should never lift up other men, no matter how great or godly, to the level that we see them as equal to God. Sure, there have been some amazing saints (Peter, James, and John among them). But no one ever deserves the praise that is to be reserved for God alone. I'm sure that as other events unfolded (the resurrection and ascension; Pentecost) the three witnesses realized how Christ's Transfiguration was just the "opening act" to what they would later experience. They got a glimpse into His glory. Wow.

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On a side "note" (yes, pun intended)...I had my first chance to sing and play again yesterday. The first time in a very, very long time. It was nerve wracking, yes. But it felt good to once again to be praising God, and encouraging others to do the same. I only sang pre-service and post-communion. But it was a good thing. Thanks be to God.