A Glimpse of Glory

Jesus had just told his disciples that he would be rejected, suffer, be killed, but raised to life on the third day.

Jesus had also told them that his disciples would have to lose their lives to save them.

They must have all been in denial, shocked at what Jesus told them.

Jesus took his three most beloved disciples up a mountain to pray.

They were the first disciples called by Jesus.

This was their custom when they found a teaching troubling. They Prayed.

They were his prayer partners.

While they prayed Jesus’ face changed in such a way that made even his clothes “bright and flash of lightning.”

This was no change of form i.e. Greek gods in human form.

Two men appeared.

Somehow, the disciples knew that these men were Moses and Elijah.

They appeared in “glorious splendor” as well.

They didn’t speak about Moses and Elijah.

They spoke about the “departure” of Jesus.

The same words are used for an exodus: a divine deliverance of God’s people from an oppressive enemy.

Allusion to Moses before God on Mount Sinai.

Jesus’ “departure” would include his rejection, suffering, and death.

The disciples’ awareness had been clouded or veiled making them “sleepy.”

Peter’s response was to hurry and make a place of worship and habitation for all three without extinction.

No doubt, John and James would help him.

Creating a place to worship God and honor the prophets was not the problem, creating a place where they are given equal importance is.

God had other plans.

We occasionally must depart a place that we are familiar with to experience transformation.

Those in the military often depart to a new assignment, and

clergy often depart to a new appointment, and

business personnel often depart to a new job location to where they are needed.

It can be difficult to justify to loved ones why the departure could be a good thing.

Sometimes, we need to give our loved ones a glimpse of what life could look like afterward.

Jesus would soon be departing, but in a wholly different way.

So, he showed them a glimpse of what was to come.

Moses & Elijah had God’s glory shine on them.

Moses shown with glorious evidence of God’s presence, but it was eventually diminished.

Elijah had prophesied about the future Shekinah or Glory of God’s presence.

Their appearance lends support to Jesus within God’s work with His people.

The Prophets of Judaism point to God’s redemptive action on behalf of His people.

Jesus glory came from within.

Jesus’ glory comes from the Father, who is One with Christ by His Spirit.

Jesus’ glory is far above any placed upon the prophets.

The disciples missed the point because of their clouded minds.

“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

“The Father is coeternal with the Son” – Bede

God does not need buildings.

God’s place is with His Son and His people.

Jesus’ “departure”/exodus included his Resurrection.

Jesus proclaimed the coming Kingdom of Heaven.

Because of his “departure,” the Spirit is always present with Jesus and would be present with all his disciples.

Jesus foretold that his Spirit, the very Spirit of God, would dwell within all who believed in him.

This is a glimpse of the mystery of the future resurrected life in Christ – Gregory of Nazianzus

When we get a glimpse of a bright new future, we work toward it even more.

Therefore, understanding why the Transfiguration happened is important.

The core group of disciples received a glimpse of the future and it was confirmed in Christ’s Resurrection.

They spread the Gospel with fervor and had hope for a future spent forever in the glory of God’s Spirit through Christ Jesus.

Today, we spread hope in that same glorious future in Jesus Christ.

We hope to be transformed through faith in Jesus Christ.

We hope to open the way for transformation of the world through Jesus Christ.