SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Luke 9:28-36
2 Peter 1:17-18

“…he received from God the Father
honour and glory…”

THE TRANSFIGURATION

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray together with three of His disciples. As He was praying His countenance changed and His raiment turned white and glistened, foreshadowing His glorification in heaven. How marvelous that our Lord displayed the truthfulness of what He had prophesied. Yes, He was going to die but He was also going to be resurrected and to sit at the right hand of the Father. He would go through the dark valley of suffering and death so that all who believed in Him would be glorified with Him forever.

Peter, James and John were eyewitnesses of that transfiguration of their Lord. Jesus wanted not only one but three living witnesses in order to authenticate the event. The three Apostles saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Although the Apostles were sleepy, surely it was not a dream, for how could three men have the same dream at the same time? They heard how Jesus would suffer and die at Jerusalem. But the transfiguration provided them assurance of the blessed hope that the work of Christ would bring. The Apostles did not only see Moses and Elijah but also heard the voice of the Father from heaven: “This is my beloved Son: hear him” (Luke 9:35). This was the second confirmation from the Father, the first was during Jesus’ baptism. The Father wanted to reassure the Apostles that Jesus indeed was the Christ and He was who they must follow. Peter wrote, “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount” (2 Pet 1:17-18).

Jesus’ transfiguration gave the disciples a taste of His glory: His face shone as the sun. In the past, God appeared to the patriarchs and the prophets. But in heaven, all the saints will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2), far beyond the brightness of the sun, on His glorious throne.

THOUGHT: Do I have the assurance of seeing Jesus face to face?
PRAYER: Glorious Father in heaven, may my heart always long for that day when I can behold Thy lovely face for eternity!