October 8, 2004

THE TRANSFIGURED SON

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them" (Mark 9:2, NKJV).

The "Transfigured Son" is a title packed with spiritual and theological insight. Jesus and His three most trusted disciples had retired to the mountain in solitude to pray for strength to face the ordeal of Calvary. Suddenly, they were overwhelmed by a dramatic display of divine glory. Before their very eyes Jesus was being transfigured.

The Greek word translated, transfigured, means, "to change into another form," "to transform," or "to become different." The transfiguration was a supernatural event. The appearance of Jesus' face suddenly became radiant with the divine glory that was His before His incarnation (see John 17:5). This was one of those special occasions when divinity flashed forth through Jesus' humanity. The glory shining forth from the face of Jesus was a sample of the glory with which He will one day return as the Lord of glory (see Matthew 25:31).

In the midst of this overwhelming display of glory, Moses and Elijah appeared on the transfiguration scene with Jesus as a type of all the redeemed who will be with Him in glory at His parousia, or appearing (see Colossians 3:4; Matthew 25:31). They represent the resurrected saints and the translated saints (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). The transfiguration of Jesus was a preview of His second coming. The apostle Peter understood it to be a miniature demonstration of the coming kingdom of glory (see 2 Peter 1:16-18). "Of the disciples after the transfiguration of Christ, it is written that at the close of this wonderful scene they 'saw no man, save Jesus only.' "--The Home Missionary, November 1, 1890.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I await the return of Your "Transfigured Son." Until then, may I see "no man, but Jesus only." Amen.