The Transfiguration: A Glimpse of Glory

1. A Glimpse of Glory (Luke 9:28-36)

One day, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to climb a steep mountain. He wanted to spend some time alone with God, to pray and seek guidance from His Father. As the sun began to set, Jesus prayed, and His three disciples, exhausted from the climb, fell asleep.

Suddenly, they were awakened, not by any sound, but by a bright, warm light. At first, they didn’t understand what had disturbed them, but as their eyes adjusted to the light, they saw something extraordinary. Jesus, standing before them, was glowing with a brilliant, heavenly light. His face shone with a brightness that outshone the sun, and His clothes were dazzling white, unlike anything they had ever seen.

As they watched in awe, they noticed two figures standing with Jesus—Moses and Elijah. These were two of the greatest figures in Jewish history: Moses, the lawgiver who had led the Israelites out of Egypt, and Elijah, the powerful prophet who had called Israel to repentance. They were speaking with Jesus about His mission—specifically about how He would fulfill God’s plan in Jerusalem by giving up His life.

Overcome with wonder, Peter, unable to contain his excitement, blurted out, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He didn’t fully understand the significance of the moment.

At that very moment, a cloud appeared, enveloping them in its brilliance. It was the cloud of God’s presence, and from within the cloud came a voice: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him!” The disciples, in awe and fear, hid their faces, overwhelmed by the divine revelation.

When they looked up again, the cloud had disappeared, and only Jesus was standing with them, looking as He always had. The glory that they had witnessed was gone, and everything was as it had been before. As they descended the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

The disciples obeyed, though they could not forget the incredible experience of seeing Jesus in His true glory, a glimpse of His divine nature that confirmed His identity as the Son of God.

This event, known as the Transfiguration, was a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry. It was a revelation of His divine nature, confirming to the disciples that He was not just a prophet or teacher, but the Messiah, the Son of God. The appearance of Moses and Elijah, along with God’s voice affirming Jesus, served to connect Jesus to the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. It was a powerful reminder of Jesus’ ultimate mission: to give His life in fulfillment of God’s plan for salvation.