Lent 2019 | Day 20 | The True Glory of Jesus (The Transfiguration)

One of the primary ways we find strength is by seeing Jesus and how much he loves us. For the next few wks of our guided prayer we are going to take strength by meditating on what Jesus went thru for us. The scripture teaches us that the greatest demonstration of Love is to lay down your life for another. Throughout Jesus’s time on earth he was continually “laying his life down” for us. Each day we’ll take one example of Jesus doing this and ponder it.

SCRIPTURE

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Eight days later, Jesus took Peter, Jacob, and John and climbed a high mountain to pray. As he prayed, his face began to glow until it was a blinding glory streaming from him. His entire body was illuminated with a radiant glory. His brightness became so intense that it made his clothing blinding white, like multiple flashes of lightning. All at once, two men appeared in glorious splendor: Moses and Elijah. They spoke with Jesus about his soon departure from this world and the things he was destined to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had become very drowsy, but they became fully awake when they saw the glory and splendor of Jesus standing there and the two men with him. As Moses and Elijah were about to return to heaven, Peter impetuously blurted out, “Master, this is amazing to see the three of you together! Why don’t we stay here and set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?” While Peter was still speaking, a radiant cloud of glory formed above them and overshadowed them. As the glory cloud enveloped them, they were struck with fear. Then the voice of God thundered from within the cloud, “This is my Son, my Beloved One. Listen carefully to all he has to say.” When the thunderous voice faded away and the cloud disappeared, Jesus was standing there alone. Peter, Jacob, and John were speechless and awe-struck. But they didn’t say a word to anyone about what they had seen. -Luke 9:28-36

REFLECTION

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(Ponder and grow in your awareness of Jesus’ life of sacrifice by reflecting on the following questions.)

After having to walk by faith, and being against so much opposition, so many doubts, so much mockery … what do you think Jesus felt as he spent time with Moses and Elijah? Was the overwhelming emotion relief … to be seen, and heard, and completely understood? Did he need to hear from them that he was not crazy? That he was God in flesh?

Do you think he collapsed in their arms and wept with them? Asked them if there might be a different way? Told them how hard the journey had been? Did they laugh and bring him accounts of the happenings of heaven? Did they make Jesus homesick but also fill him with home?

What do you think Elijah and Moses told him? When they left him, what do you think Jesus felt? He was there … once again … in the dark, at night, with friends who didn’t really understand … ? Was he overcome with sadness or energized and full of joy for the prize set before him?

RESPONSE

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The fact that you did this for me, that you counted all things loss for my sake inspires me and moves my heart toward you in love and worship. That you struggled through the test and came out victorious.

I say with the Apostle Paul:

Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for your sake. I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing You Christ Jesus my Lord. -Philippians 3:7 (NIV, TPT) (Paraphrase for prayer)