A Devotion for the First Week of Lent

The following sample devotion is from Our Radiant Redeemer by Tim Chester, which looks at the gospel through the lenses of Christ’s transfiguration. This is one of many devotionals for the run-up to Easter offered by The Good Book Company. 

“This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

MARK 9:7

At the transfiguration, the disciples see the glory of God before their very eyes. Mark specifically says Jesus “was transfigured before them” (Mark 9:2). The phrase “before them” suggests that this event was for the benefit of the disciples. Elijah and Moses are also said to have “appeared before them” (Mark 9:4).

There’s another indication that the transfiguration is for the disciples. The words of the Father at the transfiguration are similar to his words at the baptism of Jesus, but with two significant changes:

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

“This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7)

I write more in Our Radiant Redeemer about one of those changes—the words “With you I am well pleased” instead of “Listen to him!” For now, let’s focus on the other change; the words at the baptism are addressed to Jesus for his benefit (“You are…”), while the words at the transfiguration are addressed to the disciples for their benefit (“This is…”).

The transfiguration did not provide new information for Jesus. Instead, it revealed his divine glory to the three disciples. The biblical scholar Joel Green says the point is “not that Jesus experienced an internal adjustment of some sort that led to his transformed appearance, but that his inner being was made transparent to those who accompanied him.” (Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Eerdmans, 1997), p 380). Or, as Michael Ramsey writes, “On the mount of Transfiguration a veil is withdrawn, and the glory which the disciples are allowed to see is not only the glory of a future event, but the glory of Him who is the Son of God.” ( A. Michael Ramsey, The Glory of God and the Transfiguration of Christ. (Longmans, 1949), p119).

"In that moment, they can look back to the transfiguration and hold on to that vision of his glory."

Jesus is on his way to the cross. The disciples will see him suffer horribly. It will seem as if his life has ended in failure. But the memory of the transfiguration will fortify their faith. Jesus “was transfigured before them” to reveal who he is when appearances will suggest that he is nobody. In that moment, they will fail to understand why Jesus is suffering. But also in that moment, they can look back to the transfiguration and hold on to that vision of his glory.

The same is true for us when we suffer. In the moment, we may not understand why we’re suffering. But in those times, we can look back to the transfiguration, and look up to Christ’s ascended glory, and look forward to his glorious return. If this is you today, hold on to this vision of the glory of Christ and let his glory fortify your faith.

A Meditation

Before thy Crucifixion, O Christ,

the Mount became like unto the heavens,

and a cloud was outspread like a canopy,

while thou wast transfigured,

and while the Father bore witness unto thee,

there was Peter, together with James and John,

inasmuch as they desired to be with thee

at the time of thy betrayal also;

that, having beheld thy marvels,

they might not be affrighted at thy sufferings.

Make us also worthy to adore the same in peace,

for the sake of thy great mercy.

(Orthodox Vespers for the Feast of the Transfiguration. Cited in A. Michael Ramsey, The Glory of God and the Transfiguration of Christ. (Longmans, 1949), p137)