“Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.” (Luke 9:32 NASB)
If you’re a student of Scripture, you are no doubt familiar with the gospel accounts of the transfiguration of Christ on the mountain (Matt. 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36), witnessed by Peter, James and John. These same three disciples had seen their Lord perform miracles on a near-daily basis for three years. But this event was unique in that it was an instance of humanity catching a glimpse of heavenly glory.
And as God never does anything in vain, it is good for us to consider what He wants to teach us from this miraculous occurrence.
The word “transfigured” is translated from the Greek word metamorpho which means to transform or change into another form, and more definitively, in a way in which the outside matches the inside!
Scripture tells us that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ bodily (Col. 2:9), that is, in His human form. Christ’s perfect humanity merely veiled His perfect deity and divine glory. It is therefore certainly not incidental that metamorpho is the word God chose to describe the transformation of Christ on the mountain. Peter, James and John were allowed to witness this manifestation of divine glory that was obscured under the veil of His flesh, revealing the truth about who Christ was in His earthly ministry, who He is now as our heavenly Intercessor, and what we shall be when we shall see Him in glory!
Paul says in Philippians 3:21, “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body.” Can you imagine this?! If the Head of the body is glorious, certainly the members of the body will be as well. Mark 13:43 says, “The righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” And so, “we shall appear with Him in glory,” (Col. 3:4).
These verses make is clear that believers shall be partakers in His glory. Our natural bodies will be transformed into glorious bodies like that of Christ. “This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality,” (1 Cor. 15:53). Richard Sibbes said, “We shall be incorruptible. We shall have no corruption within us or without us. We shall be embalmed with the Spirit that shall cause us to remain forever incorruptible.”
Praise be to God and His Son, our Savior, for who He is, and for the truth that we shall be like Him when we see Him in His glory to adore God into all eternity!
- What would it have been like to see Your glory unveiled at the transfiguration? I can only imagine how overwhelmed Peter, James and John would have been by that experience. I observe Your glory throughout Scripture through the eyes of faith, but I cannot truly know what it is like to be in Your glorified presence until I see You face to face in heaven. Until then, I ask that You help me adore You not simply for what You have done, but specifically and especially for who You are.
- Like the disciples who fell asleep, I realize that my own physical weaknesses, like being tired, often hinder me from praying, meditating or seeking You as fervently as I ought. Energize me through Your Spirit to move me to worship You more with everything that is in me. Enlarge my heart to love You as I grow to understand more of Your grace and glory every day.
- Even in the best of Christians the flesh is weak. But that doesn’t give me an excuse to sin, or to accomplish any duty before You haphazardly. Create in me a burning desire to serve you with my whole heart, mind, and strength.
Further References for Luke 9:32
Matt. 26:43; John 1:14; Matt. 26:40; Luke 22:45; John 17:24;
