Prayer and The Transfiguration
/"And as he was praying the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white...
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!" (Luke 9:29 and 9:35 italics mine)
Listen to him! This is the only command in this section of Scripture. Lots of description, but only one command.
A miraculous transfiguration.
Two Old Testament saints who had not walked the earth for over 1,000 years appear.
A cloud comes and overshadows them.
These are all amazing events loaded with meaning, but at the end of the day we hear the Voice saying,
"This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!"
I have a feeling Peter and James and John never forgot this experience. It left an indelible mark on their hearts and changed the trajectory of their lives. Years later Peter writes these words shortly before he prepares for his own "departure":
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:16-19
In other words, Peter is saying, "we didn't make this up. We saw Jesus transfigured before our eyes in all of His glory. We heard the Voice from Heaven. We believe." Do you believe?
There are a lot of voices competing for our attention today. There is a lot of noise. There is only one Truth - Jesus Christ. The more we look to Him and listen to Him the more "we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18
Look to Him and live!
Listen to Him and be transformed!
Hope in Him and never be put to shame!
Steven