Jesus Unveiled
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to understand who You are more fully. Transform my life for Your glory as I walk daily with You.
Read Matthew 17:1-13
[1] After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. [2] There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. [3] Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. [4] Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” [5] While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” [6] When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. [7] But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” [8] When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. [9] As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” [10] The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” [11] Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. [12] But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” [13] Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you long for God's glory?Most of the time we barely glimpse the glory of God. Just occasionally, the veil shifts. Up the mountain, the three disciples see the glory of Jesus as he talks with Moses and Elijah. For a moment, the veil between this world and eternal reality is pulled aside. We’re reminded of Moses’ meeting with God up the mountain when his face shone with the unbearable radiance of God (Exod. 34:29,30). We’re reminded, too, of Elijah, who was taken in a whirlwind to be with God (2 Kings 2:11).It’s a stunning moment for Peter and friends. There are no adequate words for it, even though Peter makes a clumsy attempt (4). The voice of God affirming Jesus as his own Son has them falling down before him (6). It is a critical moment of transformation for the disciples–a leap in their understanding and commitment to the man who is God. John the Baptist, the new Elijah, has come (10-13). Now they begin to understand more about how the various bits of Scripture fit together. Still, Jesus tells them to keep quiet until after the resurrection, when they will understand more about his salvation mission.
Apply
God is glorious beyond all we can comprehend. Ask him to bring you deeper into a revelation of who he is.
Closing prayer
Lord God, I fall at Your feet in worship. Fill me with Your light and love as I share Your Good News in the world today.
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