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“About eight days after Jesus said this he took Peter, John and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray…Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem…A voice came from the cloud…When the voice had spoken…The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.” Luke 9: 28-36

This passage describes the Transfiguration of Christ. Transfiguration is defined as a dramatic change in appearance, especially one that reveals great beauty, spirituality, or magnificence. This is what the chosen disciples witnessed as they awoke from a hazy sleep. No doubt they had to rub their eyes more than a few times to assure themselves they were not dreaming! I love what my Bible commentary writes regarding the word ‘departure.’ “Note that His death is here spoken of as an accomplishment. Also note that death is simply as exodus – not cessation of existence but departure from one place to another one.”

Wonderful truths may be drawn from this experience to apply to our lives. God will call upon us to follow Him to the mountain to be alone. We will have to climb steep rocks of adversity but the payoff will be glorious. To experience the fullness of Christ, we must go through the dark sleep of adversity. Some things can only be shown to us after we have awakened from our circumstances.

Another wonderful truth is that we will have experiences in spiritual awareness and holy revelation with Christ in which we will be unable to speak of for a time. These are such sacred experiences we store them up in our hearts and ponder upon the significance of them. We guard them so closely knowing that mere words could never do the experience justice. Experiences with Christ are unique revelations chosen distinctly for the unique individual.

The last truth that is essential is the ability for all of us to have a sort of transfiguration of our own. Let’s go back to the definition of transfiguration - a dramatic change in appearance, especially one that reveals great beauty, spirituality, or magnificence. As we take on the attitude and heart of God we will take on dramatic change in our actions and words. We will reflect the glorious splendor of His light, diminishing our own poor reflection. We will reveal the beauty of the Spirit and illuminate the Light of a magnificent God.

Father, as we climb those mountains to get a greater view of You, keep us safe, focused and expectant of your glory and splendor. In Your transforming arms, I am…Amen.