Mark 9:1-6: a reflection

1He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see God’s Kingdom come with power.” 2After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. 3His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus. 5Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.

On a high mountain, Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John: his appearance is changed, his clothing becomes dazzling white, whiter than anyone could bleach it, and Moses and Elijah appear, talking with him. For a moment, the veil is pulled back, and the disciples glimpse the glory of Jesus, who he truly is beyond his ordinary appearance. The Jesus they knew as an ordinary-looking man was, they saw, radiant with a hidden glory.

Notice what the disciples were given to see: the true glory of Jesus, normally veiled. In his ordinary daily life, Jesus looked like an ordinary man; his glory was hidden beneath his humanity. But on the mountain, for a moment, the veil was pulled back, and the disciples saw him transfigured, radiant with glory, revealed as more than he outwardly appeared. The glimpse showed them who Jesus truly was, the glory hidden beneath his ordinary appearance, the divine Son shining through.

That glimpse of Christ's true glory is worth pondering, for we too can see Jesus only in his ordinary appearance and miss the glory that is truly his. We can think of Jesus in familiar, ordinary terms, and forget the glory that the transfiguration revealed, the true majesty of the Son of God. But the Jesus we know is radiant with a glory that was, for a moment, unveiled on the mountain. Do not think of Jesus only in ordinary, familiar terms, forgetting his true glory; remember that the Jesus you know is the glorious Son of God, whose glory was unveiled on the mountain, radiant beyond anything earthly. Let the glimpse of Christ's true glory lift your view of him, from the merely familiar to the glorious Son of God he truly is. The transfiguration pulled back the veil on who Jesus truly is; let it lift your worship and awe, remembering that the Jesus you know is radiant with a hidden glory, the glorious Son of God, whose majesty was for a moment revealed.

Lord Jesus, on a high mountain you were transfigured before Peter, James, and John: your appearance changed, your clothing became dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appeared with you. For a moment, the veil was pulled back, and the disciples glimpsed your true glory, who you truly are beyond your ordinary appearance. Show me what they were given to see: your true glory, normally veiled. In your ordinary daily life, you looked like an ordinary man; but on the mountain the veil was pulled back, and they saw you radiant with glory, the divine Son shining through. Let me ponder that glimpse of your true glory, for I too can see you only in ordinary terms and miss the glory that is truly yours. I can think of you in familiar, ordinary terms, and forget the glory the transfiguration revealed. But you, whom I know, are radiant with a glory unveiled on the mountain. Keep me from thinking of you only in ordinary, familiar terms, forgetting your true glory; help me remember that you, whom I know, are the glorious Son of God. Let the glimpse of your true glory lift my view of you, Lord, from the merely familiar to the glorious Son of God you truly are. Let it lift my worship and awe, remembering that you are radiant with a hidden glory, whose majesty was for a moment revealed.