Luke 9:28-33: a reflection

28About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. 30Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 33As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said.

On a mountain, as Jesus prays, his three closest disciples are given a glimpse of a glory usually hidden: the appearance of his face is altered, and his clothing becomes dazzling white. For a moment, the veil is drawn back, and they see something of who Jesus truly is, his glory shining out, no longer hidden beneath his ordinary appearance. Moses and Elijah appear with him in glory; and the disciples, fully awake, see his glory. This was a foretaste, a brief unveiling of the glory that was always his but usually veiled beneath his human ordinariness. The Jesus they walked with each day, who looked like any other man, was in truth the Lord of glory, and for a moment they saw it. The Transfiguration lifted the veil to show the disciples the true glory of the One they followed. Behind the ordinary appearance was a hidden glory, revealed for a moment on the mountain.

Notice what the disciples were given on the mountain: a glimpse of Christ's true glory, usually hidden. Day by day they walked with Jesus, who looked like any other man; his glory was veiled beneath his ordinary humanity. But on the mountain the veil was drawn back, and they saw his face transformed, his clothing dazzling, his glory shining out. Moses and Elijah stood with him in glory. This was a revelation of who Jesus truly was: not merely the teacher they knew, but the Lord of glory, whose splendor was usually hidden. The Transfiguration was a foretaste, a brief unveiling of a glory that was always his. It reminds us that the Jesus of the Gospels, who walked ordinary roads and looked like any man, was in truth the glorious Lord, his glory veiled but real. What the disciples glimpsed for a moment is the truth about Christ always: behind the ordinary appearance is a glory beyond telling. The veil was lifted to show them who he really is.

That is worth resting in, for behind Christ's ordinary appearance is a hidden glory, glimpsed on the mountain. We can think of Jesus chiefly in his ordinariness, the man who walked dusty roads and looked like any other; but on the mountain the disciples glimpsed his true glory, his face transformed, his clothing dazzling, the Lord of glory unveiled for a moment. The Jesus we know is in truth the glorious Lord, his splendor usually hidden but real. When you think of Christ, remember the glory glimpsed on the mountain, the true glory of the One you follow. Rest in the truth that Christ, who walked among us in ordinary appearance, is in truth the Lord of glory, as the disciples glimpsed on the mountain when his face was transformed and his clothing became dazzling white; for behind his ordinary humanity was a hidden glory, always his, unveiled for a moment at the Transfiguration, and the One we follow, who looked like any other man, is truly the glorious Lord whose splendor the disciples were given to see.

Lord Jesus, on a mountain, as you pray, your three closest disciples are given a glimpse of a glory usually hidden: the appearance of your face is altered, and your clothing becomes dazzling white. For a moment, the veil is drawn back, and they see something of who you truly are, your glory shining out, no longer hidden beneath your ordinary appearance. Moses and Elijah appear with you in glory; and the disciples, fully awake, see your glory. This was a foretaste, a brief unveiling of the glory that was always yours but usually veiled beneath your human ordinariness. Show me what the disciples were given on the mountain: a glimpse of your true glory, usually hidden. Day by day they walked with you, who looked like any other man; your glory was veiled beneath your ordinary humanity. But on the mountain the veil was drawn back, and they saw your face transformed, your clothing dazzling, your glory shining out. This was a revelation of who you truly were: not merely the teacher they knew, but the Lord of glory. The Transfiguration was a brief unveiling of a glory that was always yours. What the disciples glimpsed for a moment is the truth about you always. Let me rest in that, for behind your ordinary appearance is a hidden glory, glimpsed on the mountain. I can think of you chiefly in your ordinariness, the man who walked dusty roads and looked like any other; but on the mountain the disciples glimpsed your true glory, the Lord of glory unveiled for a moment. You whom we know are in truth the glorious Lord. When I think of you, help me remember the glory glimpsed on the mountain, Lord, the true glory of the One I follow, whose splendor was veiled but real, unveiled for a moment at the Transfiguration.