Thoughts for the Day

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him...... and a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!'

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Before any important step Jesus goes somewhere quiet to pray, and in Luke's story of the Transfiguration he and three disciples go up a mountain. The story is full of mystery and symbolism. Mountains usually signify positive events with God (eg Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God), while another symbol of God is the mention of a cloud (God led the Israelites in the wilderness by cloud), and another is the way that Jesus is transfigured, (Moses' face shone when he came down the mountain). But this experience is coloured by sadness as Jesus talks about his departure, not departure to Jerusalem, but departure from this world.

However, the most important thing about this mysterious event is the affirmation of Jesus' ministry by the words that are heard, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!' They remind us, and the disciples of exactly whom we worship.

Thursday 6th August, follow up thoughts

Lord Jesus,
we remember that as God's Son
You died to bring us back to God;
to show us how much we are loved;
and to save us from our sin.
Help us to remember all that
You did for us and
to turn to you this day in faith.
Amen.