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Matthew 17:1-9—And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³ And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴ And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁵ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” ⁸ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today is the last Sunday before Lent begins, and today we are invited to the Mount of Transfiguration. On that mountain, God wants to reveal Jesus.

Imagine Jesus’ metamorphosis. The glory of Jesus, the Son of God, broke through His physical body. Jesus in His flesh and bone shined like the sun. Glory broke through His drab clothes so they became white as light. Jesus doesn’t cast shadows, He casts light. Imagine the signs and wonders as Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus. See the dazzling cloud emitting photons. Hear the thundering voice of God, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

As awesome as the Transfiguration is, do not think of this in a wrong way. Do not think that this transfigured Jesus is the real Jesus – the heavenly, glorified Jesus – and that rest of the Gospels show a drab, earthly Jesus. Don’t think that way.

Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who called Zacchaeus to come down from his tree. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who went off by Himself to pray. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who fell asleep on a cushion in the back of the boat. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who sat down by a well to rest. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. Transfigured Jesus is the same Jesus who was beaten, whipped, stripped, tacked to a cross, killed, and buried.

The Transfiguration is a reminder that wherever Jesus is, there is the glory of God – even if it is hidden. The glory of God in Jesus remains even when you don’t see it. The Transfiguration is a wonderful scene and is meant to amaze you. It is meant to encourage you for what is coming through Lent.

The Transfiguration happened just six days after Jesus explained to the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and rise again. Peter had rebuked Jesus for saying that, and Jesus harshly rebuked Peter for questioning Him, “Get behind me Satan.” Jesus says He must suffer and die, and the voice of God speaking out of the cloud commands Peter and you and I to shut up and listen to Jesus.

The glory of Jesus in the Transfiguration is what is in store for you, believer. In your baptism, God clothed you in Christ (Gal. 3:27). You are God’s children now, and what you will be has not yet appeared; but know that when Jesus appears you will be like him because you shall see Him as He is (1 Jn. 3:2). When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4).

The Transfiguration reveals what Jesus does for you. The Transfiguration is meant to comfort you and sustain you reminding you what Jesus’ work is going to accomplish. That is why Jesus tells Peter, James, and John, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” But there is still another mountain to climb – Mount Calvary.

Jesus brings you to His glory by entering your shame. Jesus will clothe you in His brightness by being clothed in your sin. Jesus will make you children of God by becoming an orphan who cries out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

The same face that shined like the sun is the same face that will be spat upon in Jerusalem. The clothes that shined white as light will be stripped to leave Jesus dying naked. The voice that cried out, “It is finished,” also says to you even now, “Rise, and have no fear.”

Wherever Jesus speaks, there He is. Wherever Jesus has promised to be, there He is. Sometimes He appears gloriously; sometimes He is hidden. But even when Jesus’ glory is hidden, the glory remains.

The same Jesus who was transfigured on one mountain and died on another is the Jesus here, present today. The same flesh and blood Jesus comes to you today in radiant, dazzling glory hidden in bread and wine. He has not left you as orphans wandering in this world of sin helpless, poor, and despairing. He is here.

Have a glorious Lent. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.