O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Luke 9:28-36
About eight days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ of God, 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. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"–not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, 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!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
The Transfiguration! What a marvelous sight that must have been for Peter, John, and James. I am not sure I would have been able to say anything at all had I been there. But here is Peter. In the midst of the glory of God, seeing two patriarchs of the faith standing with Jesus, Peter says, “Hey, let’s build three houses for you guys.”
Peter had not yet realized that God’s presence, His shekina glory, could never be contained in one place. The glory of the Lord fills all the earth.
This revelation also points us to God’s glory. It is a wonderful reminder that God’s glory indwells all of his children. It is a wonderful reminder that God’s glory fills all of His creation. And it is a wonderful reminder of the glory that awaits each of us when we ultimately enter into His eternal presence.
The Glory of Christ, the hope of Glory, the Presence of God’s glory, all summed up here and ever present as a present reality for each of us.
