Sunday, March 17, 2019

17 March 2019 - bright hope



Jesus took Peter, John, and James 
and went up the mountain to pray.

Jesus brings us up the mountain of transfiguration. He reveals his glory so that we can follow him even when we don't understand. It enables us to persist in hope even when we betray him. We see one to whom we can turn back even after our failures. We behold one who somehow gives us strength to take up our crosses and follow him. How?

While he was praying his face changed in appearance 
and his clothing became dazzling white.

In the light of glory that shines from Jesus we can already begin to see the light of his resurrection. We can see that the victory is already won. And we see this precisely while we hear him speaking "of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem." We can learn that his cross and ours are not accidents nor are they defeats. Rather they are the way through which God shows his glory.

In short, Jesus reveals his plans, showing us that hope underlies every step of the journey.

He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified body 
by the power that enables him also 
to bring all things into subjection to himself.

When we ask the question that Abraham asks about our heavenly inheritance..

"O Lord GOD," he asked, 
"how am I to know that I shall possess it?"

..we see the guarantee we need in the glory shining from the face of Jesus.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (see Second Corinthians 4:6).

This morning Jesus invites us to greater hope and greater confidence even in the midst of trials.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?





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