March 4, 2012: 2nd Sunday of Lent

Let's take a moment to think about why Jesus wanted to show His disciples that He IS God but wouldn't let them tell people yet.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.
As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. (Mark 9:2-10)

What an experience! Jesus was totally changed before their very eyes! His clothes were dazzling because they were so white! (A “fuller,” by the way, is what we call a dry cleaner in our day.) I guess Jesus wanted Peter and James and John to see him as God and not just as the man they knew as their friend. They also saw Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus. What an experience for them! They were so excited they didn’t know what to say or do. Peter–always the first one to say something–wanted them to build three tents there. Then suddenly they heard Jesus’ Father say, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” And then everything was quiet again–and Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until he had risen from the dead.

Action:

Can you imagine having such an experience and being told not to tell anyone about it? Try this evening as you are in bed and about to go to sleep to imagine what it would be like to see Jesus there in your room talking to you softly. See what He looks like. Ask Him to help you be good. Tell Him you love Him and thank Him for loving you.