coming in transfigured glory
"As they were coming down the mountain, He strictly enjoined them not to tell anyone what they had seen, before the Son of Man had risen from the dead." —Mark 9:9
Wouldn't it have made sense for Jesus to tell Peter, James, and John that they couldn't tell anyone what they had seen until after He had died rather than making them wait until after He had risen? (Mk 9:9) The time between Jesus' death and resurrection was seemingly a natural occasion for Peter, James, and John to relate to the other heartbroken disciples the grandeur and hope of the transfigured, glorified Jesus. Moreover, after the stunning glory of the Resurrection, the story of the Transfiguration would seem to be just another footnote.
Peter grasped the significance of Jesus' purpose in delaying the announcement of the Transfiguration. Peter connected the Transfiguration with the prophecy of the "coming in power of our Lord Jesus Christ," that is, the Second Coming of Christ (2 Pt 1:16ff). Peter had listened to the Father, Jesus (Mk 9:7), and the Holy Spirit as he reflected on the "sovereign majesty" (2 Pt 1:17) of the transfigured Jesus. Once Jesus had risen and ascended into heaven, Jesus' disciples could fall prey to temptations of despair at the prospect of never seeing Jesus again. However, the prophecy of the Second Coming and seeing Jesus, our transfigured "hope of glory" (Col 1:27), gives all Christians a burning hope that we will see Jesus again. Maranatha! Come, transfigured and risen Lord Jesus! (Rv 22:20)
Prayer: Father, may I keep my attention closely fixed (2 Pt 1:19) on Your transfigured, crucified, and glorified Son.
Promise: "If God is for us, who can be against us?"—Rm 8:31
Praise: Praise Jesus, Who was transfigured in glory. Maranatha! Lord Jesus, come in glory!
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 16, 2005
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