Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:28-31)
The Transfiguration of Jesus is truly a remarkable event. It was while He was praying that He changed. This setting of prayer is an important aspect because although we don’t physically alter our appearance through prayer, we do change as a result of it. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s.
The Real Change
When Jesus’ appearance was altered in this moment, this is similar to when Moses would go up the mountain and meet with God and come back down glowing. Yet when Moses did it, the glory would fade after being apart from being in the presence of God.
On the other hand, the real change wasn’t when Jesus transfigured and was dazzling white, it was that He was in human form for His period on earth. Jesus has always been God, the Son of God, and always will be. The glorious appearance witnessed by the disciples wasn’t new for Jesus, it had just been concealed while Jesus was on mission, coming to dwell among us and redeem us.
Context of Prayer
It is very interesting that we get a glimpse of what Jesus was likely praying about as His appearance changed because of the context of the conversation He was then having with Moses and Elijah. He spoke of His departure, that is His death and resurrection.
I have a feeling this was the topic of quite a bit of Jesus’ prayers. It was most likely part of His prayers when He fasted for 40 days and nights, kicking off His ministry timeline to the cross, and with every passing day those 3 years, it would undoubtedly come to mind, all the way to the Garden at Gethsemane. The work He was set out to accomplish by the Father was no easy task, and Jesus, being 100% human, would need strength to endure it.
Our Own Prayers
Likewise, we have been given work to do by our Heavenly Father, and we too need His strength to carry it out. But do we pray about it as often as Jesus had?
As we spend time with God in prayer, it’s time where we can air out our anxieties and fears, but it’s also a time where we exchange those feelings for the confidence we have in Him as our hope. That hope is an anchor that keeps the ships of our minds from drifting in the storm of life. We know that no matter what we face in this life, the Author and Finisher of our faith will bring the work He started in us to completion. And it’s that knowledge that allows us to come to Him and rest.
Appearing in Glory
When we read that Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, this just blows my mind. These godly men, who had been long since dead, had come and appeared to Jesus in glory. This cannot be explained in our finite human minds and understanding of time. But by faith, we understand that God is not bound by time and that things not yet happened as we understand it has already happened in light of eternity. It’s the same way that Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world before He ever was born on this earth. So these two men appearing in glory before the end when we all are changed and have glorified bodies may seem strange to us, but it is not strange to God.
We too, are being changed while here on earth and will eventually be completely changed. The ways we are changed here on earth is by the renewal of our minds and from one degree of glory to another.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
And when we come to the end of our lives here on earth, whether that be natural death, persecution, or by being taken up by Jesus, all followers of Jesus will be changed and brought to completion in Him.
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
I encourage you, as you await your fully glorified body, live your life to fully glorify God, praying your way through every aspect of your life here, just as Jesus did.