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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 3, 2008 Light of the World |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, February 3, 2008 by Anne B. Crawford
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." Matthew 17: 1-9 NIV
There are a number of iconic images that show up in the New Testament. Images that appear again and again with various degrees of meaning and importance – like water (e.g., the waters of baptism, Jesus walking on water, turning water into wine) and, in today’s reading on the Transfiguration, light. Light. We are told that Jesus is the “light of the world.” A bright star (light) announces his birth and we are just now finishing the season of Epiphany, which means to show/make known or to “reveal” – that’s what light does – it illuminates and reveals what has been dark or unseen. Images of bright/brilliant light are a prominent feature in the Transfiguration story. Jesus is ‘revealed’ to Peter, James and John as the Son of God in all his glory. For one brief and glorious moment these disciples get a revelation of God’s nature; a divine confirmation that Jesus is who he says is – the Son of God. You’d think that kind of illumination would have staying power, but it doesn’t. Despite the transfiguration, the disciples’ moment of clarity gets obscured. From the Transfiguration we move steadily toward Jerusalem and the crucifixion. The disciples fall asleep in the garden; Peter denies Christ three times. All is seemingly dark. Christ’s resurrection is the ultimate revelation, but not everyone is on board with that either (e.g., Thomas who would not believe until he saw Jesus for himself).
I think our own faith journeys are not that different. We have those occasional moments of clarity and illumination, followed by lots of time of murkiness and uncertainty. We shouldn’t discount those relatively rare but precious glimpses of God’s direct presence and action in our lives, but we also need to recognize that the ‘mountain top’ experience is not where Jesus stayed or wants us to stay. He calls us to move on – sometimes in murkiness and uncertainty – to spread the gospel and bring others to Him, with faith that His illumination will guide us, even when we don’t see it directly. We are Jesus’ light in this world and it is His salvation that transfigures our lives in this world and the world to come.
Prayer: Jesus, you are the light of the world. Help me to be your light to others. Transfigure my life so that my words and actions may be a faithful witness to You. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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