Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Matthew 17:2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
GOOD TO BE HERE (2)
Only a few shepherds saw the glory of the Lord on the night of Jesus' birth, but they soon began to spread abroad the angel's message. This time only three of the disciples get to witness the glory of the Lord's transfiguration that "fills the night." And they are not even supposed to tell anyone what they saw until after the resurrection! Apparently this was not something that was necessary to prepare the disciples for the events of Holy Week, nor did it stop these three from deserting their Master in the hour of trial.
It does remind us of how much more glorious was the Son of God than all created things. All things were made by Him; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. Just as He was the source of life for all, so also is He the light-source. In His face is displayed the light of the knowledge of God's glory (2 Corinthians 4:6). All the good which we do is a reflection of God's goodness, and we want it to shine to His glory, but Christ is the light-source itself. In Him resided all the fullness of God, and for a short time on the mountain that glory blazed forth.
This was the glory which He laid aside in order to come and rescue us all from the outer darkness that we deserved, to make us children of the light, heirs of endless life!
'Tis good, Lord, to be here,
Thy glory fills the night
Thy face and garments, like the sun,
Shine with unborrowed light.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 135:1)
