A Vision of Things to Come
“…Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white…While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”
Matthew 17:1-2, 5
The first three years of our marriage were exciting and carefree. Christina and I were living in Philadelphia. We had a one-bedroom apartment above a barbershop in an old part of the city. I was in seminary and we had lots of free time, but things began to change for us the day we learned that we were pregnant with our first child. The news washed over us with a mixture of excitement and surprise. This was a natural feeling for first-time parents, I think. We had never had kids before, so we did our best to prepare ourselves. We read books, made frequent doctor visits and acquired the latest baby gadgets.
One of the most memorable moments was when we first saw an ultrasound image of our daughter. Seeing her little hands and hearing her heartbeat made a massive impression on us. From that moment on, we began thinking more like parents—less about ourselves and more about our child. The future promise of the birth of our first child changed the way we lived in the present.
The transfiguration had a similar effect on the disciples. It provided them with a picture of the future—their future. It enabled them to carry out the hard part of Jesus’ mission with hope and encouragement. This is why Jesus allowed His disciples a glimpse into the future. He wanted them to see—if only for a moment—the good things to come. Matthew tells us that Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain and “…was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.”
The transfiguration matters to us as well because it is a picture of our future. When God pulls back the veil—and shows us the transformed nature of Jesus—we see a vision of our future as those who will be transformed into the likeness of Christ. So, despite our worry, anxiety and discouragement, this vision allows us to reinterpret our present reality in light our future reality. Such a vision gives us confidence do the work that God has called us to do. As you go about your day, remember your true identity: a child of God who will one day be transformed into the image of Christ.
