One day Jesus told His disciples about what the near future held for Him. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” [Luke 9:22]
I can only imagine how shocking that must have been. They were still of the opinion that Jesus was a “conquering” Messiah, the one who would overthrow Rome and return Israel to the glory she had under Kings David and Solomon. After all, He had more than demonstrated His miracle-working power. Surely, the one who could multiply loaves, cure lepers, and raise the dead could toss out a few Roman rulers.
Now he was telling them that instead he was about to suffer and be killed. A few days later, Jesus took the Inner Circle, Peter, James and John, up on a mountain to pray and there He revealed what the ultimate future held for Him.
“As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” [Luke 9:29]
That moment was a glimpse of what John saw of the Exalted Christ Jesus that he recorded in Revelation 1. That glimpse, that one moment on that mountain, would hold these disciples for the rest of their lives. James, the first to be martyred, Peter who would be crucified upside down, and John who would live the longest and suffer exile would remember what they saw that day. “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” [2 Peter 1:16]
All it takes is one glimpse of the majesty of our LORD and Savior, exalted to the Right Hand of the Father, to carry us through every trial and danger. Seek His Face today, beloved. Get that glimpse of the One we serve.
