Seeing Only Jesus

  While we were in England I had the opportunity to attend church in the town where my sister lives.  I have to admit, ashamedly, that I wasn't expecting much from the service, but God had something to reveal to me.  The gospel reading, from the book of Mark, recounted the Transfiguration.  

As you may recall, the quality time that Jesus had to spend with his disciples was decreasing rapidly.  The cross loomed ominously before him. He had to be certain that these men, the ones who would carry his word to the world, truly knew who he was. "Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus." Mark 9:2-4. 

The men were awe-struck as you might well imagine, and hustled around to set up memorial tents to honor these two old testament superstars.  "Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.' Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them. " Mark 9:7-8.  God, in his Shekinah glory, spoke to those humble followers, just as he did to those at Jesus' baptism, proclaiming who Jesus truly was, his Son. 

 I can relate to how the disciples first reacted, they were doing what they had been taught when they set up the memorials.  Sometimes doing a good or ritual-religious thing can seem so right, but it may take our eyes off of the one God wants us to see alone, Jesus.  Moses represented the Law and Elijah was the great prophet, and while what they accomplished for the kingdom was marvelous, it fades in comparison to the saving work of Christ on the cross.   

The purpose of the transfiguration  was to confirm the divine identity of Christ, to those men, and ultimately to all of us.  The verse that literally jumped out of that scripture were the words, "Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them." Mark 9:8.  They saw only Jesus, how awesome is that?  Can we say the same?  There are so many man-made facets to Christianity, and while they are not wrong, they tend to take our focus off of Jesus.  Today, re-read this eye-opening story, and when you look up I pray that you see only Jesus.