We are saved from sin and death because Jesus suffered and was killed. Since this is how He paid the wages of our sins, we can serve God without fear. We serve God’s will and struggle against sin to the end of our lives because the life which the Lord gave us is incomparably more valuable.
However, to the disciples who did not yet know this spiritual reality, it was a bolt from the blue when the Lord said He must suffer and be killed. Furthermore, as the Lord said, “Anyone who wants to follow Me must take his cross” and “Those who want to save their lives will lose it”, the disciples could not hide their confusion. To comfort them a little, the Lord said everything was not going to end with His death, but He was going to come in His Father’s glory.
Yet such promises were too vague. The Lord again spoke about this, “There are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” The Lord will come in His Father’s glory on the Last Day, but before it comes, the Lord promised He would briefly show the radiant authority of God’s kingdom to a few of His disciples.
Six days later, the Lord showed this promise for real when He took Peter, James and John and went up a high mountain. The Lord transfigured in front of them. His face shone like the sun and the splendor coming from His body penetrated His clothes. The Lord showed them beforehand a taste of His glory when He comes in His Father’s glory on the Last Day.
The disciples saw Elijah and Moses appear with the Lord. They heard them speaking about the Lord’s departure, and the disciples finally acknowledged that the Lord’s suffering and death was approved by God and it was His victory. But when Elijah and Moses were about to leave, Peter spoke with impatience, “It is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Then, a cloud covered them, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
This is how the disciples had a taste of the glory to appear on the Last Day. The presence and glory of God’s kingdom was no longer a distant story. They could clearly testify that God’s kingdom comes and its glory shines where the word of the Lord is fulfilled. This is the same for us, since we possess the faith that they preached and received the testimony of the Holy Spirit.
Glory is not permitted only to special people or special occasions. For sure, the spirit which does not obey God’s word (and is overshadowed by sin) cannot see glory. But people who offer themselves to God with sincerity will see the Lord’s glory shining where they serve by faith. They will see that the kingdom of God comes and His glory shines where they obey the Lord and serve the church (which is His body). While we anticipate the glory of the Last Day, the Lord shows us comfort when it is called “Today”.
(Lord’s Day Service on August 29, 2021)
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