Setting Aside Glory
Jesus looked like any other man, except for this time. On the mountain he showed his divine majesty for a moment to Peter, James, and John. He was not trying to impress them; he wanted them to understand that he meant it when he said he was going to die for peoples’ sins.
Everything Jesus did on earth was part of putting aside his divine glory in order to show us the way to God. Once we believe that Jesus died for us, we have to begin to live like he did. Christians are supposed to put others ahead of themselves. we, too, set aside our “glory” to help others in need.
Mat 17:1-13
Six days later Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John with him. They went up on a very high mountain where they could be alone. There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. All at once Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus.
So Peter said to him, “Lord, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While Peter was still speaking, the shadow of a bright cloud passed over them. From the cloud a voice said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!”
When the disciples heard the voice, they were so afraid that they fell flat on the ground. But Jesus came over and touched them. He said, “Get up and don’t be afraid!” When they opened their eyes, they saw only Jesus.
On their way down from the mountain, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had been raised from death.
The disciples asked Jesus, “Don’t the teachers of the Law of Moses say that Elijah must come before the Messiah does?” Jesus told them, “Elijah certainly will come and get everything ready. In fact, he has already come. But the people did not recognize him and treated him just as they wanted to. They will soon make the Son of Man suffer in the same way.”
Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.
