Game Changer Week 4: Devotional Day 2

Game Changer Week 4: Devotional Day 2

DAY 2 – Tuesday

Daily devotional

Read

Mark 9:2-3; Revelation 1:12-16

Ask

How does this image of Jesus transfigured point forward to the end times described in the book of Revelation?

Reflect

Living in the Pacific Northwest certainly gives you a different appreciation for the sun. Sunlight wasn’t something I can remember giving any particular thought to when I lived in other parts of the United States, but here it’s acknowledged as the gift it is, mostly because of how infrequently it shines for us. There are moments, however, when I feel like I’m emerging from my cave after a long darkness and the sun is just too bright, too intense for my feeble eyes. That’s what sunglasses are for, I guess.

Jesus in the flesh is like looking at Jesus with sunglasses on. When we see Jesus transformed on the mount, we see no-holds-barred Jesus, searing our retinas. We see Jesus the Glorious One, in contrast to Jesus the Approachable One. We see Jesus look very much like he is described in Revelation 1, a vision of Jesus that is quite at odds with our typical Sunday-School, flowing-hair, blue-eyes, holding-a-lamb Jesus. And if we’re honest, we see a Jesus who is kind of frightening to behold.

In truth, Jesus is both approachable and glorious, not one or the other. But Jesus makes himself approachable for our sakes, so that we can someday endure his terrible and glorious presence with no shame or fear. There will be a day when the whole world will see Jesus in glory, and they will either weep for joy or fear. We, along with the disciples, get a glimpse of this future on the mountain.

Today, take some time to take your imaginary sunglasses off, and think on Jesus as the Glorious One. Reflect on the passage in Revelation 1, allowing yourself to wonder what deeper meaning the different aspects of his description may reveal about who he is.