Dear Friends in Christ,

     There was almost no way to describe what they had seen. It had been too overwhelming, too glorious. It defied description. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain late in the evening. There Jesus intended to pray. His disciples were fighting off sleepiness. One gospel writer tells us that they hadn't quite fallen asleep, the other tells us that they were awakened from sleep, when a bright, shining radiance burst through the dark night. From within Jesus, the radiance of his eternal glory was shining out, and his entire countenance changed! No spotlight from heaven, this radiance came from within the Lord. And with his changed countenance, the disciples found themselves looking upon the Christ of creation, the one of whom John spoke when he wrote the following passage:

In the beginning was the Word [Jesus] and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory ...

     It was this glory to which John is referring. The point is this: Jesus left the glory of heaven to come and live among us, that we—believing in him—might share in the glory that was restored to him at the resurrection. When Peter, James, and John saw him on the Mount of Transfiguration (which means to be changed in form), they were catching a glimpse of what the resurrected body of Jesus would be like! Wouldn't you have loved to have been there that day? The same awe and fear would have overwhelmed us, just as it did them. And one day, we who believe, will see Jesus in all his glory and splendor, and will share in it. All this is made possible because of the Love and Grace of God—made possible because Jesus was willing to die for the sins of the world, that we would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

     As we journey toward Jerusalem into this sacred season of Lent, let us respond to this great, unmerited gift with prayer and praise and thanksgiving. At the end of the month, we will find ourselves in Holy Week and will share in the Maundy Thursday Communion service and the Service of Darkness on Good Friday, the day of crucifixion. Then—we will celebrate the glory of Resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 4. Invite someone you know and love to join you on this journey. The news is too good not to share it with others!

     May God bless you this month as we join Jesus on his journey toward Jerusalem.

Yours in the service of Christ and the Church,

Bob

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