Remember Who Our God Really Is – February 18, 2021

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
Mark 9:2

Remember Who Our God Really Is

Do you wonder why Jesus chose to bring his disciples to that mountain and briefly reveal his true glory to them? We find a clue in the first three words of today’s verse: “After six days.” As we look at this event, God wants us to keep in mind what had happened six days earlier. And what was that?

Six days earlier, Jesus told his disciples that he was soon going to die by crucifixion. At this point, Jesus is nine months away from his death, and he knew his disciples were going to see it happen. He knew they were going to see some very difficult things that were going to challenge their faith and make them wonder if following Jesus was worth it. So Jesus showed them a glimpse of his true glory. He gave them a reminder of how different and beautiful our God really is.

Based on what they were going to see, that was an important reminder for them, just as it is for us. We also have times in life when it doesn’t seem like anything good is happening, when our faith is challenged, and when the troubles of this world make us wonder if we have the right to expect anything glorious from the God who promises us so many good things.

The day of Jesus’ transfiguration is a reminder that we do. Just as Jesus bolstered the fragile faith of his disciples with a brief reminder of his glory, he invites us to find strength for our journey by remembering, moment-to-moment, who our God really is. He invites you to look past the human skin and see the glorious identity of our Savior, always eager to love, always ready to forgive, always ready to sacrifice whatever is necessary to be there for you when you cry out to him.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, help me to remember everything Jesus is and everything Jesus did so that I will never forget that I am your own child through him. Amen.