Devotional 2-18-13

Seeing a Transfigured Jesus – Luke 9:28-36
By Dr. David Winkle
As you travel the world, if you look at Christian art from the various cultures you encounter, you will find that most artists see Jesus as being one of their own. That is to say, Jesus is depicted as black in African art, pasty white in European works and Asian artists follow suit. I love the fact that Jesus is not tied to our first century Mediterranean images of him. As the risen Lord encounters people around the world, their image of him depicts what is in their hearts.

My family has a collection of nativity sets from around the world, which show the Holy Family, shepherd and wise men in the traditional clothing of their various cultures, as well as showing them with various racial characteristics. One of the things we enjoy most about Christmas is setting these various nativities throughout the house. I am reminded of the Christmas song written by Alfred Burt, “Some Children See Him.”

We all tend to see Jesus in terms of our own likeness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, so long as we do not make it exclusive. That is to say that we do not begin to think that “others cannot be in the group with me and my Jesus, because they are not created in our likeness.” In today’s text, a story we call the “Transfiguration,” Peter, James and John saw Jesus in his glory. We are told that “the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” He no longer looked like Peter, James and John. In his glory, Jesus had a completely different appearance.

To the best of my knowledge there has been no discovery of a race of people on this planet that glow with brilliant light. In his glory, Jesus transcends race and all other divisions of humankind. The brilliance of his glory melts away barriers and walls that divide. As we have all been baptized into Christ Jesus, we all bask in the same glorious light of his face, which is neither black, nor white, yellow nor red. St. Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)

Where can we see Jesus in his glory today? There are several places where Jesus promised to meet us, but the one that comes to mind most readily is where Jesus tells us that he is among the “least of these his brethren.” (Matthew 21:31-46) Jesus is still transfigured today, and his appearance changes. Jesus is among the lost and homeless. He is among the addicts and the jobless. This is where we will meet him, transfigured and changed, working glorious miracles through his glorious power.

Moved by the power of the Holy Spirit, as each of us engage in the ministry of Jesus, we become part of the ongoing transfiguration. In ministry, the glory of Jesus Christ is revealed to everyone. Those who receive, receive as though from the hands of Jesus himself. Those who give, give as though to Jesus himself.

Each time you engage in Jesus’ ministry to the least, the lost and the lonely, he is revealed to you in a different way. One day he may appear to you as a homeless alcoholic; tomorrow he may be transfigured to appear as a battered woman seeking shelter. These people may not glow with radiant light as Jesus did on the mountain that day, but I promise that you will see His glory revealed in the moment.

As you serve them that need Jesus in their life, let his glorious light shine from you so, others will see Christ in you.

Peace, Grace and Blessings.

Jim Perry