Bible Study: Jesus Shines with Unborrowed Light | Mark 9:2-9 | The Transfiguration of Our Lord

The transfiguration displays the glory of the Christ. Often, however, the participation of the saints in His glory gets overlooked in this episode of the Gospel. Their participation in Jesus’ glory has important ramifications for all Christians. For although all glory properly belongs to God alone, He also promises to glorify those who believe. The believers’ reward, for whom faith in Christ is accounted as righteousness, includes beholding the glory of God and seeing His face.

 

In this way, the faithful will also be glorified. Just as God allows the holy angels to partake in His glory (Luke 2:9; 9:26), so He allows the saints to partake in the same glory. Jesus gives to His disciples the glory that the Father gives Him (John 17:22; 1 Peter 5:1). Just as Jesus’ lowly body under which His divinity was concealed on earth was glorified on the mount of transfiguration, so our lowly bodies on the day of resurrection will be made like His glorious body (Phil. 3:21) Indeed, Christians may look forward with joyful anticipation to the promise of such glory as was manifested in Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration.

 

And in hope of the fulfillment of this promise, Christians find great consolation and strength to endure the trials of this world: ‘For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison’ (2 Cor. 4:17). At the transfiguration, the Father identifies Jesus as His Son. As adopted sons, we also have cause to rejoice since, like the adopted sons Moses and Elijah, we will live with Him in His glory. ‘ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us’ (Rom. 8:16–18).” - The Rev. Dr. Edward Naumann

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Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService