DEVOTIONAL: READ LUKE 9:28-36

In Luke 9, some of Jesus’ closest disciples shared in the significant, miraculous, and glorious experience of seeing Jesus transfigured on a mountaintop. As they were with Him praying, Jesus’ appearance began to change, and His clothes became a radiant white. Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus about what He was about to do in Jerusalem.

In the few verses just before this, Jesus had explained to His disciples that He would be rejected by the religious authorities, killed, and resurrected. He told them that they too would die for His cause. While Jesus’ message was also one of hope, the disciples were in need of encouragement after such a heavy revelation.

What better encouragement could there be than seeing a manifestation of Jesus’ glory on a mountaintop! They saw the prophets they had heard about their whole lives appear. They heard God say that Jesus is His Son and to listen to Him!

Peter, in particular, had an incredible spiritual experience and didn’t want to leave. Yet, the moment ended, and they went back down the mountain.

Like Peter, we often want to stay in our spiritual mountaintop experiences forever. Yet those moments pass, and we are sent back out into the world. Don’t be discouraged when feelings from a spiritual experience are fleeting. Be thankful for what you are able to experience and be motivated by it. When we experience Jesus being glorified, may we be encouraged to live for His mission in our daily lives. Like the disciples, we will face hardship as we follow Christ. Like the disciples, we should listen to Jesus, God’s Son. May we see Jesus glorified and be encouraged to go out into the world for Him!