June 28

“As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.”   —LUKE 9:29

The Transfiguration on the Mount is an amazing event in Scripture that unquestionably denotes the uniqueness of Christ. Jesus had taken Peter, John and James up to a mountain to pray. As he was praying, his face changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. Peter wanted to build three shelters; one for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

Peter’s suggestion of building three shelters is indicative of a key issue our world is facing today. Many fail to recognize the uniqueness and exclusiveness of Jesus Christ. In the midst of Peter speaking, a cloud envelopes them and God intervenes from heaven, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35). When the cloud disappeared, the disciples found themselves alone with Jesus. He has no competition, and this is where many people have been led astray.

The problem facing our world today is a popular creed known as “pluralism”. That doesn’t include ethnic, cultural or political differences, which should be respected both in society and in our churches, but rather it is the philosophy that says there are many equally valid truths and valid ways for a person to find God. The common religious ideology today is that if you find a religion that’s good for you, then that’s your truth and it’s acceptable. In effect, what that means is that we’re all climbing up the same mountain, but on different paths to find God. That’s the trendy notion, but along with it comes huge skepticism about whether or not there is an absolute truth. 

If Jesus Christ is not exclusively the means by which human beings may know God and be reconciled to Him, then we have no option but to declare Christ to be the biggest fraud in history. He says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). There is nothing ambiguous about that statement.  

Jesus didn’t appear out of the blue. The whole of Scripture leads to Him, much of it written centuries before He was born. The entire Bible is a revelation of Jesus Christ, as is the Book of Revelation where we find Him very much as He appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration - glistening white, bright as light. There is no parallel to Him. Only in Christ are we forgiven and reconciled to God, and only in Christ may we know the certainty of heaven.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, In this complex, troubled world, the gift of Jesus Christ is what keeps me grounded and secure. Thank You, Lord, that He is our way to You, and for His indwelling Spirit who unites us. 

TO REFLECT UPON: Have I considered the many ways in which Christ is unique and do I pass that on in my witness for Him?