Inside-Out

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant."-(Mark 9:2-10)

The translation for the word "transfiguration" is revelation in and of itself. The Greek word is "metamorpho" meaning to transform either literally or figuratively; to change. It is an active verb which by definition is to "translate into another form", hence the term "metamorphosis" is used for the status change from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Furthermore, if you break the word into its two establishing members, "meta" meaning change and "morphe" meaning form, it also operates under the more specific definition "the change of the outward appearance so as to match the inward reality". Jesus' physical appearance is one of mystery and presumption, imagination and idealization. In truth, we can only imagine or surmise what He looked like. In most Christian Art, He is portrayed as Anglo, rarely determining a Palestinian or Middle-Eastern skin-type or heritage. It would appear, for all intents and purposes that the artists responsible for His likenesses in most cases idealized Him as one of their own contemporaries. Perhaps that is due to the closeness of heart that we feel as His followers. We are drawn to His person out of our depth of intimacy with Him, and hence, assimilate that feeling of familiarity into a visage or voice that is also familiar to us. Or, it may well be that the reason He is represented with Anglo pale skin, blonde hair and blue eyes in the majority of Christian paintings, stained glass or colored frescoes is due to the preference of the patron of the craftsman creating the piece. No matter, for it is known to all who have been changed by Jesus, He is BEAUTIFUL to every soul who adores Him, attractive to every heart that has known the Master's touch. But the Word of God does not show us that he was physically attractive. "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering."-(Isaiah 53:2-3) Which leads me to the prior point: Jesus' transfiguration at Mount Tabor was the change of His outward appearance so as to match the inward reality of His divinity. In that unbelievably precious moment of transformation, the three chosen to stand as witness to this divine event witnessed the outward manifestation of Christ's glory. Jesus was turned "inside-out".

Studying this dynamic moment at the pinnacle of His public ministry leads one to many questions. Why were Moses and Elijah there talking to Him? Why did Jesus choose Peter, John and James to witness this event? Why did the three witnesses receive admonition from the Lord? When we examine the Word of God, and find mystery, there are moments when the answer cannot be revealed by study and dissertation alone, but rather by divine impartation. The Word clearly states through the unfolding of this massively important event that Jesus was there speaking with Moses and Elijah, but it is not directly addressed as to what they were discussing; although many scholars surmise that the topic was the upcoming torture, death and resurrection that Jesus was to experience. These same scholars believe also that the two witnesses in the book of Revelation 11:3-12 are Moses and Elijah. The hypothesis of a "supernatural mission briefing" would, if correct, answer the query of the presence of Peter, John and James at the moment of transfiguration as well. This incredible occurrence would most definitely have strengthened the faith of the three men who would remain closest to the Lord as He endured the coming struggle to which they would be held witness of in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal and arrest. Other perspectives on the possibilities weave into the divine event the purpose of showing the fisherman and the sons of thunder, that the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) were perfected with the Son's fulfillment of both. When Peter volunteered to build them shelters, the glory cloud came and the voice of God instructed- "This is my beloved Son! Hear Him!"-(Mark 9:7) Which speaks to the preeminence of Christ above the Law and the Prophets. We are to listen FIRST to Christ who has perfected the Law and the Prophets. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."-(Matthew 5:17) It is also impressive that there were three earthly witnesses (Peter, John and James) and three heavenly witnesses (Moses, Elijah and God the Father-represented by His voice) present at the moment when Jesus' divine person literally "outshined" His natural person.

But it is the "outshining" itself, which for us bares greater attention in accordance with the unction of the Holy Spirit. While every detail, the seen and the unseen of this milestone deserve deep investigation and study, contemplation and meditation, the meat is in the metamorphosis itself. As stated earlier, the definition which shakes the spiritual and the relevant is "the change of outward appearance so as to match the inward reality". Jesus became the heavenly counterpart of Himself that moment; Jesus became His "AUTHENTIC SELF". The word "transfiguration" is the same in another entirely important scripture that holds paramount significance to the life of a disciple of Christ: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."-(Romans 12:1-2) The word "transformed" is in the original translation, literally the same "transfigured" that is used in Mark 9:2, Matthew 17:2 and Luke 9:28. Moreover, that insight itself lends additional weight to Romans 12:1-2. When we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, we are presenting our willing un-transfigured bodies as seed to God in the order for us to become our "transfigured" selves. Being transformed by the renewal of our mind means definitively that we do not operate out of the guidelines and precepts of the world, but rather the supernatural necessity that is defined by the Kingdom of God. "Thy Will be done on Earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN." May we become on Earth who we are in Heaven. We are, like our Lord, to be made in His Holy image, through His blood, fully transformed and then transfigured. We are to be made new and then turned "inside-out", just as Jesus was that glorious day. Perhaps to fulfill a two-fold purpose: To be presented unto God as Holy, and to be presented and stationed to the world as shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."-(Matthew 5:13-15) To become our "authentic selves" is not merely to be the best we can in the flesh or the mind. No- it is through Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"-(2 Corinthians 5:17)

When I received my salvation, I distinctly remember hearing from the Pastor, prophetically "Jesus wants to clean you. He wants to make you absolutely new, from the inside-out". And so, in communicating with you regarding this phenomenal moment emblazoned into our picture of the Savior, we wish to inquire of you this question: Is your inward reality or TRUTH one with Christ? If you cannot answer that simply, do not fear. This is a journey for everyone, even believers. But if the reason you could not grant a positive confirmation is a lack of relationship with the Son of God, we encourage you- do not waste one more moment. Ask Him in. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."-(Revelation 3:20-21) He alone has the power to make you who you were designed to be. He alone is the architect of your transfiguration, and your eternity. If you make Him your center, your source and your Lord, He will make you a new creation, and turn you INSIDE-OUT.