A Glimpse of Glory Past and Future

Read Matthew 17:1-13

      Peter, James, and John were the privileged few who got to see Jesus in his glory, the veil of his flesh temporarily pulled back.  Years later, John would surely look back on this episode as he contemplated the glory Jesus laid aside to become one of us (John 1:14; 17:5).  And we know without a doubt that Peter’s memories of this moment infused his anticipation of Christ’s present and future glory (2 Peter 1:16-18; 3:3-4, 14). 

      John wrote that all who are in Christ will one day see him in his glory, and that our seeing him will have a transfiguring effect on us!  “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).