Transformed – teen devotion – March 2, 2025

One key truth: Jesus brought those disciples onto that mountainside to “show off” his radiance and glory as God so they would know—and you would know—that no matter how dark it gets, Jesus is still shining.

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of 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. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
Luke 9:28-35

Glory Is Hidden in Order to be Revealed

Stopping at gas stations is routinely part of any road trip. But when you’re asked, “How was your trip to _______?” you don’t bore your audience with when or where you stopped for gas. We jump right to the destination, because—in our minds—gas stations are insignificant or inconsequential: they’re just a necessary stop along the way to a greater destination—nothing more. Unless the gas station you stopped at is Buc-ee’s (pronounced “Buckeys”)—a 50,000-square-foot gas station that is a grocery store, convenient store, sandwich shop, candy shop, coffee shop, and emporium all rolled into one. This gas station has 100 fuel pumps, 1,000 parking spaces, and the best bathrooms ever seen with d over 80 toilets, Buc-ee’s even has its own merch, like tumblers, coffee mugs, magnets, blankets, t-shirts, hoodies, and yes, even pajama onesies.

You see, Buc-ee’s isn’t just a gas station: it’s a destination. That said, Buc-ee’s isn’t an ultimate destination—even if it is a glorious stop along the way. It is good to go there, but if you’re passing through on a getaway or vacation, it wouldn’t be good for you to stay there.

There’s an attitudinal trap we can fall into as we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus. On one hand, we might fail to see this spectacular event on that mountain for what it actually is—and write it off as just a necessary stop along the way to a greater destination—and nothing more. On the other hand, when we see the road ahead to the cross is filled with persecution, pain, and death, we not only insist “It’s good to be here” but insist, “It’s good to stay here” —thus turning this amazing mountaintop experience into something it’s not: the ultimate experience of Jesus’ glory as God. But it isn’t.

So, why the transfiguration? Because if the only side of God we saw was his holographic side—his absolute power, righteousness, holiness, and perfection—we, too, would be left with our face to the ground, trembling and terrified! How could we stand in the presence of such a God? I am a sinner! We could not stand before our holographic God and live! But that’s not the only side our God shows us on that Mount of Transfiguration! Our God of compassion would show his glory for us by taking on the very nature of a servant! The seemingly scandalous, offensive, lowly, humiliation of Christ’s death on the cross is how God would demonstrate his glorious mercy and grace for you by dying for you!

Transfiguration Sunday isn’t Jesus’ final stop, but it isn’t just a stop along the way, either. Your Savior would do all of this for you—not just to remind you that your God shines even through the deepest darkness of the “night” of your life, but that you would be able to stand before your risen God and Savior one day in all his holographic awesomeness—not trembling nor terrified, but in joy, peace, and confidence as his blood-bought redeemed child! Jesus would die for you so that your robes would be washed in his blood—and you, too, would shine with Christ’s radiant holiness!

Isn’t it good that this is a stop along the way to Calvary? Jesus brought those disciples onto that mountainside to “show off” his radiance and glory as God—so they would know, and you would know—no matter how dark it gets, Jesus is still shining.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, on the Mount of Transfiguration, you not only displayed your divinity as God, but showed us that you remain in control and you are still shining—even when it’s incredibly dark. Continue to lead us by the light of your Word, and lighten our hearts and minds as you sanctify us by the light of your truth. In your name we pray. Amen.