They saw no one except Jesus

Peter, James and John caught a glimpse of the glory of God when Jesus was transfigured before them. The transfiguration came, not coincidentally, just after Jesus had asked the disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ (Mark 8:27). It revealed Jesus’ divine nature as the Son of God. The curtain of time was drawn aside and the disciples saw Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the prophets) clearly alive and alongside Jesus. The disciples would have known all about Moses and Elijah. But God is saying that Jesus is even greater than these two revered men.

When the disciples looked again, they saw only Jesus (Mark 9:8). Peter, James and John saw Jesus as we will see him when he comes again, with his glory revealed.

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The word used for ‘transfigured’ is the same word as is translated ‘transformed’ when the apostle Paul writes, ‘And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed [transfigured] into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit’ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

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I was encouraged by a Biblical word study from 2 Corinthians 3:18 indicating that we are God’s mirrors…

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And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 JB)

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But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB)

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One translation says, beholding as in a mirror another says, reflecting like mirrors. The verb katoptrizo can be translated either reflecting or beholding...

“with unveiled face, beholding” (RSV)

“beholding as in a glass” (KJV)

“reflecting like mirrors” (JB)

“be mirrors that brightly reflect” (TLB)

“we . . all reflect the Lord’s glory” (NIV)

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It seems the Holy Spirit intentionally selected a verb that would remind us to do both—beholding our Lord Jesus Christ so intently that we can’t help but reflect Him.

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To behold a face in a mirror is to study, to stare, to contemplate. Jesus is the source; we are the glass. Jesus is the light; we are the mirrors. Jesus sends the message; we mirror it…reflecting Who we are beholding.

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“As He is, so are we in this world”...as we behold Jesus, we are unconscious of the change in us, we are reflecting His beauty, His love for us.

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We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.—1 John 4:16-18 

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When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. (Matthew 17:8)

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This scripture concludes the passage on that glorious transfiguration day when suddenly Jesus’ face was seen to shine like the sun! The apostles would later describe Jesus' clothes as "dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them…as bright as a flash of lightning!" Then, the three apostles saw Moses, and Elijah standing there with Jesus, talking about the events which would take place in Jerusalem when he would depart from the earth. There was power of recognition--it was possible for Jesus and the apostles to know who Moses and Elijah were..."I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." Then, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well-pleased. Listen to Him!" What God said of His Son that day was not just a repetition of what he had said on the occasion of Jesus' baptism: "This is my Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well-pleased." It's those three additional words—“Listen to Him!"—that tell the tale. The voice from Heaven. The voice of God saying, "Listen to Him!"

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Lord Jesus, I want to know, see, and experience You in fresh ways so I can truly say that I desire You more than anything on earth! You and You alone are the strength of my heart. You are all that I need, and I am so thankful that You are mine forever. Nothing can separate me from Your love. Open my eyes, and grant me fresh vision to constantly see Your beauty and Your love for me. With each new day, speak to me out of the cloud. Let my face shine brighter and brighter with the light of Your face. May my own story end just as the apostles ended that glorious day...When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

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Lord, help me today to spend time in your presence and to reflect your glory in everything I do and say. Heavenly Father, thank You for letting me behold the Savior! He has come and is coming again! Lord Jesus, thank You for being a light to reveal God to the nations so that more people can know and worship our Father. Thank You for bringing us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. I want to shine Your light everywhere I go so that everyone around me will be drawn to You. I may not yet behold You with my physical eyes, but let the eyes of my heart be awakened to reflect You and to rejoice in You today. You are worthy of all of my praise and adoration! In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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Look Up—meditate on Matthew 17:8 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.

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Look In—as you meditate on Matthew 17:8 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."

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Look Out—as you meditate on Matthew 17:8 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.