Last Sunday In Epiphany, The Transfiguration

Bottom Line Spirituality: Worldly and Godly Thinking

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Godly Abiding Spiritually in Jesus Changes the Meaning of What we See Worldly When Not Abiding in Jesus.

Spirituality is our innate ability to feel the difference worldly or godly thinking makes to the way scripture translates to our daily life and relationships.

Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a) “the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.”

Background: The Greek word for Transfiguration is meta (to change) morphoo (form).  It also is translated transformation in Romans 12:2.

The Transfiguration is a good example of the difference between the worldly language of the letter and the godly language of the spirit. The question is, which one makes more sense? When we think in a worldly manner we only have the evidence that is there. When we look at it in a godly way we are looking not only for what is there, but for what is there that should not be there and what is not there that should be there.

For a starter, the Gospel Lesson omits a confusing worldly passage but which make godly sense. It starts out with Jesus saying, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:27

Worldly thinking is: the Kingdom of God has yet to come so it would not make sense that any of them should still be alive to see it. However, in Godly language, Jesus has already told us the Kingdom of Heaven is within us. Don’t look for physical evidence. It will not be there. The Kingdom of Heaven is here with us now in the Presence of God in Christ. Luke 17:21 When Peter, James and John beheld the Transfiguration, they were seeing the God part of the Kingdom.

“Now about eight days after these sayings” is something that the worldly language would pass over to move on to the “real meat”. The Godly language would cry out, “Wait a minute.” Why is it there? It is because this is telling us it is the Sabbath Day. The reader may not realize it but the Sabbath Day is about to be transformed into to the Day of Resurrection.

Jesus took with him Peter, John and James to go up on the mountain to pray. While he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.

Worldly language will have a picture of Jesus being dazzling white. Godly language knows this is a picture of the risen Lord. The first thing those who have had out of body experiences tell us, is of the light.

Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Worldly language passes over that they “appeared in glory” because it does not fit into their thinking. While worldly language looks at what is there, Godly language looks at what it does. What does Light do? It lightens. That is, it gives spiritual insights. 

Jesus, Moses and Elijah were spiritual insights the Three had. Their worldly insight was to make three tabernacles for those in their vision. Suddenly, a cloud of glory covered them. The word from their heart was the Wisdom, “this is my beloved Son, Listen to Him.”

Worldly language would center on what happened with the Three and what they were talking about. It was about Jesus’ exodus. Moses had his, and Elijah had his in the fiery chariot. Now Jesus would have His exodus on Calvary.

Godly language would look at what the Three did. Moses represented the Law, and Elijah represented the prophets. Now they were replaced with Jesus. It was the exodus of the Law and the Prophets. “The Law came through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17 It is the transfiguration of the Scriptures. They are being transformed from legalism into grace. It is the choice between the worldly language of legalism or the spiritual language of grace. Which Word do you listen to: the Old? Or the New, transformed Word of God that is from the beginning?