TLIC FAMILY. DAY 138. MAY 18: TRANSFIGURED.

THINK TOGETHER

Have you ever seen something transform from one thing into another?

READ TOGETHER

Matthew’s gospel tells us a story about Jesus that happened before he would die on the cross. It’s called the story of the Transfiguration. Transfiguration is a fancy word that means change. Here’s how Matthew describes Jesus’ transfiguration:

Matthew 17:1-6. ¹And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³And…behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 

On the mountain top, Jesus’ disciples got to see something truly amazing. They saw Jesus changed into bright light, shining with all the glory of God. They saw Jesus glow. They heard God talk about Jesus and how much he loves him. How cool is that? But in just a few days they will see Jesus on another mountain top. Only this time he will be on a cross dying for our sins. There will be no bright lights on that mountain top. And God will be silent as Jesus dies for us.

But that’s why God took Jesus up on the mountain before he died on the cross, so that we would know that God the Father loves Jesus the Son, and that he honors Jesus’ death on the cross. And do you know what? Transfiguration doesn’t just happen to Jesus. The Bible says that everyone who believes in Jesus is also transfigured from the inside-out. Jesus changes us!

2 Corinthians 3:18. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transfigured into the same image [as Jesus]. 

God’s love inside of us is changing you and me into a bright light in a dark world. Like Jesus, we can know that God always loves us and we can love others too.  

Because of Jesus we are being changed by God’s love for us.

With Jesus we can glow with God’s love for others today.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Find a video of a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Talk about how God changes us slowly to be like Jesus just like he changes that butterfly.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, Change me into your likeness by your love. Amen