Dear Friends,
The Apostle John wrote, “We beheld His glory” and today’s devotional will give you insight into just what he meant. God bless you.

Because of Calvary,
John Janney

• Mark 9:1-8 (ESV)

  1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
  2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

“He taketh us

On a high mountain, nor forsaketh us,

But turneth round upon us, glistening

In face and raiment, as He were a King.

In converse we discover at His side

Moses, Elias…. He is glorified,

The Son of God: and Peter would abide

Forever with these three, and prays to rear

Three tabernacles. And the light grows drear.

Some sin is on us that no wise we wist;

We are closed up as in God’s very fist;

We cannot see: only there floats above,

Rumbling and murmuring as an angry love,

Some element in havoc that doth press

Against the idle word that Peter said.

I know not by what stroke,

Beneath that awful cloak,

Elias and the Law-giver are brought

To nothingness in the Eternal Thought:

For presently we are allowed,

Through adumbrations of the cloud,

To hear the Father’s Voice in its caress,

As if from Chaos sped

Toward that belovèd head ―

Jealous and watered as of rain-drop tears

That Voice appears

In majesty on the cloud’s breaking rim:

‘Lo, this is my belovèd Son; hear Him!’

The Lord is glorified; we see

His Body as in glory it will be ―

Nothing it lacks

Save of His Wounds the lovely tracks.

I, John, who lay upon His bosom, I

Must testify.

I never saw Him ― now

I see Him in the Father and rejoice:

He standeth meek amid His snows,

Flushed as a rose,

For we have heard that Voice,

How maiden in humility His brow!

Almost He whispereth ‘No word of this!

It is our secret: I should take amiss

That of this hour one word be said,

Peter, till I am risen from the dead.’

And having spoken, He looks back on me,

And in an instant my theology

Is given; for I know the Word is God.”

[Michael Field, Mystic Trees, 20 in The Speaker’s Bible VIII edited by James Hastings and Edward Hastings, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, n.d.), p. 200]