February 2010

“Preview of a Coming Attraction”

     It will whet your appetite every time – the preview of a coming attraction.  Coming to a theater near you… next week on… stay tuned to find out…  It piques our curiosity.  It lets us know ahead of time.  It gives us a glimpse into a small part of the bigger picture.

     Jesus provides us with a preview of a coming attraction in His Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36).  Sandwiched between words of His suffering and death (Luke 9:22 and 9:44), Jesus provided a preview of His resurrected glory; a glimpse into a small part of the bigger picture of the salvation He came to bring. 

     Jesus’ Transfiguration let His disciples know ahead of time not just the story, but the glory of the cross.  On the Mountain of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah, appearing in glorious splendor, talked with Jesus about His departure which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem – at the cross.

     Our Lord wants us to see His preview of a coming attraction.  He wants us to know ahead of time what He has prepared for us.  He wants us to remember that his resurrection glory (and subsequently ours) comes by way of the cross.

     Our day to day living leads us through the drama of decisions, the mystery of questions unanswered, the comedy of errors, the tragedy of the unexpected, the laughter of celebration.  At the same time our lives are lived in the shadow of the cross and with the preview of the coming attraction of our future glory through the death and resurrection of our Savior.  We, therefore, live with an eye ever on the bigger picture of things eternal.

     The Sunday of the Transfiguration (February 14 – ironically a day we celebrate love and being loved) paves the way for our journey to the cross with Jesus in Lent.  But more; Jesus’ Transfiguration transforms our every day into joy, hope, peace, and blessed assurance.  May Jesus’ preview of a coming attraction direct your every day with the promise of eternal life.

Pastor John

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