The True Glory of Jesus

(Mark 9.2-13; Luke 9.28-36)

17 ^(A) Six days later Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John with him. They went up on a very high mountain where they could be alone. ² There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

³ All at once Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus. ⁴ So Peter said to him, “Lord, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

^5 (B) While Peter was still speaking, the shadow of a bright cloud passed over them. From the cloud a voice said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!” ⁶ When the disciples heard the voice, they were so afraid they fell flat on the ground. ⁷ But Jesus came over and touched them. He said, “Get up and don't be afraid!” ⁸ When they opened their eyes, they saw only Jesus.

^7 (A) The Law of Moses brought only the promise of death, even though it was carved on stones and given in a wonderful way. Still the Law made Moses' face shine so brightly the people of Israel could not look at it, even though it was a fading glory. ⁸ So won't the agreement the Spirit brings to us be even more wonderful? ⁹ If something that brings the death sentence is glorious, won't something that makes us acceptable to God be even more glorious? ¹⁰ In fact, the new agreement is so wonderful that the Law is no longer glorious at all. ¹¹ The Law was given with a glory that faded away. But the glory of the new agreement is much greater, because it will never fade away.

¹² This wonderful hope makes us feel like speaking freely. ^13 (B) We are not like Moses. His face was shining, but he covered it to keep the people of Israel from seeing the brightness fade away. ¹⁴ The people were stubborn, and something still keeps them from seeing the truth when the Law is read. Only Christ can take away the covering that keeps them from seeing.

¹⁵ When the Law of Moses is read, they have their minds covered over ^16 (C) with a covering that is removed only for those who turn to the Lord. ¹⁷ The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same, and the Lord's Spirit sets us free. ^18 (D) So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord's Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord.

²² I did not see a temple there. The Lord God All-Powerful and the Lamb were its temple. ^23 (A) And the city did not need the sun or the moon. The glory of God was shining on it, and the Lamb was its light.

^24 (B) Nations will walk by the light of that city, and kings will bring their riches there. ^25 (C) Its gates are always open during the day, and night never comes. ²⁶ The glorious treasures of nations will be brought into the city. ^27 (D) But nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter. No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life^[a] will be in the city.

22 ^(E) The angel showed me a river that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb were seated. ^2 (F) Then it flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river are trees^[b] that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations.

^3 (G) God's curse will no longer be on the people of that city. He and the Lamb will be seated there on their thrones, and its people will worship God ^4 (H) and will see him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people. ^5 (I) Never again will night appear, and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will rule forever.

The Coming of Christ

⁶ Then I was told:

These words are true and can be trusted. The Lord God controls the spirits of his prophets, and he is the one who sent his angel to show his servants what must happen very soon.