Look Into His Eyes

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:16-21 ESV).

In Greek mythology there’s a story about Medusa, a terrifying woman with snakes for hair. Anyone who looked directly at her would turn to stone. There is much more to that story, however, I use it only to introduce the truth that Paul presents in our reading today. He tells the good news that if you look directly at Jesus in faith, he will transform your stony heart into a heart that is alive forevermore. Decades after it happened, the Apostle Peter wrote our reading today. It details the incredible moment when Jesus was transfigured on a mountain before their very eyes (cf. Luke 9:28-36). The disciples who witnessed that event saw his glory, and they never forgot it. It changed their lives forever. They were transformed. That, says the apostle Paul, is the secret of our own metamorphosis: “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord‘s glory, are being transformed into his image” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Let’s see if I can use the common experience that most of us have shared looking in a mirror, especially during our teenage years. It would be common to begin a thorough self-examination: “Is that a new pimple? Do I need to shave? Is that hair out of place?” That’s the idea behind this text, except that Paul talks about gazing not at himself but at the glory of Christ. Change will come when, as an old hymn says, we “turn [our] eyes upon Jesus, [and] look full in his wonderful face.” We need to turn our eyes to Christ, who was not only transfigured but was also crucified and raised from the dead to live and rule forever. What better time to do this than in this season of Lent? It affords us the inspiration to examine ourselves without fear and defeat. He has given us the power to be transformed! Turn your eyes upon Jesus!