Brighter Than the Sun
What is brighter than the sun? Perhaps we should rephrase that – who is brighter than the sun? The answer is, of course, Jesus!
The Transfiguration Made Jesus Brighter Than the Sun!
I would Like to read Mark, chapter 9, verses 2 to 7:
“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, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 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.’ For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’”
Mark 9:2-7
The shining Jesus dazzles them. It is really too much for human eyes.
“His face shone like the sun.”
Matthew 17:2
An Eclipse
We have been told, even in an eclipse, not to look directly at the sun. The sun is about 10 billion times brighter than the brightest star we see with the naked eye. “Jesus shines brighter.”
All this happens on a mountain, with the heroes of 2 other mountains brought in as special guests: Moses from Mount Sinai and Elijah from Mount Carmel. Why Elijah and Moses? Moses was the great Lawgiver, and Elijah was the great Prophet. Together they are a summary of the whole Old Testament which the Jews divided into the Law and the Prophets. The main representatives of the law and the prophets are carrying on a conversation with Jesus, the very one who said,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Matthew 5:17
How would you like to have been in on that Bible Study Group?
Cloud of Glory
I wonder if the cloud which passed over was the same cloud of God’s glory that filled the Tabernacle so much that Moses couldn’t enter. (Ex 40:35) The cloud that filled Solomon’s temple so that the priests could not enter the temple. (1 Kings 8:10,11; 2 Chron 7:1) And imagine this – Peter, James and John are now standing in that cloud.
But like they say on infomercials, “But wait … there’s more.” There is something even more personal and stunning for you and me to know. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you will one day rise from the earth, or from the grave, to meet the risen Jesus in bright, shining clouds to be with him forever. Some day you are going to be in that cloud and brilliant glory is going to surround you:
“And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thess 4:16-17)
No wonder Paul says in the next verse:
“Therefore, encourage one another with these words.”
(1 Thess 4:18).
“Encourage one another” – I’ll say. That kind of thing will put wind in your sails. It’s enough to push out an “Amen”, right through a pandemic mask. Maybe even “Praise the Lord.” Or “Hallelujah.” In a shy, audience, it might be hard to say all three out loud … but when we are swooped up to that cloud in the sky to meet Jesus, I think there will be lots of out-loud praise.
A Shout
The Bible says there will be a shout on the way down when Jesus returns – “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout.” I am hoping there will be some shouting on the way up — “and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” What a day that will be.
Do you think it is possible that Jesus could be brighter than the sun? Contact us at HopeStreamRadio, or comment below.
Brian Stapley
Brian Stapley is the husband of Margaret and “Christian-proud” father of Tabitha, Ben, Jeremy and Joel. He has been director of the Boys JIM Club of America since 1981 and a “JIM Clubber” since 1958, the year he became a Christian. The mission statement of the JIM Club is, “Discipling boys to love Jesus deeply and express him vividly.”
He has been an educator since 1970, primarily as a high school English Teacher. (Don’t dangle your participles.) He has been in fellowship at Scottlea Gospel Chapel, St. Catharines, since 1976 and travels to preach about three dozen times a year, in Ontario and New York State. He is a ventriloquist, in company with Casey, Theodore, Dodo, Grumpa, and a menagerie of others. Also, a bit of a magician.
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