All change

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3.18

Today is the last Sunday in Epiphany, before the season of Lent begins on Wednesday. Many churches will be celebrating the Transfiguration of Jesus. That is when Jesus took his "inner circle" of Peter, James and John up the mountain where, in a recapitulation of Moses' audience with God in the company of Joshua on Mount Sinai, Jesus is suddenly transformed into his resurrection glory and is observed conversing about the death which would win that glory with the same Moses - and Elijah. Between them, Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets; in other words, they encapsulate the Old Covenant inheritance of Israel.

That this was a key moment in the life of Jesus and in the experience of the disciples is confirmed by its appearance in all of the Gospel accounts, apart from John's (Mark 9:2–13; Matthew 17:1–13; Luke 9:28–36). The so-called Transfiguration of Jesus anticipations the transformation of all of our lives, through his earthly ministry, death and resurrection. And that process of change is not delayed until we die. From the moment we put our trust in Jesus - as Saviour - and commit to following him - as Lord - the Holy Spirit gets to work, purging us of sin and conforming us into the likeness of Jesus. Such is the richness of our inheritance in Christ!