Shipley Church Self-Service

Sunday 14th February 2021

Thought for the Week – Christ’s Transfiguration

The story we are looking at today is a defining moment in the life of Jesus and of his three closest disciples. The Transfiguration was the miraculous outward transformation of Christ’s appearance to Peter, James and John, and a vision of the prophets Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus, as they all appeared on the side of a mountain. The indescribable light and magnificence in which he stood before them created, just for a brief moment, the “caterpillar” becoming the “butterfly”!

This remarkable scene took place just a few days after Jesus had explained to his followers that he was going to die, even as they had only gradually come to recognise who he was. Their fragile confidence in him as their Saviour would undoubtedly have been shaken. But here was a “light-bulb” moment, a moment of sudden revelation, beyond human understanding: the extraordinary sight of Christ in all of his glory, giving the most powerful demonstration of his divine nature, revealed in the context of ancient prophecies from the Old Testament. Jesus was proving to his apostles who he really was.(Mark 9: 2-9)

Hymn for today

Lord the light of your love is shining,

In the midst of the darkness, shining;

Light of the world, shine upon us;

Set us free by the truth you now bring us –

Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine,

Fill this land with the Father’s glory;

Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.

Prayer for today

This is a good day to look at where God has led us. We rejoice that he accepts us as we are, and pray for him to take us by the hand, as we listen to him as instructed.

Note: The Gospel and Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right of this page.