And this is a sample of the best leadership in this inner group.  Things were in bad shape.  All the machinery hung upon a little pin holding two parts together.  That pin threatens to bend and break for lack of temper.  The Son of God leaves all else and turns aside to attend to a pin.  The future of the kingdom hung upon three undisciplined country fishermen.  The transfiguration spells out God’s dire extremity in getting a footing in human hearts and brains for His plans.  Something must be done.

Mark what that something was to be:  so simple in itself, so tremendous in its results.  They were to be allowed to see Jesus.  That would be enough.  The Jesus within would look out through the body He was using.  The real Jesus within looked out through the Jesus they knew.  He let these men see Himself a few moments; simply that.  All of that, yet simply that.  They were His lovers.  They were to be sorely tried by coming events.  They were to be the leaders.  To love, for a time of sore need, for service’s sake, for the sake of the multitudes whose leaders they were to be, for the saving of the church plan, and beyond of the kingdom plan, the Jesus within looked out for a few moments into their faces.

It was the same plan used later in getting another leader.  Jesus had to go outside these men for a man with qualifications needed by the situation that these men did not have.  The human element again in evidence.  Paul says, “When I could not see for the glory of that light.”  That light bothered his eyes.  The old ambitions were blurred.  He couldn’t see them.  The outlines dimmed, the old pedigree and plans faded out.  They could no longer be seen for the glory of that light.  It is the plan the Master has ever used, and still does.  It is irresistible.

"The Glory of that Light."

It was six days, or eight counting both ends, after the first telling of the coming tragedy that shook them so.  Here is a bit of practical psychology.  Jesus lets the brain impression made by that strange announcement deepen before making the next impression.  Jesus went up into the mountain “to pray.”  Prayer never failed Him.  It was equal to every need with Jesus.  It was while praying that the wondrous change came.  Changed while praying.  When Moses came down from that long time alone with God, his face was full of the glory reflected from God’s presence.  Stephen’s face caught the light of another Face into which he was intently looking.

Jesus was changed from within.  It was His own glory that these men saw.  He had wrapped Himself up in a bit of human tapestry so He could move among men without blinding their eyes.  Now He looks out through the strands.  They are astonished and awed to find that face they know so well now shining as the sun, and the garments made transparent as light, glistening like snow, by reason of the great brilliance of the light within.  Yet Jesus let out only a part of the glory.  When Paul saw, on the Damascus road, the light was above the shining of the sun.