When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Which Bible event would you want to have been part of? To me, the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain would certainly be among my preferences. Peter, James, and John, the disciples who had that privilege, witnessed marvelous things. “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light,” Matthew writes. The three disciples saw Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets, talking with Jesus, in whom all God’s promises are yes and amen. They heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
It was so impressive that the disciples fell on their faces out of sheer fear. Then, probably the best part happens. Jesus came and touched them. Picture that! Jesus bowed down to touch them and told them not to be afraid. The Gospel in a nutshell: Jesus comes down to save us.
The story continues with today’s verse: “When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” For one short, glorious moment, the three disciples had experienced heaven on earth, but they had to carry on. All they needed for that was Jesus.
From the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus made His way to that other mountain, Golgotha. There, He sacrificed Himself for our sins. It was Him alone, for all the disciples forsook Him and fled (Matt. 26:56).
At the cross of Calvary, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” It was, now more than ever, Christ alone. Even His Father had left Him. Jesus had to carry the full weight of God’s wrath alone. His death was necessary for the atonement of our sins. The disciples couldn’t help Him. It was Christ alone.
We cannot save ourselves. We cannot bring anything to make amends for our sins. We need Christ. Christ alone. We can rejoice in Him because with His death and His resurrection on the third day, we have new life in Him. We serve a living Savior!
When the Apostle Paul discovered that redeeming truth, he considered all he could boast about as entirely worthless. “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ,” (Philippians 3:7). In Paul’s life, it had become “Christ alone!”
How about you? Is Jesus your One and All? Or are there still things you hold on to that deny Christ’s full lordship over your life? Throw it all away now! Your salvation, your joy, your hope are in Christ alone!
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song.
My Comforter, my All in All;
Here in the love of Christ, I stand.
– In Christ Alone, Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
By Anton de Vreugd, BLI global staff, the Netherlands
