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The word “transformed” is found in the New Testament four times.
“Transformed” comes from the Greek word “metamorpho,” and it doesn’t take a Greek scholar to realize, “Hey, this word ‘metamorpho’ must be the root word for our English word ‘metamorphosis.’” And if you said that, you would be correct.
An image that quickly comes to mind when discussing metamorphosis is the transformation of a caterpillar into a monarch butterfly…
As believers, we are to be transformed. What does this mean? How does it happen? We gain insight by looking at the four instances in the New Testament where the word “metamorpho” is used.
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light (Matthew 17:1-2, ESV, emphasis mine).
And he [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them (Mark 9:2b-3, emphasis mine).
Note that “metamorpho” is translated “transfigured” in both Matthew and Mark. I love the description of this change from Matthew: “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light.
I want to be changed to be like Jesus. How about you? Now let’s look at the two other passages where “metamorpho” is used…
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2, emphasis mine).
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to glory. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, emphasis mine).
These verses are linked into a path of transformation.
In both Matthew 17 and Mark 9, we see Jesus transformed. In Romans 12, we learn that we are transformed by renewing our minds, and in 2 Corinthians, we find that turning to the Lord (with a renewed mind) allows us to behold the beauty of the Lord (face shining and clothes brilliant). And seeing Jesus, our face reflects this glory!
Amen!
Now that we have the path: renewed mind to beholding Jesus to being transformed. Let’s realize that this transformation, sort of like the metamorphosis of a Monarch butterfly, is also very different. Whereas the Monarch is one and done, we change from glory to glory — again, again, and again.
One of my heartfelt and often uttered prayers is: “Do it again, Lord. Don’t stop until I fully reflect your image.”