Matthew 16:24 -17:13  Peter had recognized that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God".. a revelation that Jesus said came from the Father.. then he turned around and rebuked Jesus for saying that He would be killed and would rise again.  It is in this context that Jesus makes a very important statement to His disciples.. " If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."  

To be a disciple of Jesus is to lose your life for His sake. It is to know that nothing on this earth is worth losing your soul for.. . How do you "deny" yourself?   This Greek word is so much more than what we think on the surface.. it means to forget one's self, lose sight of your own interests.. to disown or abstain.. The disciples had a hard time with this.. and so do we.  It takes a cross to put one's self aside. It takes losing your life to find it.. 

Jesus told His disciples that they needed to look beyond this life.. "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will recompense every man according to his deeds." There is a future reward.. a repayment for all that is given to the Lord willingly in this denial of self.. of taking up the cross and giving this life to Jesus.  It will be glorious for everyone who will see His coming!

Peter, James, and John were granted a preview of this glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ.  They went up a "high mountain" with Jesus. They watched Him be transfigured before their very eyes.  They saw His face and garments become "white as light".  They watched as Moses and Elijah came to talk with Jesus.  They must have thought that the kingdom was already there!  They were ready to build tabernacles for the three men.. They had no idea what they were really seeing.  But, then they heard God's voice, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!".  This brought the three disciples to the ground as they" fell on their faces."

Jesus brought the disciples back down the mountain. They were not allowed to speak of what they saw until after the resurrection.. but I'm sure it must have been on their minds for a long time. So many questions ! 

Father in heaven, we long to see Jesus coming in Your glory!  We long to live in a way that pleases You.. laying down our lives, denying ourselves.. so that we can have real life in Jesus. Like the disciples.. we are so easily confused.. so easily distracted... help us to simply listen to Your beloved Son.. and follow Him. We can do nothing except as we abide in Jesus.. so help to Lord, to be constantly abiding.  In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.