The experience the three disciples were given at the transfiguration was requested by Christ so they might be comforted during the agony they were shortly to witness in Gethsemane and at the cross [1]. While serving Christ on this earth, the experience of discipleship contains only a few “mountaintop” experiences.

Most of discipleship is experienced in simple day-to-day self-denial. The ultimate joy in working for the Lord is that we have been available for God to use to bring others the Good News of the Gospel. Those who believe that discipleship is something that reinforces our place in heaven, further obligating God to “reward” our good deeds, will find working for Him a heavy “cross to bear.”

Ironically, the outward action might appear to be exactly the same, but the true disciple is motivated by belief and gratitude for the salvation Christ has already accomplished. The other is motivated by disbelief that Christ really “paid it all,” and He needs help to save us completely.

Many have misunderstood the concept of bearing a cross. They think it is a physical ailment, or wayward children, or simply the burdens of living in a sinful world. In reality, we all have the same cross that Christ had, epitomized by His statement, “Not My will, Father, but Thine be done.” That cross is our sinful flesh which is bent to self. Christ came in the likeness of that sinful flesh and by denying His will, conquered it. He gives that victory to us.

At the transfiguration, the disciples were reassured of the true identity of their Master as the Son of God, but Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of man” (Matt. 17:9). Those ties to humanity that were never to be broken are to remind us that we share the same flesh and blood with Him. When we identify with Him, we are partaking of His sinless life. We really don’t need to understand the physics, chemistry, or other science of this mystery, but like little children, we simply accept what He says.

During the transfiguration, for the second time, God announced to humanity, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased” (vs. 5). The first time this was spoken audibly from heaven was at Christ’s baptism. We are instructed to listen to Him.

When Christ read from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth, one of the things He said was fulfilled that day: “He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Luke 4:18, quoting Isaiah 61:1, KJV). What captives? We who are captive in sin.

There is a dangerous attitude regarding victory over the captivity of sin finding its way into the thinking of some Christians. It is a resignation that there are certain sins over which they just can’t get victory. They rationalize that “this is the way I will always be, God understands and still loves me. I’ll just have to go on sinning until Jesus comes, victory for me just isn’t possible.” But Jesus confirmed that He came from God to proclaim liberty from sin to the captives.

This may not seem that serious until we read what John says about false prophets: Like a father preparing his children for future trials, Christ revealed the future in what we call the Olivet Discourse. He warned them that there would be false christs who would attempt to mislead them.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:1-4, KJV).

The idea is that if we deny that Christ cannot come into our flesh and give us His victory over sin, we partake of the spirit of antichrist. We may not see how God can change our minds to give us victory, but insisting that we see just how He will do it is walking by sight, not by faith.

One of the blessed things the 1888 message tells us is that when we are “in Christ.” His victory is our victory. It isn’t that we are given enough strength to overcome temptation, we are to “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5, KJV). His victory in the likeness of our flesh becomes our victory by faith.

Some find this an unbelievable paradox. A. T. Jones described it thus:

“They say, ‘I can’t see how, if I am in Christ, I am to acknowledge myself a helpless, undone sinner; I thought if I was in Christ, then I could thank the Lord I was good, sinless, entirely perfect, sanctified, and all that.’ Why no. He is. When you are in Christ, He is perfect, He is righteous, He is holy and never errs, and His holiness is imputed to you—is given to you. His faithfulness, His perfection is mine, but I am not that.” [2]

We will never be entitled to say, “I gained the victory.” We can say Christ in my flesh gained the victory and it is mine through faith. Experiencing discipleship is a daily denial of our wills, like simple children, letting God control everything about our life. That it might not be apparent in yours or my life as yet, doesn’t mean God can’t do it when we “let” Him give us the mind of Christ

—Arlene Hil

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[1] The Desire of Ages, pp. 420-421

[2] Sermon No. 9, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p. 178; The Third Angel’s Message, p. 63