How is it written? How will the Father's glory be transferred?

O Ancient of Days, before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God! You are on your fiery throne, in clothing white as snow and hair like pure wool. It is you who said, This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. You bestowed on him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will never pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed.

We enter your presence by the blood of the King of kings and Lord of lords. By your Spirit, may we humbly receive your Word today. Amen.

(Daniel 7, Psalm 90:2, 2 Peter 1:17) 

Scripture Reading - Mark 9:2-13 (ESV)
     And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 
     And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 
     And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 
     And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
      And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 
      And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 
      And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Oh, the awe-inspiring beauty of you, Lord Jesus! We worship you as we recount John's vision:

I saw...one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. (Revelation 1:12-16)

Father God, it was by your resurrection power that you transformed Christ's human body into an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison! And it is this same power that is transforming our human bodies into Christ's likeness. For as we behold your glory, we, too, are being transformed into the image of your Beloved Son from one degree of glory to another. What a mystery! We confess that this comes from you, Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:16-18)

Jesus, none of our light and momentary afflictions seem to compare to what you endured in order for us to be transformed. How is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
    they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; (Psalm 22:6-7)

He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)

We praise you, Precious Messiah, for you have suffered all things and entered into your glory! Just as it is written, you rose from the dead so that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in your name to all nations! Amen. (Luke 24:25-27, 46-47)

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.