Here is the ground of our comfort, that Christ took our form, he transfigured himself to our lowliness. Shall not we labour to be transformed, to be like him, who out of love stooped so low to be like us?…Shall he be conformed to us, and we not be conformed to him?

– Richard Sibbes, Glorious Freedom, pp. 121-122

Before the Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus revealed his glory, was the incarnation, where he took on flesh. Transfigure is a translation of the Greek verb μεταμορφόω (think metamorphosis). It means to change form. Christ’s transfigured glory would never have been visible to his disciples had he not first been transfigured into flesh. The incarnation is glorious.

If Christ, as Sibbes says, stoops so low that we might see his glory, should we not stretch ourselves to see it? Should we not seek after him and his likeness? It is through conformity to him that we ourselves, by the work of the Spirit, will be transfigured. Sanctification is a process of transfiguration. Glorification will make the work final.