“Thoughtful, Clear Meditations on the Transfiguration”
This Lent devotional explores the story of Jesus's transfiguration. As Tim Chester explains at the beginning of the book, many Christians aren't very familiar with the gospel accounts of the Transfiguration or don't know what they mean. Chester encourages his readers to see the glory of God revealed through this transcendent story, and he unpacks the accounts from different gospels in each section of this book. Chester helps his readers understand each narrative, compares and contrasts these different accounts of the same story, and draws parallels to the Old Testament throughout.
This book features daily readings for the season of Lent, and Chester structured each section based on the weeks of Lent. However, this book is also appropriate for devotional reading at any time of year. The devotional readings are each a few pages long, and they draw out key ideas from the different Scriptural texts about the transfiguration, taking each section in turn. Each day's reading ends with reflection and meditation opportunities. Some of the readings end with additional Bible verses, and others share quotes from church history.
I found this book encouraging and clarifying, and I would recommend it to people who want to understand more about the Transfiguration and its significance to the Christian faith. However, I personally would have preferred this if it had been a straightforward study of the topic, without all of the breaks and repetitive elements of devotional readings. I think that the devotional format is better suited to different reflections on a related theme, rather than exposition through biblical narratives. Nonetheless, this will be a great fit for people who want short daily meditations on the subject.
Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.