The Glorious Makeover

“who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:21).

Who doesn’t love one of those nifty TV makeovers? Primetime is packed with experts transforming the bland and ugly into the spectacular. Oprah introduces the once homely housewife who now rocks the runway like a Vogue cover girl. The stylist spins the chair for a spectacular new look for one of the contestants on “America’s Next Top Model.” The crowd on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” cheers when Ty tells them to “move that bus!” Jaw-dropping transformations are not just limited to reality TV. We grow up on stories about Cinderella and Eliza Doolittle. But Paul tells us that’s junior varsity stuff compared what Jesus has in store for His followers. Our Savior “will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself” (v21). Christ won’t just give you and me a new hairstyle, a hip new wardrobe, and hand us off to a personal trainer. He’ll unleash His unlimited power to make us totally new. He’ll make us totally like Himself. Call it the Glorious Makeover.

Paul may be behind bars in Rome (Phil 1:7, 13-14), but he’s got his eyes on the prize of Jesus’ incredible encore. The man from Tarsus knows Christ is going to make the ultimate comeback. He warns his Philippian friends to not fall for the fool’s gold of instant gratification like the folks he likes to call the “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil 3:18). They want all and they want it now (Phil 3:19). He encourages us to remember we’re just passing through on this planet as citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20). Instead of worshiping the god of the gut, we wait anxiously for Jesus’ Second Coming. Not only is He going to restore His creation (which we jacked up!), but the Lord will transform you and me into something we can’t begin to wrap our brains around. 

Translating the Greek text here is kinda goofy. It’s a little wonky converting into English. But the original language gives us a pretty cool understanding of the absolutely radical stuff Jesus has in store for us. Check out the Amplified Bible. (Don’t worry about turning down your speakers. The Amplified doesn’t crank the volume to 11. It simply uses language to boost our understanding of Scripture. Think of it as a biblical subwoofer.) Christ “will transform and fashion anew the the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty” (v21 AMP). Transform. Fashion. Conform. Be like. Do you get the idea that Jesus has something radical in store for you and me?

There are a couple of key words in the Greek that we don’t want to miss. The first is what the ESV translators give us as “transform.” This is metaschematizo, which means to cause a radical change in the form of something, physically transfigure, alter, or change. It emphasizes a radical transformation in our outward appearance. Over in one of his notes to the Corinthian church, Paul uses this same word to talk about how spiritual hucksters have disguised themselves as counterfeit apostles (2Cor 11:13-15). You really have to squint hard at the ESV to see the other term. That little phrase “to be like” is actually the Greek term summorphos. It means having the same form as another, sharing a likeness, or a similarity of both form and nature. Some versions use a version of “conform” (NRS, NKJV, NASB, YLT). This is the idea of both outward AND inward metamorphosis. In other words, this Glorious Makeover isn’t a makeover at all! It’s a whole new you and me! One that looks just like Jesus amazing resurrection body!!

If you want a preview of what the radical transformation of “our lowly body to be like His glorious body,” flip back to the bios of Jesus that kick off the NT. Dr. Luke describes how the resurrected Christ walked and talked with two dudes walking back home to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). When these boys race back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples, suddenly Jesus shows up there out of thin air (Lk 24:36-37). Apparently there will be no need for keys, deadbolts, or doorknobs in the future. Despite His glorious new body, He still bears the scars of His crucifixion (Lk 24:38-40; Jn 20:27). Jesus enjoys more than one meal with His boys (Lk 24:41-42; Jn 21:9-14). I’m looking forward to ribeye steaks and chocolate milkshakes without consequences…if you know what I mean!

Paul LOVES talking about our Glorious Makeover. We find out God has been planning this transformation from the very beginning. “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:29). This was no last minute brain storm. He tells the Corinthians how Jesus will make sure we will no longer wear a dirt suit like Adam but shine in glory (1Cor 15:43-53). He writes more about that in a letter to the Colossian church, “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:4). Let’s be clear. He promises to change us inside and out. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for my resurrection body. No more love handles. No more cranky ankles. No more glasses. No more wrinkles. No more disease. No more cancer. No more death. Count me in for the Glorious Makeover. 

Maybe you’ve got doubts about Jesus’ ability to pull this off. You’ve tried to lose weight but haven’t been able to keep it off. You can’t figure out how to get your hair to do what the stylist did when they gave you the new ‘do. Ah, but He’s got something up His supernatural sleeve nobody else does. He’s got “the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself” (v21). It’s the same juice that enables Him to create, sustain, and rule the universe. Just a while back, Paul describes his passion to “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Phil 3:10). If God can do all that, imagine what He can do with my broken down, middle aged body!  

The next time you grab the remote and turn on one of those reality makeover shows, remember that’s kindergarten stuff compared to Jesus is going to do for His followers. A new hairstyle is cute. A nifty new wardrobe is sweet. A remodeled house is nice. But just you wait until Christ gets His hands on you and me. And there’s no question that He’s got the goods to get it done. I’m ready for His Glorious Makeover. How ‘bout you?