The Transfiguration of Jesus
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We ended last week with Jesus’ words, about coming in the Glory of His Father, and some of the disciples not tasting death until they saw the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.
The question we were left with, is what does that refer to?
All of those disciples would die before the full and final inauguration of the Kingdom, which we are still waiting for.
But there would be some of them who would experience at least a taste of what the Kingdom was all about.
We have seen over and over again that people were looking for a deliverer in a very political sense. A deliverer in a very temporal, earthly sense. And you couldn’t blame them in a way, they were a nation that was under Roman control and influence, and they desired to be delivered.
But Jesus did not fit their preconceived expectations of what a Messiah, a Deliverer would be - he hadn’t overthrown any rulers, he hadn’t made a claim for the throne, he hadn’t even stirred up a rebellion or an army.
We saw, last week, when Jesus clearly foretold his death, that even the disciples (namely Peter) weren’t ready to accept what Jesus’ Messiahship and deliverance were all about.
In fact, any plan that led away from Jesus’ death was a distraction from the enemy.
So when we come to chapter 17, which I believe is a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in 16:28, then I believe that Jesus is showing these men that His Kingdom is not something political or built of human force, it is not something meant to be on par with or simply able to compete with other kingdoms of the world - no, Jesus’ fulfillment of this promise shows that the Kingdom is something glorious, miraculous, and other-wordly.
This transfiguration account is in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and the details are very similar in all those.
John doesn’t record this account, at least not in the same way, but I believe he does record the experience.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Do you see that? We beheld his glory. We are going to see that in this passage.
Peter also wrote about this experience, as one who was not only there, but one who perhaps had the very message of the experience pointed at him sharply.
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
Majestic glory, a voice of honor from God the Father - this is Peter’s synopsis of the very account we look at today.
Lets read Matthew 17:1-8
The most glorious experience that Peter, James, and John ever had proclaimed one message: listen to the Son of God.
The most glorious experience that Peter, James, and John ever had proclaimed one message: listen to the Son of God.
1. Up the Mountain - Vs. 1
1. Up the Mountain - Vs. 1
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
“After 6 days” is something that is pretty rare in Matthew, it is a direct timestamp.
Luke says “about 8 days,” which, depending on how you count, is not much different.
Either way, we are given direct time references to the previous experience - and what was that previous experience? It was the revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the revelation that Jesus would have to suffer, die, and rise again, and then the rebuke of Peter and the promise that they would see His Kingdom.
Some say Matthew’s reference to 6 days might be meant to bring back the creation account - and that could be true, for we know from the rest of Scripture that Jesus was, infact, involved in the very creation of the World, and that would show his majesty and glory.
Some wonder if it had to do with the time between the Day of Atonement and the celebration of the feast of tabernacles, which may have been around this time of year.
But to me, it seems that the simplest reason the timestamp is here is because the Gospel writers want us to know that this account is directly related to the other account.
Peter, James, and John formed somewhat of an inner-circle with Jesus. They were able to witness miracles that other disciples did not. He took these three along with him a little further than the rest in the garden when he prayed.
So this inner-circle of disciples is taken up on a high mountain for something that would remarkably impact their lives, their thinking, their expectations, and their assumptions.
A high mountain - we aren’t told which one, and it doesn’t necessarily matter. Since they were just at Caesarea Philipi, it could have been the nearby Mt. Hermon - which was nearly 10,000 feet in elevation.
There was another mountain, between there and Galilee, called Mt. Miron - that is another likely choice. What we do know is that they were up there by themselves. They went to be alone.
The list of mountain-top experiences in Scripture are too many to name them all, but they are all relevant when we consider this one.
Mt. Moriah, where Abraham took Isaac up to offer him, and God saved Isaac and gave a substitute sacrifice, thus keeping his promise that through Abraham’s seed all the world would be blessed.
Mt. Sinai, whom both Moses and Elijah went up and communed with God in a very special way. Mt. Sinai is where the law was given, the mountain was shrouded by the cloud of God’s presence, and it was such a remarkable experience that the earth shook and Moses trembled.
Mt. Carmel, where Elijah prevailed against hundreds of prophets of Baal, after the Lord sent down fire from heaven in a remarkable display of power and might.
We saw Jesus, early in his ministry, taken up on a high mountain by Satan to be tempted - a place where Jesus not only overcame that temptation, but set a course for us to resist the devil also.
The first great section of Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount, also recalls a mountain-top experience. It is often referred to as the mount of beatitudes.
There would be, of course, another mountain in Jesus’ future - Calvary, which he has already clearly foretold.
In all these ways, on all these mountains, there was a display of God’s presence, his faithfulness, and his authority. Whether through giving of the law, giving of the teaching of Jesus, defeat of the false prophets, defeat of Satan’s temptation, or salvation promised through a substitute offering, these all point toward lessons learned on this mountain, where Jesus took Peter, James, and John.
2. On the Mountain - Vs. 2-8
2. On the Mountain - Vs. 2-8
I love the Bible, because it often understates the most wonderful things imaginable. Like when Jesus walked on the water, and it simply states - he came to them walking on the water.
Or when Jesus fed the crowds it simply states, he blessed it and broke it and gave it, and there was enough.
Here, Matthew records so simply - almost too simple for our liking - he was transfigured before them.
Transfigured - metamorphao - where we get our word metamorphosis. A change in form.
It was a change, in front of these disciples, that seems to be totally for their sake, for their learning. He took them up here to have this experience, and to learn the lessons that would come.
We aren’t given tons of specifics, other than that the change was glorious.
His face shone like the sun - Moses’ face glowed after he got a glimpse of the Lord’s glory, but that was simply a reflection. In this case, Jesus isn’t reflecting anything - he is simply shining.
His clothes became white as light.
Psalm 104:1–2 (ESV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment.
Mark and Luke have their own ways of saying it - I like Luke, who said his appearance was whiter than any bleacher on earth could make something. It was a miraculous, divine whiteness and light.
Of course, any reference to light recalls that God’s very nature and many of his appearances also show light.
In a metaphoric sense, we see that in 1 John.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
In a very real sense, we recall other times when God was actually appearing as fire and light.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
And of course, we look to the future where we know Jesus will be revealed in such glory again.
and in the midst of the lampstands 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.
This is a change in form, but not a change in being.
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature
This is the same Jesus, with an added level of visible glory that had not been seen before. The same Jesus with his awesome brightness shining through.
And if this experience wasn’t miraculous and incredible enough, what happens next adds another dimension to it.
And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
Now, there is Jesus in a miraculous, amazing, glorified form standing before his disciples, and now Moses and Elijah were standing there with him, talking with him.
Jesus, Moses, and Elijah having a conversation, while Peter James and John sit back and try to pick up their jaws.
Why Moses and Elijah?
Maybe, the Mountain-Top experiences.
Maybe, the prophetic aspects
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Maybe, the significance of the Old Testament
Moses, the giver of the Law and Elijah, the first of the great Oral prophets.
Maybe, it is that they both experienced rejection and hostility in their times of ministry.
Both of them had miraculous departing - Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire, and Moses had his body taken away by the Lord.
Either way, both men we can symbolically say, pointed toward Jesus, and Jesus fulfills the ministry and purpose of both of them.
They were talking with him - Luke 9 tells us they were talking about his death, his departing from the world.
Which is interesting, because that is exactly what Jesus and his disciples were talking about 6 days earlier.
And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
Well, here we see Peter open his mouth again - and we try not to be hard on Peter, but it just keeps happening for him.
“Lord, it is good that we are here!”
Which means one of two things - this is the most amazing experience of my entire life!
Or, Lord, it’s a good thing you brought us here, we can help you out!
Peter’s suggestion, then, was to build three tents - three temporary shelters. Sukkas - little tabernacles. One for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus.
There might be a reference here to the feast of tabernacles - a harvest-time celebration of Israelites that remembered God’s feeding and deliverance and shelter of the Israelites during their 40 year wilderness wanderings.
Let’s hang out here a while! this is more like it! This is what we are looking for!
Peter had an idea that he could preserve this experience, that he could grasp on to it - that this was much more enjoyable than the idea of the Son of God dying.
He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
Well, if you remember last time, Jesus sort of interrupted Peter while he was rebuking him, and this time, Peter gets another major interruption.
A bright cloud overshadowed them.
This absolutely is meant to recall in the minds of the Bible readers the Shekinah Glory of the Lord, the cloud in which his presence dwells and is made known. We read earlier, too, of the cloud that he led the Israelites by, and the cloud around Mt. Sinai at the giving of the Law.
This cloud is nothing other than the presence of God the Father, and his voice comes right in the midst of Peter’s suggestion.
“Listen to Him.”
In other words, Peter, be quiet. Listen to Jesus.
But Moses and Elijah are here!?
Listen to Jesus
But this experience is so marvelous, we’ve got to just stay here!
Listen to Jesus.
Why is it significant for Peter to Listen to Jesus?
Well, Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus about the very thing that Jesus had just told his disciples 6 days earlier - that he was going to die, and rise again.
This display of Jesus in his glory, in the brightness of his kingdom and majesty, was a sign to Peter and the other Disciples.
All things were under control.
God the Father did truly plan this.
Even Moses and Elijah give way to what is to happen.
This voice of the Father from heaven is the same that we heard at the Baptism of Jesus.
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Jesus is the Divine Son of God, and the Divine Servant of God.
Now, what happens to the Servant in Isaiah? He is revealed to be the suffering servant, who gives his life for the transgressions of the peope.
And that is exactly what Peter and the others have to accept. That is what Moses and Elijah came to speak about, and that is what God the Father’s voice confirms.
Listen to Jesus.
Don’t listen to your feelings, your ideas, your sensibilities, your gut, your intuitions, your selfish desires and motives. Listen to Jesus.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Nothing but Jesus.
The cloud was gone, Moses and Elijah were gone, the glorious appearance was gone, but there was Jesus - the same Jesus.
The same Jesus who said “I have to die.” and “take up your cross” says “have no fear.”
Nothing but Jesus.
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Nothing but Jesus.
That was the lesson of the transfiguration. This is what its about. The Kingdom is miraculous, glorious, other-worldly. The Cross, the death, the suffering, they don’t erase that - they are part of the plan.
And for us, as well, there is a miraculous, a glorious, an other-worldly yet to come - but the suffering and the darkness of this world cannot erase it.
The power of death cannot erase it.
Take up your cross, follow him, listen to Jesus.
3. Down the Mountain - Vs. 9-13
3. Down the Mountain - Vs. 9-13
Jesus again gives one of his commands of silence - but this time it has an expiration date.
And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
After the Son of Man is raised from the dead, its on. This glory, this experience, this majesty and power are meant to be proclaimed and told. And they would do that.
But they still had questions.
And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
If your’re really it, Jesus, if we are to listen to you, then what about Elijah? Why did the scribes say that he was to come?
Jesus tells them, the scribes are right - Elijah does come.
And he already has come, and they killed him.
In the same way, the Son of Man has come, and they will kill him.
Just like Elijah’s restoring work didn’t fully take place, so the fulness of the Kingdom of the Lord has not fully taken place.
There is more to come, more to wait for, but it is worth waiting for. Jesus is worth listening to.
God’s plans and ways often appear as mazes to us, we cannot see completely - but we can trust the word of our God and his Testimony.
4. After the Mountain
4. After the Mountain
There is a very explicit application for us that Peter gives in his Epistle, and I think it would be a shame not to highlight this.
For the disciples, the message of the Transfiguration was to listen to Jesus - submit to Him, his predictions about his death and resurrection, and know that the promises of the Kingdom are real.
But what does Peter say to the first century Christians after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus?
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s testimony was this.
We didn’t make up the story of who Jesus is, of what he did. We were there - we saw the glory of God shine through on that holy mountain.
And even with that experience, we have a more sure word of prophecy. Why? Because the Holy Spirit has inspired it.
No prophecy of the scriptures comes from anyone’s private imagination, it doesn’t come from human ideas, not even from experience. No, the scriptures come from the Holy Spirit of God.
Peter says, you would do well to pay attention to it! A lamp shining in the darkness.
Dear one, we, too, ought to listen to Jesus, his words, his teaching. But it is not only the words of Jesus in scripture that are applicable - the entirety of the Word of God is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The Scriptures preclude our ideas, our emotions, our feelings, our imaginations. We do well to listen to it!
Do you submit to the authority of God in His Word?
Do you long for it, run after it, seek for it, because it is our source of life and truth?
Listen to the Lord in His Word. This is how he speaks. No amount of experience can nullify it. No miraculous revelations can contradict it. Peter James and John saw the transfiguration, and they saw it as a confirmation that the scripture was true.
We don’t need new revelation, we need to heed and pay attention to what God has given us. It is a sure word. Listen to Him.