"Up The Mountain - The Transfiguration"_Matthew 17a Oct 6 2024

Intro and Scripture

Hi friends

Today, we’re continuing our series:

God With Us - Discovering the Gospel of Matthew

We’ve come to - Matt 17

We’re also going to look at part of 2 Peter

We’re only going to look at the first part of Matthew 17 today

I’m going to read a lot - please bear with me as I read several Bible passages - there is a lot of truth to unpack today

I want to first read the narrative of the story in Matthew

We’re in Matt 17, starting in verse 1 -

Matthew 17:1–8 ESV

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 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.” 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. 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.

(Pray…)

The Transfiguration

What does it mean?

Why do we have this story in the Bible?

And what does it mean for us?

It has taken me years to begin to wrap my head around this story and what it means

I’m still learning from this event

At first glance, it seems kind of like a random story

The story is found in Matt, Mark, and Luke

The Gospel writers offer no comment as to the meaning of this story - so we need to look at it very carefully

Much of the narrative in the Bible - the stories, particularly the OT stories - have no commentary

Sometimes the Bible will pause and explain what’s happening - sometimes not

Usually the “right and wrong” part of Bible stories is very obvious

But the Transfiguration is somewhat of a mystery story

I don’t see anywhere where Jesus comes out and says, “The reason I transfigured is because...”

We are forced to use other clues

And we are forced to let the Bible interpret itself - from other places in the Bible

We need to always allow the clarity of the Bible to be our light - where the Bible is clear, there is never confusion

But the main things in the Bible are always plain things

There is no debate that:

Jesus is the Son of God

That he died for our sins, etc...

The Holy Spirit made sure that the main things are plain things

And I believe the Transfiguration points to plain things

We can learn a lot about the Bible by simply observing details in the Bible

So let’s dive right in

Jesus is in the middle of his ministry on Earth

And then he takes Peter, James, and John - up the mountain

It says he was “transfigured”

What does that mean?

Matthew says that his “face shone like the sun” - and that his clothes became “white as light”

Luke adds that he was praying when this happens

Then from out of nowhere, appears Moses and Elijah who start talking with Jesus

Here’s a small detail -

The phrase, “appeared to them” in verse 3 follows the phrase, “transfigured before them” in the preceding verse.

First Jesus transfigured to his three disciples - and now, Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus and his disciples.

God intended that transfiguration would be witnessed by the disciples - and become known to us

We can make the obvious conclusion that Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the prophets

Notice that Moses and Elijah and Jesus are all talking with each other

If this is a picture of heaven, which I believe it is, to some extent -

Then it is revealed that we will be in fellowship with Jesus

The two of them (Moses and Elijah) together with Christ, talking with him, paints a picture of us enjoying fellowship together with Jesus who will be with us

And then we have Peter - not knowing what to say, blurts out: “Lord, this is great - In fact, I think I’ll make three tents for y’all!”

Then it says that while Peter was still talking, a “bright cloud” came and “overshadowed” them

Voice from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him”

The disciples then fall down, terrified!

It was so bad, Jesus had to go over to them and touch them and tell them to stand up and have no fear

That’s a quick overview of the Transfiguration

I want to break down this event into three things we need to learn from this story

1.) The Transfiguration points to the truth about Jesus

2.) The Transfiguration points to our own transformation

3.) The Transfiguration causes us to set our gaze on Jesus

1.) The Transfiguration points to the truth about Jesus

Here’s Point #1.) The Transfiguration points to the truth about Jesus

I want us to pause for a moment

Earlier, I said that Matthew has no commentary about the Transfiguration

But, Peter wrote about it in 2 Peter 1 - let’s look at 2 Peter 1…starting in verse 16

2 Peter 1:16–18 ESV

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.

Peter is saying that this Gospel of Jesus Christ is real

By the way, I love how Peter described the Transfiguration as the “majesty” of Jesus

And he refers to God as “the Majestic Glory”

I find it interesting that as Peter makes his point that they did not follow “cleverly devised myths,” he went straight to the Transfiguration

And not to the Resurrection, for example

Peter’s ministry and Matthew’s ministry were both to the Jewish people

Remember the Transfiguration took place up on a high mountain

The Jewish person would no doubt be thinking of Moses on Mt Sinai

But the point that Peter was making was that this really happened!

That these stories were not made up by the disciples

They were not “cleverly devised myths”

Peter says, “ we ourselves heard this voice borne from heaven”

The Bible is real - every story is real

When we read the Gospels, we make a mistake if we skim through the event of the Transfiguration

Let’s keep reading how passionately Peter describes the result from witnessing the Transfiguration:

Let’s keep reading 2 Peter 1, starting in verse 19

2 Peter 1:19–21 (ESV)

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.

The truth of Jesus will rise like the morning star in your hearts

The Transfiguration was for our benefit

“Immanuel - God with us” really happened

Jesus is really the Son of God and he really walked on Earth

That’s Point #1.) The Transfiguration points to the truth about Jesus

2.) The Transfiguration points to our own transformation

Here’s Point #2.) The Transfiguration points to our own transformation

Okay, so what do I mean by that?

“I thought it’s all about Jesus!”

It is

Sometimes it can be very significant if a Greek word is used sparingly in the NT

The Greek word for “transfiguration,” metamorphoo - where we get the word metamorphosis

There are only two other places where we find this verb in the NT

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Jesus was transfigured on the holy hill - he was transformed into his radiant glory

We too are being transformed - bit by bit, every day on earth

When we join Jesus face to face in heaven, we will be transformed into his likeness

It is God’s will that we transform to be just like Jesus

Look who is with Jesus during the Transfiguration

Moses and Elijah

The glory of Jesus in this story hints at the glory we will receive

The account of the Transfiguration in Luke 9 says that Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory” also

You say, “Wait a minute - I thought only Jesus gets all the glory - not us!”

But the Bible is very clear: we will share in his glory

The Bible says we will be like him

Listen to this

Romans 8:17 ESV

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Just to live on this earth is suffering

Glory always follows suffering

It was true for Jesus - and it will be true for us

It is true - Jesus gets all the glory! He is infinitely glorified

We are promised suffering and persecution on Earth

But in heaven, we will be glorified with him

We will reflect his radiance in heaven

We will be in glory because he was glorified by the Father

But sin keeps us from that glory

What does the Bible say?

“For all have sinned and have fallen short of the ____ of God”

Receiving the glory of God is a promise to us

Listen to the words of Jesus as he prays to the Father in John 17

John 17:22 ESV

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,

The Transfiguration was an incredible event

Moses and Elijah shared in the glory of Jesus

And to us, the Transfiguration is a promise that we will someday be glorified with him

Let me ask this - what were Moses and Elijah doing on that mountain?

Look at verse 3

They were talking with Jesus

Again, we will be able to plainly talk to Jesus

People also wonder if we will have our memories of loved ones on Earth

I’m gonna go out on a limb on the implication of verse 3

I think Moses and Elijah knew each other from their time in heaven

Think of it - Moses is still named “Moses” - and Elijah is still “Elijah”

It wasn’t “SERVANT ALPHA” and “SERVANT BRAVO”

Unless God chooses to rename me, I’ll still be called Tim

We will still have our identity - our memories will still be intact

But we will be made perfect as Christ

Imagine: You…as perfected and glorified by Christ

In perfect fellowship with him and with your loved ones

That’s Point #2.) The Transfiguration points to our own transformation

3.) The Transfiguration causes us to set our gaze on Jesus

And now we come to third and final point

Point #3.) The Transfiguration causes us to set our gaze on Jesus

Verse 8 is a key verse in understanding this passage

Matthew 17:8 ESV

And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

The message to us of the Transfiguration is for us to focus our eyes on Jesus - and Jesus only

Jesus needs to be the object of our focus - our worship - and our adoration

We need to take our eyes off of the world - there’s nothing there for us

We need to take our eyes off of other people - to the extent that they should never replace Jesus in our lives

We need to take our eyes off of ourselves -

A meaningless life is a life that puts itself above all else, including God

The world preaches “self” - that’s where you’ll find the answer to life

Focusing on yourself leads to anxiety, depression, loneliness - and a life without hope

We need to take our eyes off of our self

The world says, “discover yourself”

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself...”

The more spiritually mature a Christian is - the more that person is focused on Jesus only

And look at what happened right before the disciples looked up and saw Jesus only

Look at verse 5

Matthew 17:5 ESV

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.”

It’s hard for us to imagine what this must have been like

Just imagine experiencing the actual voice of the Lord

Think of all the times in the Bible, when the Lord spoke in an audible voice

The Bible refers to God’s voice in dramatic ways:

“The God of glory thunders”

“The voice of the Lord is powerful & full of majesty”

“His voice breaks the cedars of Lebanon!”

Think of how awesome it was when he spoke to Moses

Or to Paul on the road to Damascus

And here in Matthew, it says that when the disciples heard the voice of God - they fell on their faces and were terrified

And notice, what did God say to them?

He made a declaration - and he gave them (and gave us) a command

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him”

Interesting command: “Listen to him”

That’s the imperative from Father God

Some commentators have suggested that God was saying, “Listen to him more than the Law and the prophets”

In other words, “Don’t just listen to what Moses and Elijah had to say - focus your attention on Jesus now.”

My wife has been trying for years to get me to listen to her!

It’s possible for me to hear her talking, but to not actually listen to what she’s saying

Well, we need to listen to the Lord

I think it really means to focus your life on the Lord

If he is your focus in life, you will stop and listen to him

In other words, if you are gazing at Jesus, you will also hear his voice

Just like: If I’m not focused on my wife, I can’t really listen to her

In John 10 Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd”

Then he said if you believe in him, then you are among his sheep

And then he said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

In verse 16 - listen to what he says about those of us who are Gentiles:

“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.”

If you listen to the Lord, that means you are one of his sheep - and in order to be one of his sheep, you have to believe in him

If you’re not gazing at him - you’re not listening to him - you’re not believing in him and trusting him

And if you’re not listening to him, you aint following him

It’s time to listen to Jesus and follow him

Take a quick look at what’s going on in this country and in the world

Recently, I read a Pew Research article says that less and less Americans believe in God

If you believe in God nowadays - you’re weird

What is happening?

It’s time for the Church to stand up

There’s no more time to fool around in life - the time is now

Take your eyes off of the world, and your sin, and yourself, and all your idols, and your past, and all the other junk

We need to set our gaze on Jesus only - and we need to listen to him

Closing

Let me wrap this up...

1.) The Transfiguration points to the truth about Jesus

2.) The Transfiguration points to our own transformation

3.) The Transfiguration causes us to set our gaze on Jesus

My prayer is that you will look at Jesus, and Jesus only

And that you will listen to him

(Prayer…)

(Pick one…)

Communion

Matthew 26:26–28 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 22:19–20 ESV

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.