The Transfiguration: Glory of the Son Unveiled

I. Some Standing Here Will Not Taste Death (16:27-28)

Option 1: Final judgement/second coming

Option 2: Christ destroying Jerusalem in AD70 via the Romans

Option 3: The Resurrection, Ascension, and beginning of the church, the kingdom of Christ

Option 4: The Transfiguration

II. The Transfiguration: The Unveiling of the Son’s Glory (17:2)

Meaning: The three disciples witnessed the true glory of Jesus to strengthen their faith that he was laying his life down of his own accord and would gloriously rise again

What was the transfiguration? It was when the true glory of Jesus was displayed for a short time to Peter, James, and John.

Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke Matthew 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–8; Luke 9:28–36

I have no doubt whatever that Christ intended to show that he was not dragged unwillingly to death, but that he came forward of his own accord, to offer to the Father the sacrifice of obedience.

In other words, this transfiguration of Christ, this revealing of his true glory, served as a comfort for the disciples in anticipation of our Lord’s death on the cross. We know this because of the previous chapter which speaks of his death and promises that some of his disciples would see his glorious coming in his kingdom.

Doctrine: Incarnation, Natures of the Son

This event also contributes to the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation of the Son of God in significant ways. It shows us that the Son of God, when he was conceived in the virgin’s womb, did not rid himself of his divine glory, but rather, concealed it in human flesh. In other words, Jesus did not shed his divine nature when he became a man, but he did veil it for a time. This is the humility spoken of in Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5–11 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Son of God existed in glory with the Father from all eternity. He laid aside the privileges of divinity for the sake of becoming an man, born to a poor family. This glorious divinity was not removed from him, but rather clothed in the garb of weak, human flesh. But here in the transfiguration, we see part of the veil coming undone. But it is fully seen in his resurrection and ascension. And we will see him in his glorious fullness when he returns to earth in our future.

Application: Seeing Christ for who he truly is and anticipating his glorious return

Let us be done with all cute, sentimental, truncated, and tame views of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let them be thrown into the fires of hell from which they came.

Our society is especially full of Jesus’ make in our image. Beware that we are believing the Jesus of the Bible, the Jesus of History, the Jesus as taught by His holy Church.

When the king returns, there will not be a single soul who views Jesus as a hippie or as a new age guru. They will see him as the glorious, righteous, kind, yet terrifying Son of the living God. Listen to how John the apostle describes Jesus at the final battle:

Revelation 19 ESV

1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 3 Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Now after reading a passage like this, some of you may find it hard to reconcile the other passages which speak of Jesus as gentle and lowly in heart. I assure you, there is no contradiction here. C.S. Lewis pictures this well in his Chronicles of Narnia books. Listen to this quote:

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

What Lewis is getting at here is that sin and prideful sinners are not safe around Jesus. But he is good and shows mercy to those why humbly come to him.

Jesus is described in the bible as both a lion and a lamb. Both kind and terrifying. Ruined sinners and beggars come to him for healing, yet demons cower from him in fear.

Do you see his glory? Do you understand, Christian, that it is in his name that you have been baptized? If so, why prioritize temporary things like money, sports, entertainment, and overtime at work over him? Why neglect setting aside a time of worship during the day? Why neglect to gather with his bride, his body, the church? Live in the light of his terrible and awesome glory.

III. Three Witnesses of His Glory (17:1,9)

Meaning: Peter, James, and John were chosen as witnesses of this glorious unveiling in order to tell of it after the resurrection of Christ.

Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke Matthew 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–8; Luke 9:28–36

Our Lord reckoned it enough to select three witnesses, because that is the number which the Law has laid down for proving any thing; at the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses, (Deut. 17:6.)

Here is what Deuteronomy 17:6 says:

Deuteronomy 17:6 ESV

6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

The transfiguration was an act of kindness to strengthen the disciples faith. However, not all of the disciples were ready to experience this, so Jesus chose three witnesses to tell of it after his resurrection. And we are beneficiaries of their testimony.

Doctrine: Hierarchy and authority are part of God’s good design

Why Peter, James, and John and not the rest? Because Jesus chose them uniquely as leaders from amongst the twelve. In Galatians 2:9, Paul says that the church considered James, Peter, and John to be pillars in the Church. Meaning that people looked to them uniquely for leadership and guidance.

All Christians have equal dignity and worth in God’s eyes, from the least to the greatest. But not all have the same station. God desires some to be in positions of authority and others to be followers. This doctrine is widely ignored or despised in our culture. We are suspicious of authority and want all power in the hands of the common people. However, that is not how God designed the world to function, nor His church.

Ephesians 4:11–14 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

God designates leaders in the church in order to do three things according to Ephesians chapter 4:

To equip the saints

To do the work of ministering (baptism, the Lord’s supper, teaching, prayer, etc.)

To build up the body of Christ until we all attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God.

This is why the church needs pastors: so that she can be equipped, ministered to, and built up into mature unity. They are a gift to the church and ought to be viewed as such. I say this not in order to be self serving, for it is the very word of God. Do you think most Christians would be better or worse off if they obeyed the advice of their pastors? If your answer is worse off, then I ask you to probe your heart as to why your instinct is contrary to the disposition exemplified in the Scriptures. Of course there is bad authority out there, but the solution isn’t no authority. The solution is good authority.

IV. The Final Word from the Father (17:3-8)

Meaning: Jesus is the full and final revelation of God. God himself would dwell with humanity. God himself would come and teach us.

Peter sticks his foot in his mouth yet again. In an awkward terror, Peter looks at Moses, Elijah, and Jesus and offers to make them tents. Just then, a bright cloud comes upon them and they hear the Father speaking about Jesus, his son. He says, “This is my beloved Son…listen to him!”. Peter was seeking to honor all three of them, as if they were all equal. But the Father teaches Peter that there is one far greater that Moses or Elijah: Jesus.

Matthew 17:8 ESV

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

This teaches us the supremacy of Jesus. He is not just another prophet. He is the eternal Son of God.

Doctrine: The New Covenant fulfilling and replacing the Old Covenant

We also learn something of the relationship of the old and new covenants here. Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets, the common name for what we call the Old Testament writings. Jesus fulfills the old covenant—often called the law of Moses—and establishes a new covenant. Listen to what Hebrews 8 teaches:

Hebrews 8:6–13 ESV

6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” 13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Notice first what he is NOT saying. The author is not saying the the old testament writings themselves are obsolete. He is saying that the old covenant that is articulated in those writings is obsolete.

This leads us to an important distinction that needs to be recognized in order to rightly interpret the Bible. The Bible contains two kinds of laws: natural laws and positive laws. Or another way of putting it is moral laws and circumstantial laws.

V. Suffering, Then Glory (17:10-13)

The disciples were expecting the glory of God’s kingdom to arrive on earth all at once. What John the Baptist, and especially Jesus show us, is that God planned to bring glory through suffering. Jesus suffered before he was glorified in the resurrection and ascension. We too must share in Christ’s suffering so that we may also share in his glory.

Know that if you belong to God, his intention in your suffering is to glorify us. Yes, God intends to glorify us. We have become partakers of the divine nature through our union to Jesus Christ, the son of God. We share in Christ’s glory, which is a gift of sheer grace.