Matthew 17:1-13

Jesus’ glory as the Son of God, God divine, is revealed and it is a gift to Moses and Elijah to see him in the flesh. Peter, James and John are overwhelmed and terrified by his holy glory. There reaction is to setup tents. Every human response to either capture, replicate or produce holiness is insufficient, offensive and profane. The holiest thing we will ever see is the incarnate Jesus. The second holiest thing you will ever see is the immortal creatures around you, made in His image, vessels of His Spirit. The worthiest response is the Words he has given us: we can only say Hallelujah.

Playing in the Hospital

My Dad was a medical physicist and many nights, before we were old enough to be left alone at home, we hung out at the hospital while Dad finished up some work. Sometimes we played games on one of the computers for a bit… but games weren’t great yet, so we spent a lot of time just playing around in the empty cancer center of the hospital.

Endless wheelie races on wheelchairs. But the best were the giant cool sci-fi looking machines. As a Star Trek fan, this had transporter or spaceship written all over it. So we are climbing up, pressing button looking things.

And we knew we weren’t supposed to do that. We were careful-ish. As far as I know, we never broke or hurt anything.

But these are multi-million dollar machines. I’m thinking no one, when installing them, is picturing unsupervised minors using them as a playground. And the potential for damage from us, not to mention damage to us, is crazy.

MRI’s are safe-ish. This Gamma Knife on the other hand.

This is my image of us today. We are children playing with radioactive holy fire.

Recap

Jesus has rebuked Peter, challenged us to take up our cross to follow him, and declared that some present would not die before they see “the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

And then one of the coolest, most mysterious moments of Jesus’ ministry.

Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1 ESV

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.

The inner circle. There’s just a few times he separates them out, the Garden of Gethsemane, resurrecting the little girl at her wake. Jesus has many disciples that come and go, he has his chosen 12 disciples, 12 apostles, and then the inner circle of three.

This is a great model of discipleship. Up the high mountain they go.

Where is this mountain? No one says. Leading candidate is Mt Meron, Northwest of the Sea of Galilee. That’s the largest mountain entirely inside Israel… but I think none of the gospels mention which mountain… because it doesn’t matter.

Matthew 17:2–3 ESV

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

Moses’ died on the Jordan side, the east side, of the Jordan River and he didn’t cross over into the Promised Land. (But there is some non-Biblical textual tradition about him not actually dying, a book called the “Assumption of Moses” probably written in Jesus lifetime).

Elijah’s death… maybe he was taken up to be with the Lord in the chariot, or maybe that was a flying chariot that relocated Elijah elsewhere, since he writes that letter to a king years later if you remember our series through the Prophets.

Legends about their death, perhaps, but absolutely legendary in life.

They are themselves representative of the Law and the Prophets. They preside over some of the greatest miracles in all the Bible.

Both are spoken of in association, in anticipation of the Messiah. The coming of Elijah to prepare the way, that the Messiah would be a prophet like Moses.

I love what the Faith Hall of Fame says about Moses:

Hebrews 11:26 ESV

26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

I mean, it’s cool for Jesus to meet Moses and Elijah, and a gift for Peter, James and John to see this.

But ultimately, I think this is a reward for Moses and Elijah. Moses, who never got to see the Promised Land with his own eyes… he is seeing it now. The Promised One.

How are they there? I don’t know.

This is one of those passages we think of when we think of the state of the dead. Sheol, the holding place, where Jesus goes while dead to minister and preach the gospel, to free the prisoners. Were Elijah and Moses there, now on a field trip, were they transported through time to see this moment, and then from there to resurrection… do they even have bodies in this encounter or are they just spirits?

I saw one theory where they lined up the timelines of Elijah, Moses and Jesus, and had this as a time travel moment within the ministries of Moses and Elijah, placing this at Mount Hermon, and this is actually the moment that Moses’ face glows from. I don’t think so, but fun theory. Let’s ask God some day.

We don’t know, so it doesn’t matter. If Scripture doesn’t major on it, it isn’t important.

What were they talking about? Luke gives us a hint:

Luke 9:31 ESV

31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

I love this:

“Departure” in Greek is Exodus. As in the Exodus.

Moses, yeah, you’re little Exodus was pretty good, leading all the Israelites out of bondage… but I am about to lead all humanity for all time out of all bondage, out of bondage to sin and death forever.

High fives all around.

They are talking about the Mission, what Jesus is going to accomplish at Jerusalem. His death and resurrection. And in the process, see what happens to Jesus:

Matthew 17:2 ESV

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

Whiter than any bleach commercial. This is in anticipation of his resurrected appearance, the picture we get from John in Revelation:

Revelation 1:16 ESV

16 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.

John, who was there on that day. Too bright to look at.

It’s like Jesus is leaking His divinity.

Honestly, we don’t know the details of how Jesus’ incarnation works. Fully man, fully God. We believe it, we affirm it, we don’t math it.

Sometimes the Bible mentions a “kenosis”, an emptying, like Jesus set aside some things, gave up some things, to be incarnate.

Sometimes it seems more like he is squeezed down into flesh. Genie in a bottle, spirit into human form, but fully experience every aspect of what it is to be human.

However it works, for just a moment, just a bit more of his divinity is revealed. His post-resurrection glory. Sneak preview. And taking that literally, you’re staring at a sun just a few feet away from your face. You can’t see me, it’s quite literally blinding.

Like the sun on the parking lot when you walk out of church.

Cue the lens flare.

This is, bar none, the holiest thing Peter, James and John have ever seen. How will they respond?

Matthew 17:4 ESV

4 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.”

Wow. Tents. I love it.

Let’s try and make this make sense.

Maybe Peter is thinking pure practicality. Let’s make this moment, this beautiful thing, last as long as possible. Let’s extend the holiness, the sacred moment, and we can do that by making everyone as comfortable as we can. What’s a structure we can reasonably get up the mountain and assemble? Tents.

Perhaps Peter is thinking of the booths, like the festival of booths or tents, which echoes back to the time of Moses, the time in Exile. So there’s some associations, even some holiness there.

Or maybe he is really going old school, thinking the oldest sacred holy of holies, like the Tabernacle, before the temple was the holiest place, that was the holiest place. So maybe he is reaching for the holiest structure he knows.

But let’s acknowledge how ridiculous the moment is. Jesus, revealed in glory, shining like a sun in all its brilliance… met by the resurrected, or disembodied spirits of the holiest men of your faith history.

And your answer “I know… Tents! Let’s do Tents!”

I expect this is one Peter replayed late at night over and over again. “Why did I say tents! Come on, Peter!”

Jesus doesn’t even answer, God the Father speaks over him from the actual sky

Matthew 17:5 ESV

5 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.”

If the moment wasn’t holy before, the Father speaks the same words He did at Jesus’ baptism.

It could be “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

In Luke the phrase is slightly different “my Chosen one”, which makes the Messiah bit very clear.

But in both, “Listen to him.”

That’s their whole job, by the way. No tents involved. Listen to Jesus. To his words, to his leading.

Matthew 17:6 ESV

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

Right answer. Right posture.

Even better response, I think, than setting up tents, believe it or not.

And Jesus, who has the terrifying appearance of a blinding angel from heaven, even as he is cloaked in mortality, hidden again, speaks the words of angels “Fear not.”

Matthew 17:7–8 ESV

7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

He has been re-transfigured, refigured??? Back to the Jesus they had known, as he normally appears. Like he plugged the leak, hide away the holiness and glory a bit, it’s too much.

Moses and Elijah, back to wherever they were, in whatever state they were in.

Matthew 17:6–13 ESV

9 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.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”

Is this the Elijah thing, then? Even though Jesus has already pointed out that John had come in the spirit of Elijah. Jesus’ answer hints that maybe there’s a part for Elijah to play in the 2nd coming as well:

Matthew 17:6–13 ESV

11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 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.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

And then back down the mountain and catching up with the other disciples. More about that next week.

It’s odd that they don’t mark the mountain. Where’s the tourist trap. It could be one of the holiest tourist traps around.

The Holiest Place

Think of the holiest most sacred place you know.

Maybe it’s right here. I’ve had some sacred times in this space. Some moments of profound worship in song. Some quiet prayers of silence. Some revelations from the Word of God.

But you know, we can be silly sometimes. Some would see that as irreverent. Offensive.

Maybe your “holy place” is a soaring cathedral. Just stepping in, everything about it draws the eyes up to God, the sense of majesty and holiness. I experienced that for sure.

Maybe it’s out in nature. Up at Camp, I’ve encountered God. Out in the ocean, that was my best devotion spot for years.

I’m not going to say those feelings aren’t real. They are. And God absolutely meets us in that.

They are echoes of the buildings and places God even commands His people to build. Tents, tabernacles, temples. That’s real.

And it is a beautiful thing, whatever helps you worship God in spirit and in truth. There is room for all kinds of “styles” of worship, if the heart is there, if the Spirit is in it. Outside, inside, altars, robes, suits, ties, guitars, organs… obvious drums are of the devil, but everything else is great.

This right here is a great reason for many churches. Not divided, but different styles and modes of worship. Find what helps you worship God in spirit and in truth.

But there is also a sense in which all of those, every church no matter how big or small… is profane. Way too small and shabby to be equal to the holiness of God. The majesty of God. The beauty, the terrible righteousness, the inexpressible, uncontainable One.

We are children playing Star Trek in the multi-million dollar MRI machine. We are climbing on the equipment, we are playing games with no true comprehension of the the value, the power, the danger.

The radical holiness, righteousness of God.

We are building little forts on his planet and saying “Hey, look what I did!”

It is all way too small and shabby to be equal to the holiness of God.

The Rocky Mountains aren’t up to it. The sunset isn’t up to it, the Ocean isn’t even close. It’s all profane, it’s all partial. The stars aren’t enough, they’re just in his hand.

They are all tents on a mountaintop. Holy inadequate to contain his holiness.

Here is the only thing that is:

Radioactive Moses

There’s this beautiful story in Exodus 34, where Moses pleads to see God’s face, and God essentially says he can’t show him because Moses would burn up and die, but he covers Moses with his hand, passes by, and allows Moses to see the fading glory after His passing. And just from that, Moses’ face is glowing.He had to veil his face. He’s radioactive. The people can’t stand the reflected glory, and Moses didn’t even see God’s face, just the after image of his passing.

And then Paul picks up that language:

2 Corinthians 3:3 ESV

3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:7–8 ESV

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

2 Corinthians 3:12–13 ESV

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.

… and then in 16…

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 ESV

16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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.

This is us, on the mountain, beholding the glory of the Lord unveiled.

And us, in turn, being transfigured into that same glorious image. From one glory to another.

The holiest thing we will ever see is the Risen Lord Jesus, coming again to establish His Kingdom in full.

Until then, the holiest thing you will ever see is your brother or sister in Christ, filled with His Spirit, transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to the next. One next step at a time.

The being next to you is a glorious, righteous, holy, immortal son and daughter of God. How crazy is that!

If there are “tents” to be had, you are His, we are His tabernacle. The temple he is building for his dwelling place. Not just now, not just temporary, but to dwell with us forever.

Hallelujah!

So what is our response? Not to fall prostrate in fear and trembling, but to worship as He Himself taught us.

For yes, he has given us His Spirit within. Holy because He makes us Holy. From one glory to the next.

And He has taught us His Name, Yahweh, I am who I am.

And starting with Moses, the people sang praise to Yahweh. Hallelujah.

Halle - Praise. Yah, as in Yahweh. Praise YHWH.

Elijah’s very name, Yahweh is my God. Hallelujah.

Jesus’ name. Yeshua, Yahweh saves.

In the company of the Saints, with the chorus of angels, we sing Hallelujah.

We build a church building to let us gather and sing his name. Hallelujah.

We worship our Risen and Glorified, Forever Transfigured Savior, and we are transformed from glory to glory in his image. Hallelujah.