Transfiguration

This morning, we’re studying Jesus’ transfiguration. The word transfiguration means, “a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.” Here’s why Jesus’ transfiguration is important.

About eight days before, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” His disciples answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” at that, Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

The transfiguration confirms that Jesus is the messiah, the Christ. The greek word for messiah is christ. So when you hear the name Jesus Christ, it is Jesus’ given name combined with his title, Christ, meaning messiah. The word messiah means anointed. Jesus is the anointed one, a person would be anointed for a specific task. Jesus is the long promised messiah, the anointed one, who would save people from their sin.

Then

at that, Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone this, because he knew the time wasn’t right yet. But he did tell them that he would suffer, be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, killed and on the third day be raised to life.

In the Bible, there are many messiahs. Cyrus of Persia was one. King David was anointed by the prophet Samuel as king. What proof is there then that Jesus is the messiah? Well, we have Peter’s testimony, for one. For another, we have the transfiguration.

Consider the significance that Jesus’ face changed, his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning, a cloud appeared to them and enveloped them and a voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Peter, John and James were with Jesus, but two others appeared with him. Moses and Elijah appeared also! Why these two? Moses represents the law, and Elijah represents the prophets, both of which Jesus came to fulfil.

Now, there’s another reason why Moses was there. Turn with me, if you will, to . “Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Here God stands with Moses on a mountain. A cloud covers the entire top of the mountain so that the Israelites who are waiting below, can’t see what’s happening up there. God talks with Moses, and allowed his glory to pass before him. As a result of seeing the tail end of God’s glory, Moses’ face was transfigured, it was radiant (verses 29-35). It scared Aaron and the Israelites.

Here’s the connection. God’s glory had a transformative effect on Moses’ face. But here, Jesus face changed, not from an outside source, but from the inner reality. Jesus is God!

Now, turn to which talks about Moses and the glory that he experienced and the Israelites witnessed. In the earlier part of chapter 3, the apostle Paul explains that glory accompanied the bringing of the law on stone tablets. And yet the law was only effective in bringing condemnation. Jesus fulfilled the law, removing condemnation. In Christ, the Spirit brings righteousness, brings life. Moses’ glory was transitory, temporary. Jesus glory is eternal. In comparison, Moses glory isn’t even worth anything compared to the glory of Christ.

But while Moses used a veil to cover up his face, because the radiance made people uncomfortable. It showed that their hearts were veiled. They didn’t want to see the truth.

Moses was there at Jesus’ transfiguration, where Jesus showed a bit of his own true glory, as a witness. Jesus is God! Elijah was there as a witness. The prophets preached repentance, calling everyone to turn back to God, and to listen to him. Jesus ministry was to seek and save the lost, to call them to repentance and to turn back to God.

Finally, God the Father was present on the mountain, just like when he talked to Moses and the Israelites. The cloud represents God’s presence. The voice from the cloud also confirms the truth: Jesus is God’s Son, chosen, anointed, we must listen to him.

Okay, so what?

We can know, with certainty, that Jesus is the messiah, God’s Son. We must listen to him.

Jesus ushered in something new. He himself fulfilled the law and the prophets.

We must listen to him. Jesus ushered in something new. He himself fulfilled the law and the prophets. The law of condemnation is fulfilled in Christ. The law of righteousness now comes to us. In the Old Testament times, and for those who reject Jesus, the veil remains. People could bear up under Moses’ radiant face, so they asked him to cover it up.

Jesus gives his righteousness, his perfect fulfillment of the law to us, so that it is as though we had kept the law perfectly. This doesn’t mean that we look for excuses or ways in which to indulge in sin. If you are in Christ, even though you still sin, you will repent of it, turn away from it, and keep on seeking to do what is right.

Jesus also gives us his role as prophets. We are to go, as you’re going, living life, whether you’re a stay at home mom, a part time employee, full-time employee, student, business owner, retiree, single, married, young or old, make disciples, baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything Christ has taught us.

So, as prophets, we call people to the truth, we call them to repent and turn to the one true God. But we also teach. We teach them everything we know about God. We teach them what we know from God’s Word.

But… how much do we know? How much are we learning? How much time are we ourselves spending in God’s Word? How are you doing at this? Are you reading the Bible daily? Are you reading devotionals? Are you studying scripture and learning from commentaries? How much effort are you putting in, compared with the effort you put into other things? Are you involved in a small group? Do you know what you believe and why you believe it?

That’s our job. Jesus calls us to continue to do what he did. We don’t hide our faces. We don’t hide Christ in us. We are very bold! We live in the freedom of the Spirit. We are being transformed into Christ’s image with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I conclude with these words from , “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Pray, study, learn and share. May the present power of Christ in you, radiate outward so that others may see your faith and through conversation, follow Christ. Amen.