Transfiguration (2)

28About eight days after he said these words, Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29While he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30Just then, two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him! 31They appeared in glory and were talking about his departure, which he was going to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem.

32Peter and those with him were weighed down with sleep, but when they were completely awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not realize what he was saying.

34While he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them. They were afraid as they went into the cloud. 35Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 36After the voice had spoken, they found Jesus alone. They kept this secret and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

Have you ever climbed a mountain? Although the view from Rib Mountain is nice, it pales in comparison to the views that can be seen from much loftier heights. This is one reason why people will either climb a mountain (or the less adventurous will drive to the summit). There is a special feeling we get when we are on the top of a mountain and surveying miles and miles of scenery.

In this event, we are told that Jesus climbed a mountain with Peter, James, and John. The mountain is not named but many believe it was Mt. Hermon (a peek of over 9000 feet). But he didn’t climb the mountain for the view. He had a different purpose.

The first purpose is simply put: “Jesus went up onto a mountain to pray.” In our Bible class we are discussing why we worship the way we do. Part of worship is prayer. Throughout history, mankind had chosen special places and built special buildings in which to pray. One such chosen place has been high places or mountain tops. We recall how the Lord called Moses to the top of Mt Sinai or how the temple was built on a high point in Jerusalem. Perhaps you have been to Holy Hill near Hubertus, WI which is a Roman Catholic church built on a high hill in the Kettle Moraine area. We may feel closer to God when we pray to him in such a location. Of course, we can pray to the Lord anywhere at anytime but this should not diminish from such special occasions.

But more would happen that night then Jesus praying to his Father. Luke describes what happens.

We know this as the Transfiguration of our Lord. “Transfigure” isn’t a word we use every day but we know what it means. ‘Change completely the nature or appearance of.” We do not know what Jesus looked like. Over the centuries artists have painted their perception of what he looked like and in the age of film he has often been depicted in various ways. One common technique in art is to paint a halo above his head but this would not have been the case. Paul teaches us that Jesus did not normally stand out in all of his glory.

Philippians 2:6–8 NIV

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

But on this night, for these select few, Jesus appeared in his glory as the Son of God. It is a confirmation of who he is by nature.

Further confirmation would come from his conversation with Moses and Elijah and with his Father confirming his deity with his voice from heaven.

Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. Why these two? Perhaps because Moses represented the Law which the Lord gave through him and Elijah represented the prophets through whom the Lord spoke to his people Israel for generations.

Here it would nice to have a transcript of exactly what was said. Certainly, Peter seems to have wanted to remain longer listening to what was being said and observing what was said. Maybe this was behind his blurted out exclamation. We are told a summary of their discussion.

This is why it has been decided that the church would select this event to ponder on the last Sunday before Lent. We turn our own attention to the upcoming sufferings, death, and departure of Jesus which would take place in Jerusalem.

After Peter offered his ill conceived proposal, we are told that a cloud enveloped them. This can be a normal event. Perhaps one of the times you climbed a mountain or drove to the top, you were disappointed when a cloud enveloped you. This can happen at only 1000 feet as visitors to the Willis Tower in Chicago can attest to. What wasn’t normal was what happened next. The Lord God himself spoke from the cloud. (other occasions)

Research. What was said exactly?

This is my son, whom I have chosen, listen to him.

(NIV)

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

(NIV)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

(NIV)

17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

But we anticipate. We must first consider what the voice from the cloud said. “This is my Son”—these words make it clear that God the Father was speaking, just as he had at Jesus’ baptism. () We need not repeat here. See the exposition of the words on pages 64, 65. But we note, first, that here the words, “Listen to him,” are added. This command is a clear echo of the passage in . There Moses uttered this prophecy of the great Prophet, the Messiah: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.”

Note, secondly, that the message given by the Father at the transfiguration had a somewhat different significance than it did at the baptism of Jesus. Then Jesus was at the beginning of his public ministry. The Father, speaking from heaven, declared that his love and divine approval rested upon his Son Jesus, because he was beginning his redemptive work completely in accord with his saving, gracious will for sinners. When Jesus’ ministry was drawing to a close, however, the Father was saying something more with his words, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” He was proclaiming: “O sinners, you have witnessed my Son, the appointed Redeemer, appearing as a lowly, often despised man. Now you see him clothed for a while in the divine majesty which is his by right. Let this glorious sight be a sign to you—a sign that he has walked perfectly in the path of redemptive obedience.”

The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew–Luke § 132. The Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2–8; Matthew 17:1–8; Luke 9:28–36)

Moses, who is probably meant to represent the Law, and Elijah, who is probably meant to represent the Prophets, are present to bear witness to Jesus’ identity and to his destiny awaiting him at Jerusalem. Even the heavenly voice is probably meant to allude to both major parts of the Old Testament. The first part of the voice’s declaration, This is my Son, my Chosen One, echoes Isa. 42:1 and so represents the Prophets. The second part, listen to him, is a phrase taken from Deut. 18:15 (where Moses commands the people to listen to the great prophet that God would some day raise up) and so would represent the Law.

Even though there is some disagreement as to the exact words spoken by God, what is consistent his affirmation that he is his Son (deity) and that he has a special relationship with him as either having chosen him to carry out this work or the truth that he loves him. Luke also tells us what our response is to be. We are to listen to him.

One of the important reasons we worship in church is because it is here we can be certain that our God speaks to us through his word. This is becoming increasingly important if a world saturated by media that is not always true. We live in a world of “Fake News”.

Last week I saw a Meme on Facebook that claimed the United States government is responsible for the slaughter of 100 million Native Americans. This is wildly exaggerated but there are those who believe that “If it is on the Internet, it must be true.” I hope you are more wise than than.

On the other hand, in faith we approach God’s Word with complete trust. “If it says it in the Bible, it must be true.” is the trust we have in God. We sin when we doubt the truth of God’s word. We sin when we do not listen to what Jesus teaches us. God himself commands us to listen to Jesus and I pray that is always our goal.

After God spoke, the event ended abruptly. (NIV)

36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Matthew tells us why the disciples kept it a secret.

Matthew 17:9 NIV

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Jesus did not want others to misinterpret what had happened and try to keep him form his departure in Jerusalem. Now this event is told and retold to give us assurance before Lent that even though Jesus would suffer, he did it willingly as the Son of God.

Later, Peter would witness to this event.

2 Peter 1:16–21 NIV

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

He also appeals to us to listen to Jesus.

Franzmann, W. H. (1998). Bible history commentary: New Testament (electronic ed., p. 347). Milwaukee, WI: WELS Board for Parish Education.

Franzmann, W. H. (1998). Bible history commentary: New Testament (electronic ed., p. 347). Milwaukee, WI: WELS Board for Parish Education.