THE TRANSFIGURATION
Certain events in our lives stay with us, they stand out as milestones which show us, reveal to us where we are now in this journey called life.
For Peter, James and John before the transfiguration they saw Jesus the mortal, flesh and blood man, who was able to say and do things like they had never seen before, but yet still mortal(called the son of man) i.e. the servant of men. But soon these three young men future leaders were to see and witness a moment in time and history that would change all that.
It began when Jesus made a statement that probably made very little sense to them at the time, Mathew 16:28 “truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the son of man coming(into) his kingdom” 6 days later Mathew and mark are very precise in this, It is those three young future leaders that will be the chosen ones who Jesus takes with him for the mountain climb to witness what no man had seen before. Their eyes witnessed the very thing Jesus had prophesised. There on the mountain, Jesus was transfigured, changed before them “his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light” Mathew 17:2.
Mathew Henry the bible commentator compares the shining countenance of Moses as he came down to the Israelites after meeting with the lord and Moses glory was covered by a simple veil, apiece of material but here no earthly cloth could subdue or dim that glory that was radiating from the Christ.
The son of god had just as Jesus had foretold come into his kingdom. Not only were there the three earthly witnesses to this heavenly transformation but Moses and Elijah too. Moses of course represents the law (commandments) and Elijah the prophets, Jesus of course fulfilled the law and the prophets Mathew 5:17. The appearance of these two long gone men proved there was life after death, showing the error of the Sadducees who didn’t believe in an after life and like some religious today, didn’t believe in a physical resurrection. But there was Moses and Elijah with Jesus.
It’s no wonder that the disciples were overawed by what was happening before them, but Peter the first to speak talks what was really no more than gibberish but isn’t it amazing that Peter was able to identify Moses and Elijah Mathew 17:4.
Up to this transformation Jesus said of the coming kingdom Mathew 10:7 “the kingdom of heaven is at hand and in Luke 10:9 Jesus said to his disciples “and heal the sick and say to them, the kingdom of God has come close to you”
But now (post transfiguration) when asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come? Jesus answered by saying “the kingdom of God is within you, (in your hearts) and among you (surrounding you) amplified version.
You see John the Baptist, anointed by the same spirit as Elijah prepared the way mark 9:12 “and he said to them, Elijah, It is true does come first to restore all things and set them to rights, this quotes Malachi 4:5-6 and in verse 13 “but I tell you that Elijah has already come and people did to him whatever they desired, as it is written of him”.
And there was the actual Elijah standing there at the transfiguration of Jesus and may yet come again on Christ’s return? Rev 11:3-6
The three disciples Peter, James and John now knew without a doubt they did not need to wait for another messiah, and although instructed by Christ not to speak of this yet, after his death and resurrection Jesus commanded his followers to spread the good news. After Pentecost the three plus all the other followers did exactly that, the kingdom of God has come to mankind, you could say Jesus had established his bridgehead and Gods offer of salvation broke out and spread out into the world Gods bridge was laid before all that they might cross from death to life.
If Jesus had gone to heaven from the mount of transfiguration he would have gone alone. He would have been nothing more than a glorious figure. But he turned his back on the glory and came down from the mount to identify him self with fallen humanity. Oswald Chambers.
When Jesus had finished his mission he didn’t only ascend to heaven as the Son of God but the Son of Man as well. And because of that we who believe have access to the very throne room of God. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and his spirit lives in his followers Praise GOD!
Be of good comfort be of one mind, live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you.
Pastor Terry