Transfiguration Or Transformation?"

In Jesus Holy Name February 27, 2022 Text: Matthew17:1-9 Transfiguration Redeemer

“Transfiguration or Transformation?”

Jesus is both transfigured and transformed, There is a difference, as the cover of our bulletin demonstrates. The disciples were excited by the transfiguration but they will be astounded by the coming transformation. God speaks loudest on mountains. Think Mount Moriah, Mount Sinai, Mount Zion, The sermon on the mount. The Mount of Transfiguration. Mount Calvary.

(Jesus Speaks Leonard Sweet p. 72)

Today we find Jesus on the mountain with three disciples. Jesus is glorified. For just a moment, He is transfigured; a blinding radiance pours from Him. He becomes what He was before He came to earth. For one brief, shining moment, the burden of His humanity is lifted. He is elevated above earth’s horizon and escorted into the eternal. He is home again. Familiar sounds surround Him.

(In the Eye of The Storm p. 174 Max Lucado)

The Transfiguration story is in Matthew, Mark and Luke. We are told that Peter James and John followed Jesus up the mountain. That was not unusual. For three years, Peter, James and John followed Jesus just about wherever He went. The man they have known is transfigured. His clothes and His body was shining in divine glory. Moses and Elijah appeared and talking as if they were old friends. His purpose and Mission. Moses and Elijah spoke to him about what was going to happen in Jerusalem. Jesus has to remove the veil that is covering the Disciples minds regarding the role of the Messiah. Suddenly they disappear He returns to His human nature. Then a cloud appears, and God speaks as at His baptism. This is my beloved Son Listen to Him.

Nothing prepared them for what they experienced up on the mountain. First, Jesus started to glow, not with a reflected light coming from the setting sun. No, the light was brilliant, shield-your-face kind of brightness. The light was not confined to His face. His entire body glowed. This is transfiguration. But transformation is predicted . there is a difference.

In Exodus Moses Would go up on a mountain to hear God’s word. He received the ten Commandments, laws that would set the moral fabric of the Israelites and our own western culture. His face was so bright that he had to mask his face. When he went into the tabernacle he would have to cover His face. We know a lot about masks these days. People still use them to cover their identity or to protect others from the spread of germs. Moses represents the law and God’s way of giving forgiveness and covered his face because of the glow from being in the presence of God. Elijah was a prophet during the evil days of Ahab. Prophets gave God’s warnings and blessings when necessary. Jesus is the fulfilment of the law and prophets.

On the Mountain the disciples see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. How did they know? I don’t know but They knew. They knew these men were two of the greatest and long-ago leaders of Israel. They were talking with Jesus as if they were old friends which they were! Suddenly a cloud appears. From the cloud a voice spoke. They were terrified as were their ancestors when God spoke on the Mt of Sinai. These men had gone to Hebrew school. They knew voices coming from clouds was what their ancestors had heard on Mt. Sinai. The voice was clear: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him.” This was a transfiguration moment not a Transformation The transformation would come later. That’s why Jesus said. Don’t tell what you have seem until the son of Man has been raised from the dead, That will be transformation. The transformation That is coming for Jesus will happen after His crucifixion And much like the caterpillar Chrysalis stage. the dead human body of Jesus will lay in a shrouded tomb for 3 days then his body will be transformed. That transformation will change history.

The caterpillar is changed from one form to another. A complete metamorphosis into an adult butterfly A completely new being.

That same transformation is coming our way! Paul writes that When Jesus returns at the trumpet call of God then the dead in Christ will be transformed into a glorious resurrected body like the resurrected body of Jesus. Philippians 3:20-21

You know the bible never tells us Peter, James and John returned to that sacred mountain. They did not need too. Why? Because Jesus replaced his physical presence with His Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is the presence of the living resurrected Jesus who now dwells within each believer The Transfiguration is change from the inside out. Once we are believers in Jesus What once was is now no longer Paul explains the difference between what we were the old Adam into the “new Adam” Christ in me. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. The world looks at us from the outside, our resume or at and what we do to know who we are. Christianity is the result of transfiguration, who do we reflect? (I’m reminded of the story of Samuel and David) Samuel was judging from the outside what he saw. THE VOICE OF THE lord came to Samuel and said; I judge the hearts of men which caused Samuel to ask “Do you have any other sons?” The Holy Spirit transfigures us so that in our lives in our behavior, our character traits, now reflect the values of Jesus. This is living out the Beatitudes That Pastor Jim talked about last week. The Holy Spirit Assures us of God’s love and acceptance.