Transfigure Us

Matthew 17:1-9

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent; that makes this Sunday the last Sunday of Epiphany, the Sunday on which we celebrate the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus' transfiguration marks the pivotal point in his story. Up to this moment, Jesus had gone about healing the sick, raising the dead, and teaching others about the Kingdom of God in the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee. But after the transfiguration,

"he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51)

The story of the transfiguration of Jesus is one of only a few that appears in all three gospels. This transfiguration takes place about three years into Jesus' three-and-a-half-year ministry. The disciples had followed Jesus for months and years; they had seen his miracles; they had done miracles in His name. They knew something about the power and the reality of who Jesus was, yet, when He began to talk about dying, it was staggering to the disciples, and they began to wonder if He really was the Messiah.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain away from the others. Together with Peter's brother, Andrew, these three disciples have been with Jesus the longest since Jesus called them away from their fishing nets alongside the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18).

"Transfiguration" is "a state change from one thing into something quite different while retaining one's original nature."

The purpose of the transfiguration of Jesus was so that the "inner circle" of His disciples could gain a greater understanding of who Jesus was. Jesus underwent a dramatic change in appearance so the disciples could behold Him in His glory. The disciples, who had only known Him in His human body, now had a greater realization of the deity of Jesus, although they could not fully comprehend it. Transfiguration would give them the reassurance they needed after hearing the shocking news of His coming death.

A face shining like a sun, clothes of dazzling white, a voice from a cloud: something powerful was occurring on that mountaintop, but it was difficult for the disciples to comprehend. They had known Jesus as a teacher, a healer, and even a prophet like Elijah or Jeremiah; each of these was a role that Jesus filled, but none alone captured his complete identity.

Matthew tells us:

"Just then, there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus." (Matthew 17:3)

Remember that Peter, James, and John were just small-town fishermen, not educated scholars. But even they knew that Moses and Elijah were not only the two most influential figures in Jewish history but were the two people who would one day announce the arrival of the Messiah. Moses and Elijah had both been dead for a thousand years or so. Yet, there they were.

The appearance of Moses and Elijah symbolically represented the Law and the Prophets. But God's voice from heaven said

"Listen to Him!"

- clearly showing that the Law and the Prophets must give way to Jesus. Jesus is the new and living way replacing the old, the fulfillment of the Law and the countless prophecies in the Old Testament. Also, in His glorified form, they saw a preview of His coming glorification and enthronement as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The voice from heaven instructed Peter, James, and John to do one thing:

“listen to Jesus.”

Forget your thoughts and plans; listen to Him. As God had declared from the heavens,

"He is My Beloved Son." (Matthew 17:5)

Above all else,

"Hear Him." (Matthew 17:5)

And while they were lying there, quivering with fear, Jesus touched them and said,

"do not be afraid." (Matthew 17:7)

The second thing they saw in the transfiguration was the promise of eternal life. In Jesus' earthly life, he was a humble carpenter and rabbi. But when Jesus' face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light, Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of his true identity as our resurrected Savior. Soon, they would see him arrested, put on trial, beaten, spit on, and nailed to a cross. They would witness him die an agonizing and shameful death. If only for a moment they needed to see the resurrected Jesus in his glory and majesty. They needed to know that God's story would end in victory and everlasting life.

Peter was the one who noticed it first. He just always seemed to be the one that caught things more quickly. Matthew said that while they stood there:

"He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." (Matthew 17:2)

They were trying to figure out what was happening; they needed some assurance of their future.

We all need that assurance.

I am sure we've all faced change that has caused us to stumble and fall, paralyzed us, or left us overwhelmed. We need to regain our balance and get our feet back under us, stepping into a new life when we aren't sure what that looks like or if there is a new life awaiting us.