THE TRANSFIGURATION (Matthew 17:1-6)

Seeing God in all His glory is one of the rewards that await those who are faithful to Him. When we are freed from our corruptible bodies and receive immortal bodies as we enter the kingdom of Heaven, only then can we behold the awesome glory of God. Until then, the mere sight of God will be too overwhelming that it can destroy us. Thousands of years ago, Moses had found favor in God’s sight and he asked God if he could be allowed to see God in all His glory. God only showed Moses His back as He passed by but He did not allow Moses to see His face. He explained to Moses, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live ." (Exodus 33:18-23). And yet, God in His grace has allowed a few exceptions to this prohibition. One of these is an event now known as the TRANSFIGURATION.

Let’s read Matthew 17:1-3. Now after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfiguted before them. his face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.(NKJV)

The verses say that six days after Peter had acknowleged that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus took the three disciples who were closest to Him: Peter, James, and John. He brought them to a high mountain where they could be alone in order for Jesus to pray (Luke 9:28-31). It was while Jesus was praying that the transfiguration took place. The parallel account in Luke says that His appearance was altered. It seems that His divine splendor shone forth from within His body, causing Him to glow brightly in such a supernatural whiteness. His face shone like the sun; His clothes became white as the light. Such an appearance of Jesus can be compared to another unique instance when God allowed John the Apostle another opportunity to see Jesus in His divine glory. This is written in Revelations 1:14-16, "His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength"(NKJV). These two descriptions show a similarity in the divine glory of Jesus in the Transfiguration and in Revelations. Today’s verses in Matthew goes on to say that suddenly there appeared Moses and Elijah conversing with Jesus. Let us note that Moses had died more than 1,500 years before Jesus; Elijah had been taken up to heaven more than 600 years before Jesus. Both of these Old Testament prophets had been in Heaven for a long time before the event of the Transfiguration. And yet here they were, conversing with Jesus. This truly dazzled the three disciples. But what did Jesus discuss with His two heavenly visitors that was so important? Luke 9:31 says that they discussed "His decease which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem". The word "decease" in the original Greek was EXODUS. This also meant "departure". In other words while Jesus was praying, Moses and Elijah came to discuss with Jesus the manner of His departure from this earth. Apparently, God the Father had sent two of His most faithful prophets in order to confirm to Jesus the necessity of dying on the cross. By His death on the cross, He would enter into His glory (See Matt.16:21). His suffering and His glory were inseparably linked.

Let’s read the next verses Matthew 17:4-6. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. (NKJV)

When Jesus had parted with Moses and Elijah, Peter who was always so eager to banner his own opinions suggested that they set up three tabernacles as monuments of the transfiguration. Actually Peter did not know what to say because he was afraid (Mark 9:6). But even before Peter finished talking, another awesome event occured. They were suddenly overshadowed by a bright cloud and a voice spoke from within the cloud saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him !". Upon hearing this the apostles were overcome with such great fear that they fell on their faces. Even the mere voice of our glorious God is so awesome. With these words, the Father bestowed His stamp of approval on the sinless life that Jesus had lived. The Father expressed His approval in order to show the worthiness of Jesus as the perfect Bearer of our sins on the cross; the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God — no blemish, no defects. God was implementing His plan for our salvation. And Jesus, our Saviour, was about to enter into His glory.

Will you and I be allowed to gaze upon the glorious Jesus? Or will we be deemed unworthy, such that the experience of seeing His glory might destroy us? Not all people can endure the presence of our glorious Lord. Revelations 6:16 says that some will plead pitifully, "...Hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!"

God desires that we be worthy to stand before His glorious presence. He wants to prepare us for that event by bringing changes into our lives. He desires to change man’s wicked heart into a trusting heart. Our thoughts into His thoughts.Our ways into His ways. He desires to change each of us into a new creation: from mortal into immortal, from corrupted into glorified, something like a transfiguration.

But do we desire that too? More than anything else? Are we willing to undergo God’s changes to enter into His glory? Even if we have to suffer in the process? Pray to God about that. God bless us all.