The Transfiguration of Jesus

     

             
About midway of His active ministry Jesus, accompanied by Peter, James and John withdrew to a high mountain apart for prayer. While praying Jesus was “transfigured,” “his face shone like the sun,” “and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no washerman on earth can whiten them.”  For once Jesus revealed His true glory to human eyes, His human garb pealed off. At the beginning, the disciples were only dimly conscious of the wonder in progress before their eyes. From the brightness came the sound of voices. Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah. The subject of the discourse--as the disciples probably would learn later—was the forthcoming crucifixion, the culmination of His ministry.            

      As the disciples came to themselves, the celestial visitors had departed and Peter impulsively suggested tents could be set up for Jesus and His and the other two so that their stay might be prolonged and, if possible, made permanent. Just then a cloud swept over them, and out of the cloud a voice came, saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.” In awe the disciples prostrated themselves and in silence waited. Suddenly, lifting up their eyes they saw no one, except the Lord. (Mathew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36).

      What is its significance and purpose of this astonishing phenomenon? Scripture offers no explanation. The event is afterward referred to only in a general way by Peter (2Peter 1:16-18) and, perhaps, by John (John 1:14). That it marked a turning point in the ministry of Jesus, there can be no doubt. From this time He walked consciously under the shadow of the cross.           it was also probably at this juncture Jesus was revealed by His Father the sacrificial nature of His mission and the certainty of His cruel, lingering death that was to be His portion. He was also to realize that His mission was to be the fulfillment of Law (represented by Moses) and prophecy (represented by Elijah) with His own mission surpassing both in authority and power. In His heart now would resound forever the Father's approval, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” and mankind would henceforth ‘‘listen to Him”.

      The three witnesses were warned by Jesus they were not to mention the subject of His transfiguration to anyone until after His resurrection from the dead. Jesus realized that the disciples would not fully understand it until Jesus had risen from the dead. Then they would realize only through dying could Jesus show His power over death and His authority to be King of all. The disciples wouldn’t be powerful witness for God until they had grasped this truth. The secrecy was also to ensure that the undue publicity that results would hinder His mobility and in order to avoid being considered just a miracle worker, causing the people to follow Him for all the wrong reasons. It was also to avoid possible conflict with God’s timing.

      The similarity between the three participants of this celestial drama is striking. All three were very eminent and popular during their time. All suffered persecution, injustice, and rejection. Each one of them fasted for forty days, performed miracles and taught the truth. Everyone had his career and earthly life ended in a remarkable way. Moses was buried by God, Elijah was taken up by chariots of fire without tasting death and Jesus became the Saviour of mankind through His death on the cross. Moses who was denied admission into the Holy Land by God because of his insubordination (Numbers 27:14) got his chance to set foot in Canaan after 1500 years!

          The episode of transfiguration wrought out in Jesus a new fervor, a new boldness, new confidence of ultimate victory which, as a source of holy joy, enabled Him to endure the cross and to despise its shame (Hebrews 12:2). In the disciples, the scene must have created a new faith in the heaven-sent leadership of Jesus and confirm His deity. Peter would later write in 2Peter 1:16 “we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty”.

      In the dark days which were soon to come upon them, the memory of the brightness of that unforgettable night would be power and strength. There might be opposition, but there could be no permanent defeat of one whose work was ratified by Moses, by Elijah, and by God Himself. How in the face of such evidence that was so real to them could they ever again doubt the triumph of life and of Him who was the Lord of life? The abiding lesson of the Transfiguration is that of the reality of the unseen world, of its nearness to us, and of the comforting and inspiring fact of eternal life.

      Transfiguration is the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy made just before the incident: “I tell you with certainty, some people standing here will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom”.   It is the divine affirmation of Jesus’ role—what He had done and what He was about to do. It is the ‘authorization’ given through the Father’s voice from heaven. It is a revelation of Jesus’ power and glory in contrast to His humble life on earth. Its purpose is also to make the disciple understand the true role of the Messiah—the suffering servant—as against the popular Jewish notion of a conquering hero and to equip them for the future witnessing of His deity, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. It also gave them an idea of the glory prepared for them, when changed by His power and made like Him.

      We don’t know why Jesus chose only Peter, James, and John to witness the unique spectacle of His transformation. Perhaps Jesus decided they were the only men most ready to understand and accept this grand truth. The three disciples were the ‘inner circles’ of the group of twelve. They were the first to hear Jesus’ call (Mark 1:16-19). Their names were on the top of the list of disciples (Mark 3:16). They were also present at certain miraculous healings where others were excluded (Luke 8:51).

      It was natural for the disciples to be confused about Jesus’ death and resurrection because they could not see into the future. We, on the other hand, have God’s revealed word, the Bible, to give us the full meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have no excuse for unbelief.

><><><><><><><><><