The Greek phrase translated “transfigured” provides us the English phrase “metamorphosis,” which suggests a change on the surface that comes from the within. When Jesus started to shine, it was not as a result of the angels in heaven had turned a strong highlight on him. It was as a result of his divine nature was radiating by means of his physique and his raiment. Jesus revealed his divine nature in its glory,
The outstanding “transfiguration retreat” reported by Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Matt 17:1–13; Mark 9:2–13; Luke 9:28–36) gave Jesus alternative to glorify the Father and put together himself and three of his disciples for his imminent struggling and dying. Jesus was not alone on the mountain. Peter, James, and John accompanied him at his request, then Moses and Elijah appeared and the Father spoke from heaven.
It’s our privilege to be taught from the disciples’ expertise on that mountain. As we’ll see, the transfiguration teaches us three important truths about Jesus.
1. Jesus, the Son of God, shines with the glory of God
Within the historical Close to East, the Gentile nations had temples, monks, and rituals, however solely the nation of Israel had God’s glory dwelling of their sanctuary (Rom 9:4). When Moses devoted the tabernacle, God’s glory moved in (Exod 40:34–38), and when Solomon devoted the temple, the glory stuffed the home (2 Chron 7:1–3). The idols of the nations have been with out life or glory and will do nothing, however the dwelling God of Israel is superb in all the things he’s, says, and does!
The tragedy is that, over the centuries, the individuals of Israel repeatedly sinned in opposition to the Lord and even put idols in his temple. Finally, the glory of God departed from the sanctuary. The Prophet Ezekiel data how the glory moved from the mercy seat within the holy of holies to above the edge of the temple, then to the jap gate, and from there it left the temple fully and went over the Mount of Olives (Ezek 10:1–19; 11:22–23). The monks might have written “Ichabod” over the temple, “the glory has departed” (1 Sam 4:19–22). But Ezekiel additionally revealed that the glory would return and dwell within the temple sooner or later kingdom (Ezek 43:1–5).
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God’s glory returned to the individuals of Israel within the individual of the Son of God (Luke 2:8–9). “And the Phrase grew to become flesh and dwelt amongst us, and we beheld his glory” (John 1:14). Jesus glorified God in his life, teachings, and miracles, and particularly in his dying and resurrection.
However on the mount of transfiguration, Jesus radiated his glory in a method his disciples had by no means seen earlier than. This glory revealed that Jesus is certainly the Son of God.
The transfiguration was a revelation of the glory of his coming kingdom when the cross would get replaced by the crown.
Jesus was on his method to Calvary, and his transfiguration was an indication that the struggling he would endure would finally result in glory. It was a revelation of the glory of his coming kingdom (Matt 16:27–28), when the cross would get replaced by the crown (Heb 2:9). After his resurrection, Jesus requested the 2 Emmaus disciples, “Ought not the Christ to have suffered this stuff and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26).
Too many believers suppose that struggling within the will of God is a wierd factor, for, if we’re obeying God, he must shelter us. When Peter first heard that the Grasp would die on a cross, his response was, “Far be it from you, Lord”; and Jesus rebuked him (Matt 16:21–23). Struggling is certainly one of God’s instruments for getting ready us for glory, not solely at this time however when Jesus returns (1 Pet 4:13).
Those that have trusted Jesus Christ have already got his glory within the individual of the Holy Spirit inside them (John 17:22; 1 Pet 4:14), and that glory is revealed in the way in which we reside and the works we do (Matt 5:16). Will probably be revealed once we attain our heavenly residence, see Jesus, and rejoice in his presence. In the meantime, we stroll by religion, realizing that the Lord all the time retains his guarantees. Charles Spurgeon stated that the guarantees of God shine the brightest within the furnace of affliction, and he was proper. Struggling and glory go collectively as do God’s grace and our struggling. “The Lord will give grace and glory” (Ps 84:11).
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2. Jesus achieves a better exodus
Not solely was the Grasp radiant with divine glory, however so have been two males, Moses and Elijah, who instantly appeared and conversed with Jesus about “his decease which he was about to perform in Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). Moses represented the legislation and Elijah the prophets, for in Jesus we see the achievement of the legislation and the prophets (Matt 5:17). “For the legislation was given by means of Moses, however grace and fact got here by means of Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
The phrase translated “decease” is the Greek phrase exodus (ἔξοδος), an acceptable phrase for the subject of dialog Jesus was having with Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:30–31). Moses supervised the exodus of Israel out of Egyptian slavery, and Elijah led the untrue nation out of pagan idolatry and again to the Lord (1 Kgs 18).
Jesus achieved crucial exodus of all, for he delivers misplaced sinners from the facility of darkness and takes them into his superb kingdom (Col 1:13). Within the days of Moses in Egypt, it was the blood of the lamb that protected the Jews from dying and enabled them to go free, and it’s the blood of God’s Lamb at this time that units us free (John 1:29; Eph 1:7). Jesus grew to become a prisoner that we is perhaps let out.
Elijah didn’t shut his ministry by dying however was carried alive into heaven, simply as God’s people who find themselves alive at Christ’s return shall be caught as much as glory after the lifeless are raised (2 Kgs 2:9–12; 1 Thess 4:13–18). Someday, he’ll take his bride, the church, far above the mountaintops and into the glory of heaven. What a wonderful day that shall be, and it’ll imply glory eternally!
3. Jesus alone offers salvation
That is the second time Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him on a particular ministry. The primary occurred when he raised the daughter of Jairus from the lifeless (Luke 8:51–56), and the third could be when Jesus went into the backyard to wish (Matt 26:37). It has been identified that every of those events was related with dying.
- Within the residence of Jairus, Jesus confirmed himself because the conqueror of dying.
- On the mount of transfiguration, he was seen glorified in dying.
- Within the backyard, he surrendered to the Father’s will unto dying.
The three disciples have been “heavy with sleep” (Luke 9:32), a fault they repeated within the backyard (Luke 22:45); however when Peter was absolutely awake, he realized that Moses and Elijah have been leaving. His suggestion that he construct cubicles for Jesus and his visitors was proof that his thoughts was nonetheless confused as a result of he didn’t actually know what he was saying. However whereas Peter was nonetheless talking, the Father interrupted him by putting a cloud over them and talking to them. All through his life, Peter was interrupted: right here by the Father and later by the Son (Matt 17:24–27) and by the Spirit (Acts 10:44–48).
Moses and Elijah have been despatched to encourage Jesus and to not stay on earth. Jesus was on his method to the cross and nothing might deter him (Luke 9:51). Alas, Peter nonetheless didn’t perceive the importance of the crucifixion (Matt 16:21–23)!
That is the second time on file that the Father spoke from heaven to encourage the Son. He spoke on the baptism of Jesus (Matt 3:17), earlier than Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted by the satan; and the Father would communicate once more as Jesus drew close to to his sacrifice on the cross (John 12:27–28). In every of those three cases, the Father inspired Jesus as he approached struggling and dying.
At Christ’s baptism, the Father had stated, “That is My beloved Son, in whom I’m properly happy.” Right here on the mount he repeats these phrases, however he provides, “Hear him!” One of the vital harmful issues we will do as disciples of the Lord Jesus is to inform the Lord what to do as a substitute of letting him inform us what to do. “For who has recognized the thoughts of the Lord? Or who has grow to be his counselor?” (see Rom 11:34; Isa 40:13; Jer 23:18).
There isn’t a substitute for Jesus and no must attempt to complement Jesus with anybody or anything.
The heavenly guests have been gone and the three disciples noticed “Jesus solely.” However that’s all they wanted to see! Moses and Elijah might do nothing for them—however Jesus might.
There isn’t a substitute for Jesus and no must attempt to complement Jesus with anybody or anything. It’s not Jesus plus Moses, as a result of we aren’t saved by conserving the legislation (Gal 2:16–21). It’s not Jesus plus Elijah, for although he ministered to Israel, he can’t minister to us. It’s not Jesus plus something, as a result of our spiritual works don’t save us however solely give proof that we’re saved. There isn’t a salvation with out receiving Jesus by religion.
“Jesus solely”
All of this teaches us to look to Jesus solely—“hearken to him!” (Luke 9:35, emphasis added).
“Jesus solely” isn’t solely the message of salvation, however of Christian dwelling. Except we make “Jesus solely” the middle of our lives, we will by no means benefit from the fullness of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit was given to glorify Jesus (John 16:13–14). The Holy Spirit impressed individuals to put in writing the Scriptures and to current Jesus Christ in what they wrote. William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury (1942–1944), stated it so properly: “Our message is Jesus Christ; we dare not give much less and we can’t give extra.”
“Jesus solely” is what provides energy to our evangelism. In our witnessing, we should use the Scriptures to current Christ and the cross, realizing that the gospel of Christ is “the facility of God to salvation to everybody who believes” (Rom 1:16).
“Jesus solely” is important for efficient prayer. To wish within the title of Jesus is to ask what he would ask in order that he is perhaps glorified, not in order that we is perhaps pacified. I’ve lived lengthy sufficient to be glad about unanswered prayer. We should pray for God’s will to be achieved in order that Jesus shall be honored in all issues (1 John 5:14–15), and one of the simplest ways to find out God’s will is to go looking the Scriptures and be taught by the Holy Spirit. Prayer turns into an journey in religion as we develop in our communion with Jesus solely.
This text is customized from Warren W. Wiersbe, Milestones of the Grasp: Essential Occasions within the Lifetime of Jesus and Why They Matter So A lot (Lexham Press, 2015).
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