Have
you ever had a moment when your life was changed? Perhaps it was similar to the
Transfiguration. That moment changed the lives of Peter, James, John and Jesus,
just like moments in our lives can change us. The disciples were changed from
fearful, anxious, inactive cowards to brave, confident, active champions of the
faith. We are also transformed when Jesus touches us, and we need that touch
badly. We are also encouraged to offer this touch to a world that needs it
badly.
I
don’t know about you, but I would love to have been the proverbial “fly on the
wall” at the Transfiguration. Just think of the history that was being made!
Three of the most important figures in Christianity-Moses, Elijah and
Jesus-together at the same time and in the same location! No wonder Peter
wanted to build three shelters! It was a significant meeting at a significant
time in a significant location among significant participants.
Moses
and Elijah-the great lawgiver and the great prophet-were probably chosen to
join Jesus and the disciples at the Transfiguration as representatives of the
Old Covenant. Moses was the one through whom the covenant came, and Elijah was
its prominent reformer.
So
what were Moses, Elijah and Jesus talking about? Matthew doesn’t tell us, but
Luke’s version tells us that they were talking about Jesus’ death. Both Moses
and Elijah foretold of Christ’s death, which was Christ’s purpose. His
sacrificial death and resurrection paid the penalty for our sins and allowed
believers to be reunited with God.
Those
present at the Transfiguration provide a picture of the coming kingdom of
Christ: Moses represents those who died in Christ; Elijah represents whose who
will be raptured someday (he had been taken to heaven without dying); the three
apostles represent redeemed Israel; and Christ is the King. Jesus’s
transfiguration was part of the ongoing story of encountering the mystery of
God. Jesus and his words had the same authority as those of Moses and Elijah.
Christ
did not come to abolish the Law or the prophets. He did not say that the Law
and the prophets had no meaning or value. What he did say was that He fulfilled
the Law that we could not keep. The Law had to be kept perfectly. If people
broke one law, they broke all of them. In addition, people were not perfect,
and they aren’t perfect today.
Mountain
top experiences are some of the happiest experiences in our lives, and that’s
what the disciples experienced at the Transfiguration. When we are on the top
of the mountain, we can listen to and be refreshed by God. We are pulled out of
the ordinary life and changed in faith. Only then can we have a Christian life.
Unfortunately, we can’t live on the mountain top forever. We have to face the
valleys in our lives, and these valleys are the lowest and most disappointing
times in our lives. It is at those times when we as believers can feel and see
Jesus reaching out, taking us by the hand and saying, “Arise, and do not be
afraid.”
Some
people contradict Jesus, and when they do, they contradict the truth. At the
Transfiguration, God made it clear that Jesus speaks the truth with authority,
and we should listen to what he has to say. Our love for God is shown in how we
listen to God. Our view of Jesus is shown in how we listen to him. Worship is
more than Jesus listening to what we have to say about him. It involves
listening to what Jesus has to say about us and himself.
The
Transfiguration has been seen by some Biblical scholars as a glimpse of the
kingdom or a preview of the Kingdom’s power. This glimpse was secured by
Christ’s death and resurrection, and was clearly stated when Jesus told the
disciples not to say anything about the vision until after His resurrection.
The glory of the Transfiguration would then be seen by all of the disciples in
the risen Christ.
All
of us need to see God’s glory before we see hard times. We need to remember
God’s presence and purpose when we face life’s challenges. The Transfiguration
links the seasons of Epiphany and Lent. It reminds us that just like God was
with Jesus all the time (and especially in the Garden of Gethsemane on the
night before his death), God is with us all of the time.
The Transfiguration proved that Jesus was the Messiah and the
Son of God. The response of the disciples is the same response we have. Just as
they fell on their faces, we fall on our faces in worship. When we do, Jesus
reaches out, touches us and says, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” The
Transfiguration assures us that God has affirmed Jesus and our humanity. Jesus
recalls our humanity and affirms our nature with His divinity. The Kingdom of
God has entered the world in human form through Jesus, and we are called to
witness to that Good News.
Bibliography
1.
Jeremiah,
David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King
James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1312-1313)
2.
ESV Study
Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3.
Augsberger,
M.S & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary
Series, Vol. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; p. 18)
4.
MacArthur,
J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New
American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson publishers; 2006)
5.
Stanley,
C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life
Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6.
Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville,
TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 1325-1326)
10.
Brian P.
Stoffregen. “Matthew 17:1-9 Transfiguration of Our Lord, Last Sunday after the
Epiphany-Year A.” Retrieved from www.crossmarks.com
14.
The
Rev. Laura Brekke, “Last Epiphany: Don’t Go Chasing Mountain Tops!” Retrieved
from comment-reply@wordpress.com
15.
Greg Hollifield, “A Meeting for the Ages.” Published
in the Spring 2017 issue of Preaching Magazine (Nashville, TN: Salem
Publishing; pp. 57-58)
16.
Dr. Norman Beck, “Lectionary Scripture Notes,
Transfiguration Sunday, Cycle A.” Retrieved from www.lectionaryscripturenotes.com
17.
Ben Helmer, “Transformation, Last Sunday after
Epiphany (A).” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
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