THE LIFE OF CHRIST - THE MINISTRY OF WITHDRAWALS

Fourth Withdrawal

-The Transfiguration of Jesus

-Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36

-Matthew and Mark state that six days passed from the time Jesus spoke of His upcoming

  death to the time of the transfiguration.  However, Luke says that it was “about eight

  days.”  It seems that Matthew and Mark are counting the days between these events while Luke

  includes the day Jesus spoke regarding His upcoming death and the day in which He was transfigured.

-Jesus went up into a mountain to pray.  However, this time, He took Peter, James and John with Him.

            -“This does not indicate favoritism; but they were active, prompt; and he accorded to each the

              position to which his fidelity and activity entitled him” (Dorris, pg 203).

            -The scriptures do not identify the mountain upon which these events took place.  There is a long-

              standing tradition that identifies the mountain as Mt. Tabor.  However, this is simply not true due to

              the fact that Mt. Tabor is in Galilee and Jesus had not yet returned to that region (see Mark 9:30).

              There is a possibility that the location was Mt. Hermon.

-It seems that the transfiguration took place at night. 

            -Jesus’ custom was to go up into a mountain at night  to pray.  (see Luke 6:12, Matt 14:23) 

            -Also, we find in Luke 9:32, that these three apostles were “heavy with sleep.”  (The NAS says,

              “Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep.”

            -And, we find that they did not come down from the mountain until the next day (Luke 9:37) which

              indicates that they remained on the mountain overnight.

-It seems that while Jesus was praying, the apostles fell asleep.  A similar occasion would take place

  in the Garden of Gethsemane.  When they awakened, Jesus had been transfigured and was speaking with

  Moses and Elijah.

            -According to Vines Dictionary, the word translated as “transfigured” in Matthew and Mark’s

              accounts is the Greek word “metamorphoo” which means “to change into another form.”  This is the

              word from which we get “metamorphosis.”  Luke did not use this same Greek word, but used a

              phrase which means “He became altered or different.”

            -At this time, Jesus appeared in His glorious, spiritual state - unveiled by human flesh.  His glorious

              fashion shone forth through His clothes making them “white and glistering” (Luke 9:29).  The NIV

              says, “…and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.”

                        -see 1 John 3:2, 1 Cor 15:44-53

-Luke’s account tells us that the topic of conversation between Jesus, Moses and Elijah was the

 approaching death of Jesus in Jerusalem.          

            -“The word for decease is ‘exodus,’ an unusual word for death.  It means a departure and is, as

              Bengel says, a very weighty word, since it includes the passion, crucifixion, death, burial,

              resurrection and ascension” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 419).

-As Moses and Elijah began to depart from the scene, Peter spoke up.  In regards to Peter’s words, we

  find a couple of interesting statements.  Mark’s account (vs 6) says that Peter, due to fear, didn’t know

  what to say.  Luke’s account (vs 33) says that Peter didn’t know what he had said.   

            -“Peter’s fears overcame his discretion, but did not silence his tongue” (McGarvey/Pendleton,

                pg 419).

            -Peter did not want Moses and Elijah to depart so he spoke out.  However, since Peter did not

              know what he was saying, it’s hard to know what he meant.  It seems that he was suggesting

              the idea of building a tent-like tabernacle for each of these three as a place to worship them.

-Immediately, while Peter spoke, a bright cloud representing God’s Divine presence overshadowed

  them and God’s voice was heard.

            -This is one of the few times that the silence of heaven was broken.  (see Matt 3:17, John 12:28)

            -The words spoken were “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

                        -These are the words that were spoken at the baptism of Jesus with the addition of the words

                          “hear ye him.”

                        -With this statement, God once again verified Jesus’ true identity and indicated His authority

                          over Moses and Elijah.

                        -This scene and God’s words obviously had an impact on the apostles.  Peter made reference

                          to this fact in 2 Peter 1:16-18.

            -In response to God’s voice, the apostles fell on their faces in fear.

                        -“The humility of heart and piety of soul are seen in good men who bow themselves in humble

                          fear before the throne of God” (Boles, pg 356).

-Jesus then came to them and told them to “arise and be not afraid.”  When they looked up Jesus was

 once again the only One with them.

-“Disciples should hear their Master above all others; this is the very essence of true discipleship.  He is

  not a faithful disciples who hears any one else in preference to his Master.  In Christianity Christ himself

  is the great teacher.  Any preaching which does not exalt Christ and point the people to the Lamb of God

  who taketh away the sins of the world is bad.  The preacher who seeks to attract the people to himself

  rather than to Christ is not a faithful servant of God.  His work will be for evil rather than for good to

  the world, in so far as he succeeds in calling after himself a partisan following of personal admirers”

  (Boles, pg 357).