Keith's Page
The Transfiguration
(Matthew 17:1-9)
Jesus asked Peter, James and John to go up the mountain with him. From this we can assume that he knew what would happen there. The rest of the disciples stayed at the lower level. After this happening the three men were ordered to stay silent about what had happened and not to refer to it until after his resurrection. I often wonder what their thoughts were at this stage hearing that Jesus would die and be raised from death. We cannot know what was in their minds. There are no writings that say they were not surprised at his resurrection.
They followed Jesus up the mountainside and when they halted, they saw Jesus in a totally different light. He was aglow from head to foot. We wonder just what they thought about this vision. Suddenly he was joined by Moses and Elijah, the great lawgiver and the greatest prophet. They too shone brightly. How anyone at that time knew what Moses and Elijah looked like is a mystery. Perhaps Jesus addressed the two by name. The scene was such that Peter, impulsive as ever, suggested three tents be raised to mark the occasion. In Rejoice and Sing, hymnbook of the United Reformed Church, the hymn, “Come thou fount of every blessing” has in the first line of verse 2, “Here I raise mine Ebenezer” meaning a “stone of help” or memorial. This is what Peter had in mind.
Next came a mighty voice from within the cloud above: “This is my beloved Son. With him I am well pleased, listen to him.” They were very frightened and fell on the ground. Who wouldn’t be scared? Jesus got them up, saying, “do not be afraid.” Now, only Jesus was before them.
Now they went back down the mountain with Jesus, being told to keep this vision to themselves. This vision must have made them feel different, special, as close friends of Jesus. It would stay with them the rest of their lives. It was inspirational and would strengthen their efforts when they took over spreading the Good News.
Have you ever had a vision as a Christian. I have. It was a special moment when I felt a call to preach. The preacher in that evening’s service changed into a vision of Jesus. He was in the traditional form of long hair and flowing cloak so that I was aware of who he was. It was much later that I spoke of this experience in a school essay. I got the highest marks in the class for this essay. Strangely, the essays of the rest of the class were declared poor by our English teacher.
The three disciples were now left in no doubt what was to happen when Jesus next visited Jerusalem. Some readers have said it was a vision of the divinity of Jesus, but this is doubtful as Moses and Elijah were also transfigured and whilst important in Jewish history, they were not divine. If you consider the words of Jesus when he described himself as the Light of the World, you can see that on this occasion he was truly that.
This was Jesus in glory. When he told people that he had not come to abolish the Law but fulfil it the Transfiguration was the confirmation with his talks to Moses and Elijah. I think this was the true significance of the event. Our expectations of behaviour as Christians have been built on a foundation of the Ten Commandments and the preaching and teaching of the prophets throughout history. Much has followed but the basis is there.
