Transfiguration
“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matt. 17:5)
The transfiguration of Jesus Christ presents a monumental event in time-space where in the inner circle of the twelve disciples, Peter, James and John, witnessed a spectacular vision of their Master’s unveiled glory. It occurred six days after Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah and the Son of God (Matt .16:13-20), along with Jesus’ revelation of His mission, that the Son of Man must suffer, die upon the cross, and three days later rise again (Matt. 16:21-28).
Jesus, Peter, James, and John were on a mountain to when the transfiguration occurred (Matt. 17:1-2). God had simply lifted the veil of invisibility allowing the three to behold the glory of the One, the true nature of the Son of God, face shining as the sun with garments glowing white. There also appeared with the transfigured Lord, the ancient prophets—Moses and Elijah. The former was the one whom received the Law of God upon Mount Sinai, the latter declared the Word of the Lord with great signs and wonders in dark days when the people had turned their backs to the Lord and followed after the ways of the pagans. The two would represent the testimonial of God in the Law and the Prophets.
So momentous was the occasion, Peter sought to build tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah (Matt. 17:4). Was Peter simply so overcome by the moment that he knew not what he was saying? Was he trying to reinstitute the old tabernacle wherein the Lord would speak to the people through His prophet, as in the days of Moses? No explanation is offered for Peter’s words.
What happens was just as in the days when the Lord spoke to His people, a cloud overshadowed them (Matt. 17:5a, cf. Exod. 19:9; 24:15-18; 33:9-10; 40:34-38). Out of the cloud, the Lord spoke:
“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matt. 17:5)
What a marvelous picture of redemptive history. There is Moses and Elijah representing the Law and Prophets of the Old Testament on one side, Peter, James, and John, representing the twelve apostles of the New Testament on the other side, and the Beloved Son shining in glory in the middle. They are all engulfed within a thick cloud with the voice of God speaking from heaven.
The Heavenly Father would speak of Jesus as His “beloved Son” on more than one occasion (cf. Matt. 3:17). These words speak to the exalted status of Jesus the Son of God who came to inaugurate the everlasting heavenly kingdom.
The command to “listen” is the proper response. Years later, Peter would explain the significance of this moment in writing: “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’—and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2 Pet. 1:16-18).
God had condescended from heavenly glory to commune with the creation. He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, and the Scriptures have preserved for us this truth. The Word of God is more than the wisdom of ancient sages, who were simply mere men; instead, they codify for us the very message of God. The Son of God has entered into this world to reveal these truths. He is beloved of God. Listen to Him.
The transfiguration of Jesus Christ presents a monumental event in time-space where in the inner circle of the twelve disciples, Peter, James and John, witnessed a spectacular vision of their Master’s unveiled glory. It occurred six days after Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah and the Son of God (Matt .16:13-20), along with Jesus’ revelation of His mission, that the Son of Man must suffer, die upon the cross, and three days later rise again (Matt. 16:21-28).
Jesus, Peter, James, and John were on a mountain to when the transfiguration occurred (Matt. 17:1-2). God had simply lifted the veil of invisibility allowing the three to behold the glory of the One, the true nature of the Son of God, face shining as the sun with garments glowing white. There also appeared with the transfigured Lord, the ancient prophets—Moses and Elijah. The former was the one whom received the Law of God upon Mount Sinai, the latter declared the Word of the Lord with great signs and wonders in dark days when the people had turned their backs to the Lord and followed after the ways of the pagans. The two would represent the testimonial of God in the Law and the Prophets.
So momentous was the occasion, Peter sought to build tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah (Matt. 17:4). Was Peter simply so overcome by the moment that he knew not what he was saying? Was he trying to reinstitute the old tabernacle wherein the Lord would speak to the people through His prophet, as in the days of Moses? No explanation is offered for Peter’s words.
What happens was just as in the days when the Lord spoke to His people, a cloud overshadowed them (Matt. 17:5a, cf. Exod. 19:9; 24:15-18; 33:9-10; 40:34-38). Out of the cloud, the Lord spoke:
“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matt. 17:5)
What a marvelous picture of redemptive history. There is Moses and Elijah representing the Law and Prophets of the Old Testament on one side, Peter, James, and John, representing the twelve apostles of the New Testament on the other side, and the Beloved Son shining in glory in the middle. They are all engulfed within a thick cloud with the voice of God speaking from heaven.
The Heavenly Father would speak of Jesus as His “beloved Son” on more than one occasion (cf. Matt. 3:17). These words speak to the exalted status of Jesus the Son of God who came to inaugurate the everlasting heavenly kingdom.
The command to “listen” is the proper response. Years later, Peter would explain the significance of this moment in writing: “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’—and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2 Pet. 1:16-18).
God had condescended from heavenly glory to commune with the creation. He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, and the Scriptures have preserved for us this truth. The Word of God is more than the wisdom of ancient sages, who were simply mere men; instead, they codify for us the very message of God. The Son of God has entered into this world to reveal these truths. He is beloved of God. Listen to Him.
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