Transfiguration
Image credit: Crux
The Transfiguration of Jesus
“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me”
Battle Hymn of the Republic (lyrics by Julia Ward Howe)
Scholars consider the Transfiguration one of five major milestones in the life of Jesus, the others being baptism, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. This event was so significant that it is recorded in three of the gospels: Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; and Luke 9:28-36. But none of these gospel authors were eyewitnesses to this spectacular event, although Mark was a close confident to the eyewitness Peter, from whom he likely got his information. Jesus brought three disciples with him to the mountain, Peter, James, and John, thus fulfilling the Old Testament law requiring three witnesses to attest to the legality or validity of an event (Deuteronomy 19:15). In addition, there were three heavenly witnesses, God the Father, Moses, and Elijah. Super significant – both Heaven and Earth are impacted!
I love the way the eyewitness Peter tells the story in 2 Peter 1: 16-18 (TPT).
“We (James, John and I) were not retelling some masterfully crafted legend when we informed you of the power and appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we saw his magnificence and splendor unveiled before our very eyes. Yes, Father God lavished upon him (Jesus) radiant glory and honor when his distinct voice spoke out of the realm of majestic glory, endorsing him with these words: This is my cherished Son, marked by my love. All my delight is found in him! And we ourselves heard that voice resound from the heavens while were with him on the holy mountain.”
Metamorphism = Transfiguration. The above is an example of progressive change, starting with a sedimentary rock, shale, and moving through increasing metamorphic stages - slate – schist – gneiss – as temperature and pressure rise. Transfiguration comes from the Greek word “metamorpho” which means to change (meta) form (morpho).
From the gospel-writers’ description, there is no doubt Jesus changed form. His face shone like the Sun. His cloths became as white as light. Two other transfigured individuals were seen conversing with Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Neither Moses or Elijah displayed the degree of glory-change of Jesus, but they obviously exhibited a much different appearance than Peter, James and John. It’s interesting to note that Moses died and went to Heaven while Elijah was translated to Heaven while still alive, yet, each were observed in a recognizable spiritual body suited for life in Heaven, awaiting to be clothed in their eternal resurrection bodies (the hope for all Believers).
Moses and the Burning Bush (credit blogspot.com)
Fifteen hundred years prior to Jesus leading his three disciples to the mountain top, a story with similar characteristics unfolded on Mount Horeb (Sinai) in the mountains of the Sinai Desert. Eighty-year-old Moses is alone in the desert tending sheep when suddenly he notices a burning bush that was not consumed. The voice of God spoke from the bush “Moses, Moses!” “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” I’m sure Moses was stunned. This voice from the burning bush not only knew his name, but even his father and his ancestors. Moses never knew his father, and likely didn’t know much about God since he spent his first forty years in the pagan household of Pharaoh in Egypt. On the heights of Mt. Horeb God revealed his plan to use Moses to save his people and lead them into a Promised Land.
Feast of Booths on the Temple Mount of Jerusalem (credit Time Out)
Shown in the above picture, it was a tradition during Jesus’ times until today that torches be placed around the Temple area for seven days, and “living” water be carried from the Pool of Siloam
Let’s return to the Mount of Transfiguration. Did you ever wonder why, after seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah, they wanted to construct three booths – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah? It was in late September or early October, five days after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) that Jesus lead his disciples to the mountain. One of the prescribed feasts, the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), had begun in Israel. All males were required to “appear before the Lord” during Sukkot (Deuteronomy 16:16). This feast was to celebrate the forty years of God’s provision in the wilderness, preparing them for Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land. Joshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus – coincidence? It was during Sukkot that Jesus announced he was the fountain of living water (John 7:37-39); on the Mount of Transfiguration he shone as the “Light of the World”. With Jesus in the presence of Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the Prophets) as witnesses, and then the audible voice of God affirming Jesus as His beloved Son, could there have been any doubt that Peter, James, and John now believed that the true Feast of Tabernacles had come, the true Torah – Jesus?
The Day of Pentecost [Acts 2:1-4] (credit: blogspot.com)
The apostle Paul makes a vailed reference to the Transfiguration in verse 18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:14-18)
For three years Jesus had been demonstrating the coming kingdom of Heaven through signs, wonders, and various miracles. He even told his disciples that death didn’t have the final word; it was merely a gate through which they would pass as they were being transfigured when they entered promised eternal life. I’m sure the disciples couldn’t picture ‘transfiguration’. Perhaps knowing that, Jesus wanted to introduce them to the spiritual world around them. But now, there on the Mount of Transfiguration, they began to get an exciting glimpse of the spiritual realm, their future. The Transfiguration is for all Believers today who hope in a future glory. I’m certain God planned this event to encourage his Church. It should be no surprise that we Believers are like the bush on Mt. Horeb that is aflame with the Holy Spirit yet not consumed. Good news! We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, Christ burning inside us, that torch on a hill, filled with rivers of Living Water, being transfigured into the image of Christ!
