Introduction: Remember that yesterday’s passage was about ‘making’ His close disciples understand that He was The Messiah and on this truth He would build His church! Today continues on with visual evidence and a voice speaking from Heaven, The Voice of God! 1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Comment: Unlike some of the typology of the Law, writing of the Prophets and some of the Parables, which need background reading and a clear understanding of the context, sometimes even an explanation, this passage is straightforward! Maybe unbelievable in the eyes of many – but the story is clear! The context is very important. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem to die. He has just ‘encouraged’, may be even ‘forced’, His disciples to acknowledge Him as the long promised Messiah, the Son of both Man and God! As we saw yesterday He didn’t want the masses to take Him and crown Him as a conquering General, so He told them to keep His Messiahship to themselves! He says the same today after this most astounding display of Who He was and is! Jesus appeared with great Glory (He is even more majestic!), with Moses, through whom God gave His Law and saved Israel from slavery in Egypt, and Elijah, not only a fantastic prophet but the forerunner of the coming Messiah (under a ‘pseudonym’ – John the Baptist). Peter was ‘gob-smacked’ and started to say the sort of thing you would expect him to say! God interrupted Peter by saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” A short statement but with three very important points made. 1. God from Heaven declares Jesus to be His Son. 2. He affirms His delight in His Son. 3. He commands the hearers (and I believe us) to listen to the Son!
Hebrews 1: 1-3….. In many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
Prayer: Lord, I believe, please help me to remain absolutely steadfast in this Truth!
As I read it! 