Shining Glory of God Shown

Matthew 17:1-13

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."

10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

11 Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

This glimpse into God’s shining glory was shown to the three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, as Jesus chose them to come with Him to behold a small part of His true divine nature which He revealed on this mountaintop experience.  He was transfigured or transformed into the brightness of His glory (Ezekiel 1:28, Hebrews 1:3) like that of the sun to reveal that He was not just a man but also God as the exact image of Him.  Then they saw that Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus there and they fearfully said how good it was to be there and see these things; they reacted by offering to build a place to worship Him there until the Father from heaven spoke from a bright cloud of His glory.  He told them to listen to His Son who pleased the Father.  They fell prostrate in fearful worship in the presence of the Almighty until Jesus touched them and took away their fear.  Then they looked up to only find Jesus to behold.  Such should be our response to the Son of Man and God when He reveals Himself to us as to Saul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3, 5-6, 22:6-7), falling down and asking who He is and not letting ourselves seek to respond with religious acts but real worship of who He is and then follow Him to do as He asks without fear or question when we realize His glory revealed to us.  The three disciples were commanded not to tell this tale until after Jesus had risen from the dead which they likely did not full comprehend at that time, but they faithfully obeyed anyway.  They did ask Jesus after seeing Elijah speaking with Him and Moses about the scriptures saying that that prophet had to come to restore things before the Messiah came, which John the Baptist did as he proclaimed repentance and faith to God.  The religious leaders had moved the people to do what they wanted to him, killing and beheading John (Matthew 14:10) instead of hearing and heeding his warnings of the accountability of the judgment to come.  Jesus confirmed John was Elijah (Luke 1:17) who suffered death as Jesus was facing a similar death soon as the Son of Man also by their unbelieving hands.  May all who now hear the good news of the saving work of Jesus Christ consider these things and stop to listen and hear of the deliverance bought by Jesus that they may turn from sin to Him and escape that just judgment we all face apart from Him, and not kill the message with the messenger as the people of Israel did when God walked among us.  When a person is shown the shining glory of God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6), how can they do otherwise but follow Him?