Thursday: The Transfiguration
Read all three Gospel accounts of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:27-36, Matt. 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8). (Read also Peter’s firsthand account of the incident, and note the truth the apostle establishes from his eyewitness experience; see 2 Peter 1:16-18). What additional information does Luke provide, and why is it important?
Image © Standard Publishing from GoodSalt.com
Luke begins the narrative with a detail that Matthew and Mark do not mention: Jesus took Peter, John, and James up the mountain to pray. Jesus set His eyes and mind toward Jerusalem and predicted the path of suffering that lay before Him. Jesus wanted to be certain that what He was doing was what God wanted Him to do. At such moments, prayer is the only way for finding certainty and assurance. The process of prayer instantly poured out divine glory on the person of Jesus: His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening
(Luke 9:29, NKJV).
The transfigured Jesus was in conversation with Moses and Elijah about His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem
(Luke 9:31, NKJV). The word decease can be understood in two ways: His upcoming death in Jerusalem, although the Greek used here, exodus, is not often used for death; hence, decease
can also mean the great exodus
Jesus was about to accomplish in Jerusalem, the mighty redemptive exodus that would bring about deliverance from sin.
The conference of the three concluded with a voice of approval from heaven, This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!
(Luke 9:35, NKJV). The Transfiguration anoints Jesus with glory, assures His Sonship once again, and announces that Redemption will cost the Son’s life. Therefore, the heavenly command to the disciples: listen to Him. Without obedience and exclusive loyalty to Him, there is no discipleship.
Ellen G. White wrote that these men, meaning Moses and Elijah, who had been chosen above every angel around the throne, had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering, and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven. The hope of the world, the salvation of every human being, was the burden of their interview.
–The Desire of Ages, p. 425. Thus, even Jesus Himself, who had comforted so many others, sought solace and comfort for Himself. What should that tell us about how even the strongest spiritually among us, even our leaders, teachers, and guides, can at times need solace, encouragement, and help from others? In fact, whom do you know right now who could use solace, comfort, and encouragement?
(38)
Many are the times that we have assumed that our spiritual leaders ie pastors, elders and other elected leaders don't need our support and help. Our saviour's situation here clearly reminds us that non is an island and we should be there for each other in times of temptation and sorrow. We should encourage all of us to be strong till the end.
Indeed the transfiguration event confirmed how Jesus was human on earth, he needed solace just like we, he needed strength from above for the cup he was about to drink. The event also confirmed his mission on earth, It was not him but the will of God to be done. God had to prove to the world through the three disciples that Jesus was His beloved son, the lamb whom He sent to be slain on our behalf. The requirement for the salvation is to 'Hear him'. God wants us to obey His beloved son our savior. How great is the love of God upon humanity!
Christ had to be transfigured to show the world who he was, that is, HE WAS THE CHRIST of God.
I wonder what Moses & Elijah said to Jesus? I remember that it was the pre-incarnate Jesus who spoke to Moses and accompanied him through the Exodus from Egypt, it was the pre-incarnate Jesus who spoke to and supported Elijah during the 3 1/2 years of famine and the crisis, the dual with the priest of the devil, on Mt Carmel. Both of them had their periods of doubt, failure and victory and could empathize, comfort and encourage Jesus.
Could they have mentioned that if Jesus decided not to go through with his sacrifice they would have to leave heaven and die eternally because they were only in heaven based on the promise that Jesus would die for their sins? And what about all the other faithful children of God who were sleeping in the graves?
I am sure they confirmed from their experience that God the Father is love, that he is trustworthy and that it was a plan that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit had made together since before the creation of the world, a pact, an agreement they had made because of the love between all of them and their love for the humans they would create.
I believe that Jesus received confirmation that he was following the right path, he received comfort and strength to endure.
If we face a crisis we can go to Jesus in prayer to receive confirmation, comfort and strength to endure and we know that he understands and empathizes because he has been tested to the same extent as us, at least if not more, and we know that he loves us and will walk through the water and the fire with us.
What a high honor that Moses and Elijah should be selected to comfort their MAKER! What a high destiny God has for man, only if he remains faithful. And they were both chosen because they could identify with Christ from their own life experiences (standing alone for God before an unthankful and rebellious crowd). Indeed we are called to comfort others with the same comfort that we have been comforted with. (2 Corinthians 1:4)
We as humans have been always looking to the creation and forget the creator. We must remember our creator first.
It also just happens to be that Moses and Elijah represent the two groups of people that go to Heaven. Moses represents the resurrected and Elijah the translated ones who will still be alive when Christ comes a second time.
What they were discussing was important and the fact that two of Israel's greats, highly revered and nearly worshiped, were there is not something that was decided by the flip of a coin. In the garden of Gethsemane we are told, an angel comforted and encouraged Jesus, why not the same at the transfiguration? At that point was the whole thing more for the disciple's benefit than for Jesus?
Another point of interest is the fact that Peter, being the person he was, just had to say something and suggested making three shrines. In his mind he was putting Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. But the voice from God made clear what the relationship was between Jesus and Israel's men of honor. There is no comparison! Jesus was the only one they were to listen to. As the commandment states, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exod. 20:2-3 NKJV)
I find interesting parallels in the temptations, the transfiguration and the garden of Gethsemane. EGW ascribes this Gethsemane description to the tempation experience: "His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." Isa. 52:14. (DA). In the transfiguration just the opposite occurs: "...Christ stands in godlike majesty. The soul agony is gone. His countenance now shines 'as the sun,' and His garments are 'white as the light.'" (DA). All three events are manifestations of God's Love. The transfiguration was a loving God giving the disciples strength for the trials ahead.
In the note on Thursday lesson line four the autour wrote that Jesus wanted to be sure that what he was doing was what God wanted him to do. Is this really true .?
I beleive that the transfiguration was for the disciples and Jesus. Receiving a word of encouragement from those who love and care about you is so uplifting.
Is it of a different idea to say Moses represented Old Testament law and Elijah old testament Prophets appeared to show that in Christ Old Testament law and Prophecy are fulfilled?