Grace Baptist Church, Nokomis, IL.

Text:

All of the festivals, feasts, and holy days of the Old Testament were fulfilled in Christ. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law for us, so that we are righteous in God’s sight. Christ’s coming to the world changed everything. We need to always be on guard against the mentality that in order to be pleasing to God, we must fulfill all that the Law demands. While Jesus was still with them, a few of his disciples didn’t yet understand the significance of His coming.

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 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.’ 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.’ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 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.’ ” (Matthew 17:1-9)

I have many questions about this text. Where did it all this take place? The text itself doesn’t tell us where the transfiguration took place. It simply says in verse 1, that Jesus led them up a high mountain. There are two mountains often discussed as possible locations where this took place. One tradition states that it was Mount Tabor. But this is unlikely for several reasons: This mountain was inhabited by a Roman city at the time. So they weren’t “by themselves” (v. 1). And it wasn’t very close to where Jesus had been ministering or would be ministering soon.

Another possible location was Mount Hermon. This was near Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus had just been ministering. It’s the highest mountain in the area. We may not know the exact place where this happened, but that’s only one question I have about this text..

In fact, I have many questions of this text. Why did Jesus only take three of His disciples? Why did He choose these three specifically? What does it mean that Jesus was “transfigured”? Why did Moses and Elijah appear? Were they there physically, or was it just a vision? What did they talk with Jesus about? Why did Peter suggest that he build 3 tents: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?

Some of these questions we can answer from the Bible, some of them we can’t. I’ll attempt to answer some of these questions this morning. But I think the most important question of this text also has the most obvious answer. Who is this Jesus that shines as bright as the sun?

The answer, of course, is that He is the Son of God, and God Himself. The transfiguration of Christ points out that Jesus is no mere person. Jesus demands our attention. Jesus is pure and perfect. His glory shines as bright as the sun. This wasn’t merely a reflection of God. The light came from within Jesus Himself. Jesus Himself is glorious.

This was an event unlike any other in all of history! It was such a unusual thing that Jesus wanted to make sure it was recorded as fact.

Deuteronomy 19:15 says “Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” The context was talking about convicting a person of a crime, but it came to also refer to significant events in history. It’s very easy to discredit one person with an odd story, but Jesus wanted this unique event to be forever engraved in history, and He assured that would happen by bringing along 3 of his disciples.

Can you imagine? Jesus was transformed before their very eyes! The word “transfigured” means to be changed from one thing to another. It’s the same word we find in Romans 12:2 which instructs us to be “transformed” by the renewing of our minds. Christ’s transfiguration is much different from our own, however. We’re being changed from imperfect sinners to perfected saints of God. Christ was transformed from ordinary-looking man to that of displaying a small glimpse of His glory.

There’s been all kinds of speculation as to what kind of transfiguration Jesus experienced. Did His face look like the face of another? Did He stand a few feet taller? Did Jesus, for a moment, resemble the victorious warrior He will look like upon His second coming? The Bible doesn’t give us these details, but notice what it does tell us (v. 2).

The text says explicitly that His face and clothes shone as the sun, and as white as light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appear, and they speak with Jesus. I would have loved to hear this conversation. “Hey, Jesus, how’s your ministry going?” “Oh, you know how it is, Moses, I’m trying to show people how to follow Me, but they just keep getting it all wrong.” “You don’t have to tell me. I had to wander in the desert for 40 years because of how stubborn these people can be.” Then Elijah pipes in, “I’m just glad that whirlwind caught me up so I didn’t have to deal with people any longer.”

Then Peter butts in and offers to build them each tent. And Jesus, Moses, and Elijah look at Peter like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Because he doesn’t. Peter thought that it just didn’t get any better than this. He wanted to hang out there for awhile. Peter wanted to celebrate according to Old Testament customs. We have Moses, who represented all of the Law. We have Elijah, who represented all of the Prophets. And we have Jesus, who both the Law and the Prophets referred to.

But notice what happens in just a moment (v. 8). Only Jesus remained. Don’t miss the significance of this. The Law and the Prophets were fulfilled in Christ, and they are no longer binding on our lives. What happened between Peter talking about tents, and then looking up and seeing only Jesus?

They heard God speak (v. 5). I don’t think we can imagine just how awesome this moment was. If you’re like me, you imagine a great deep thundering voice from heaven. But we don’t know what God sounded like. What God said goes back to that most important question I asked earlier: who is this Jesus who shines as bright as the sun? He’s God’s Son, with whom God the Father is well pleased.

What God spoke was almost identical to what He spoke at Christ’s baptism, with one addition. It’s not enough to know that Jesus is God’s Son, we must do what He says. Listening in the Bible entails more than merely hearing someone. It includes being obedient to the person you’re listening to. Christ is our Master. He’s greater than all things. He’s the most glorious, most high, perfect and pure God. He’s our Lord and our King. His light shines brighter than the sun, and His glory He will not give to another. Yet notice how Jesus treats his disciples at this point (v. 6-7).

When we’re face to face with God, our only response is to fall down before Him and worship Him. But Jesus tells them to get up and have no fear. Because of our sin, we have every reason to fear God. Moses taught us through the Law that we are sinners. Elijah, one of the greatest prophets, called people to repent. But Jesus, the Greatest Prophet, paved the way for us to have no fear before God. He satisfied the requirements of the Law for us, so that we could simply enjoy God’s grace.

No fear. No condemnation. Just love and grace and marveling at the glory of God.