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The story of Christ's transfiguration would likely strike us as bizarre if it weren't so general. I mean, suppose about it. Jesus goes up on a mountain with three chums and meets two lifeless prophets, all while glowing in the dark! Even the notice "transfiguration" is a observe we by no means use apart from when relating to this story.
Like every story in Matthew's Gospel, this one makes a speciality of Jesus and is intended to inform us anything about him. So what does the transfiguration tell us about Jesus? I'd want to highlight three things.
1. He's the Son of Man Who Will are available in GloryMatthew places this story instantly after Jesus speaks of "the Son of Man" coming in judgment (Matt. 16:27). here is certainly a reference to the end of the age (cf. Matt. 13:39–43, forty nine)—which is why it's so confusing when Jesus instantly says, "definitely I say to you, there are some standing right here who will no longer style death except they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom" (Matt. sixteen:28). Who could possibly live that lengthy?
apparently the reply is Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17:1). All three evangelists location this confusing statement immediately earlier than the transfiguration, after which frame the transfiguration in chronological reference to it (e.g., "And after six days," Matt. sixteen:28–17:1; Mark 9:1–2; Luke 9:27–28).
though students differ, I consider R. T. France that this puzzling observation in Matthew 16:28 is a reference to the transfiguration six days later. This allows for us to see the transfiguration as a foretaste of the conclusion of the age when the Son of Man will come "within the glory of his Father" (Matt. 16:27). no longer each person standing there that day would see it, however Peter, James, and John would—and they'd under no circumstances overlook it (2 Pet. 1:sixteen–18; John 1:14).
The transfiguration [is] a foretaste of the end of the age when the Son of Man will come 'within the glory of his Father' (Matt. 16:27).
Of path, these references to "the Son of Man" are echoes of Daniel 7:13–14, where "one like a son of man" (Jesus) involves "the historical of Days" (the daddy) and is given a permanent kingdom. Is it an accident that the historic of Days is there described as having "apparel . . . white as snow" (Dan. 7:9), simply as Jesus is here described as having apparel "white as easy" (Matt. 17:2)? I doubt it (compare Daniel 7:9 with Revelation 1:14).
The transfiguration is a preview of the future, when the Son of Man will are available in glory to consummate his kingdom. however this future kingdom can best come through his dying and resurrection, which is why Jesus warns the three disciples to "tell no one the imaginative and prescient, unless the Son of Man is raised from the lifeless" (Matt. 17:9). seems like they informed Matthew.
2. He's the Son of God Whose Glory changed into HiddenThe presence of Moses and Elijah is likely one of the most fascinating points of this story. the place else in the New testament do you find ancient testomony heroes displaying up in grownup?
however's now not challenging to see why Moses and Elijah would be summoned for such a wonderful mountaintop event. in spite of everything, both men had famous mountaintop experiences with God (Ex. 24:9–34:35; 1 Kgs. 19:8–18). Moses's become principally relevant, because it resulted in his personal transfiguration, together with his face shining so brightly they needed to cover it with a veil (Ex. 34:29–35).
but Jesus wasn't comfortably shining the manner Moses had, or the style you and that i sooner or later will (Matt 13:43). His changed into greater than a reflected glory; it became the glory of the most effective begotten from the daddy, full of grace and reality (John 1:14). As Joseph Ratzinger followed, "Jesus [unlike Moses in Exodus 34] shines from inside; he does not readily get hold of gentle, but he himself is gentle from gentle."
Moses had requested God to demonstrate him his glory (Ex. 33:18)—and 1,500 years later his prayer become still being answered, as he gazed on the One who is "the radiance of God's glory and the accurate imprint of his nature" (Heb. 1:three). You might say that simply as the Father has glory in himself, so additionally he has granted the Son to have glory in himself (cf. John 5:26).
Moses had asked God to display him his glory, and 1,500 years later his prayer turned into nevertheless being answered.
So the transfiguration wasn't only a preview of the long run; it become additionally a peek into eternity previous at "the glory [Christ] had with [the Father] before the area existed" (John 17:5). It became a glimpse at the back of the veil on the glory that Christ persevered to immutably possess, despite having hidden the glorious form of God under the humble form of a servant (Phil. 2:5–7).
3. He's the Son (and Prophet) to Whom We should hearbesides their outdated mountaintop experiences, there turned into doubtless another reason Moses and Elijah had been summoned to this mountain.
Moses and Elijah represented the legislation and the Prophets, respectively, and their appearance continues Matthew's portrayal of Jesus as the one who fulfills the legislations and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17). Moses and Elijah might say "therefore says the LORD," whereas the Son pronounces factor blank "however I say to you" (Matt. 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, forty four). The legislations and the Prophets had prophesied unless John, however they'd now reached their climax in Jesus, the One whose sandals even the most advantageous among girls wasn't invaluable to elevate (Matt. 3:11; 12:11, 13).
[The transfiguration] turned into a glimpse in the back of the veil at the glory that Christ persevered to immutably possess, despite having hidden [it] below the common-or-garden kind of a servant.
Moses didn't just signify the legislations, besides the fact that children. Moses become also a prophet. indeed, no prophet had arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew nose to nose (Deut. 34:10).
until now.
Moses turned into now standing head to head with the very prophet he himself had envisioned in Deuteronomy 18:15. certainly, the words "listen to him" (Matt. 17:5)—which kind the handiest addition to this in any other case verbatim repeat of what God had pointed out at Jesus's baptism (Matt. 3:17)—intentionally evoke the phrases of Moses, "The LORD your God will elevate up for you a prophet like me from amongst you . . . it's to him you shall pay attention" (Deut. 18:15). Matthew is telling us that Jesus is that prophet.
And greater than a prophet. Elijah turned into good. Moses was excellent. but when Peter cautioned building each of them a tent with Jesus, the father would have none of it (Matt. 17:4). these had been his prophets, however this was his Son! And when the lights went down and the glory subsided, "they saw no person but Jesus only" (17:8).
His Multifaceted GloryThe transfiguration is like a prism via we which we will see the multifaceted glory of Jesus.
In it we see a picture of his entertaining authority.
In it we get a glimpse of the everlasting glory he had veiled.
And in it we're given a preview of what our lives can be like on that ultimate mountain the place we'll all be transfigured (Matt. 13:forty three), where his glory will deliver all of the mild we need (Rev. 21:23; 22:four–5), and the place he'll tabernacle now not handiest with Moses and Elijah, but with all of his individuals (Rev. 21:three). That can be glory indeed.
Justin Dillehay (MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Hartsville, Tennessee, the place he resides along with his spouse, Tilly, and his babies, Norah, Agnes, and Henry. he's a contributing editor of The Gospel Coalition.
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