Jun 15, 2022
Peter had proclaimed Jesus as Lord, but it seems He still didn’t fully understand. Today, let’s travel up to the mountaintop with Jesus and see His glory is revealed, discovering what God wants us to learn as we study from Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36.
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On this, our Wednesday edition of the Women World Leaders’ podcast, we are currently walking through the Gospels, studying the life of Jesus’ systematically and chronologically, combining the teachings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Recently, we’ve seen the religious authorities come against Jesus even as crowds’ gathered from all around to hear Him teach and to receive His miraculous healings. Then the eyes of the disciples were slowly opened as they began to realize that their Rabbi was more than they even imagined, until Peter recognized and voiced that Jesus is the Messiah that the Jewish people had been waiting for. And then, as we studied last week, Jesus shared that His destiny was death on a cross, but that it would be followed up by His own resurrection.
The disciples have now had a week to contemplate this – to let it sink in. But little did Peter, John and James know that they were about see something that would completely blow their minds – something they would contemplate for the rest of their lives. Something we still contemplate today. Today’s teaching comes from Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36
Let’s begin with Matthew 17:1 from the New Living Translation…
Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.
This had the foreshadowing of being a special time. Jesus, alone with His inner circle of disciples, went up a mountain to pray. We read often about Jesus heading off alone to pray, but this time, He clearly wanted Peter, James and John with Him.
Hindsight is always 20/20 though, because Luke tells us that when they got to the top of the mountain, the three disciples fell asleep. And they woke up to a glorious sight!
Matthew 17:2 continues…
As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.
Mark expands on this, saying that Jesus’ clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them.
Put yourself in the disciples’ place for a moment. It’s nearly impossible to imagine the scene, isn’t it? They woke up, and Jesus was glowing. He was as bright as the sun – I’m guessing it was hard to look at him with their sleepy eyes. Maybe they thought they were dreaming. But what they were seeing was the glory of God Himself. They disciples had gotten used to see Jesus as a man – but now His physical being was unveiled before their eyes as they saw Jesus as God.
The word used here is often translated as transfiguration. It is the same description used in Revelation 1 that tells of Jesus in all His glory, standing triumphant in the end days. And, it is the same word used in Romans 12:2, that describes how WE are transformed when we offer ourselves to God.
Using the description of light for God is nothing new – we contrast the light and the darkness, we know that God met Moses in a burning bush and that a pillar of light led the Israelites out of Egypt. But I don’t think we can fully comprehend this scene. And I don’t think the disciples could either.
Verse 3 continues…
Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Luke adds…
They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about Jesus’ exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.
Moses and Elijah. First, I want to know HOW the disciples knew that this was Moses and Elijah! Oh my goodness, this event is so far out of my realm of understanding – I feel almost silly doing a “teaching” on it! I highly doubt that Moses and Elijah introduced themselves to Jesus! So…maybe the disciples pulled out their smartphones and asked google to pull up a picture of Moses. That’s what I would do! I jest, but the reasonable Christian in me says that when God wants us to know something, He gives us wisdom via the Holy Spirit. We only need to listen to that still small voice that speaks inside us! And what’s more, we can request wisdom and information FROM the Holy Spirit whenever we want! We don’t need google!
So why were Moses and Elijah there? Talking to Jesus? Here’s my own take – Jesus was entering into a rough patch of His journey, and He knew it. And Jesus as man needed a community to psych Him up. Jesus had revealed His destiny to His disciples, given them a week to contemplate this, and then He took them up a mountain to pray with Him. And they fell asleep. And God loved Jesus SO MUCH that He sent Moses and Elijah to be with Him. To discuss what was coming and give Jesus, the man, a pep talk. And as they spoke together, Jesus as God was revealed and unleashed on that mountaintop.
Theologians have much to say about why Moses and Elijah were there, including that Moses represented the Law and Elijah represented the prophets. Additionally, both had suffered because of their obedience to God, were rejected by many but given honor by God, and experienced unorthodox endings to their lives on earth.
All that is certainly true and worthy of further study – but I personally believe that God knew that Jesus needed community at that moment, and God always provides what we need.
One thing is certain, the disciples didn’t know what to think. Luke tells us…
Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials[a]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Original translations state Peter’s exclamation stating that it is wonderful to be here more as a question asking, Jesus – should we be here? This was indeed a holy moment, and they weren’t sure they were qualified to witness it.
But Peter offers to make shelters for each, putting Jesus, Moses, and Elijah on equal footing. Which seems odd to us today, but remember, Moses and Elijah were HIGHLY revered and looked up to. Jesus was, seemingly to many, a mere Rabbi. But Peter should have known better. And instead of being reprimanded by Jesus, Peter is reprimanded by God Himself.
Matthew 17, verse 5…
5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
God is serious! God sent His SON to earth to DIE a painful death for our sins. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. There is NO ONE above Him. God implores Peter, and He implores us to LISTEN TO JESUS!
This is like a father coming behind a mom who is reprimanding their children – saying, Listen to your Mother! Every child knows they better abide by THAT voice!
Do we fully realize that GOD commands us to listen to Jesus? Verse 7…
7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.
The moment was over – but it certainly wasn’t one the disciples would ever forget. The glory of God shining through Jesus. The appearance of Moses and Elijah as confirmed to them via the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. The voice of God proclaiming Jesus’ true identity as God’s dearly loved son, and commanding them to listen to Him. And Jesus’ gentle touch – bidding them to get up and not be afraid.
Verse 9…
9 As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man[b] has been raised from the dead.”
The world was not yet ready to know. Heck, the disciples weren’t yet ready to know, as proven by their next question…
“Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?[c]”
11 Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.
We see in this passage that the disciples still had a long way to go in their understanding of what was happening. Jesus took them to the mountain, and they fell asleep. When they woke up, they tried to put Jesus on an even playing field with Moses and Elijah. And then they showed that they didn’t understand that John the Baptist HAD come to prepare the way for GOD, JESUS, the TRUE MESSIAH.
We can sit in judgement, but the truth is, we have a long way to go to understand what is happening in our world and in the heavenlies, too. Instead, let’s take away from this passage what God wanted the disciples to know – because I believe it is what He wants us to know today:
Jesus IS God, and we are called to listen to Him.
The Holy Spirit is always there to teach and guide us.
No matter how much we think we know, God will always amaze and astound us.
And despite how much we misunderstand and blurt out the wrong thing, Jesus’ gentle hand will always be there to guide and instruct us, and His steady voice will always remind us to not be afraid. God’s got this.
Let’s pray…
Oh most amazing God! We can’t even begin to imagine the sight that day. We can’t even begin to imagine the wonder of you, that we as your children will one day witness with our very eyes. Thank you for always counting us as your inner circle, for never shying away from commanding us and reprimanding us, and for always being there with your gentle touch – pulling us closer to you. God we give you this day, and ask you to use us as you will. For your glory alone. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.