The Transfiguration
Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36
As the disciples have been following Jesus, he has been giving them a complex invitation: participation in his long-awaited kingdom and his lasting reign, yet accompanied by a daily death-to-self and willingness to abandon worldly treasure. They have seen his powerful miracles and heard his teaching. They want to be part of what he is doing. But he also challenges their long-held hopes and assumptions of how their Messiah might appear and behave. He talks about his approaching suffering and death, promising a costly future for those who want to follow him. This is not exactly what they had in mind.
In His grace toward the disciples, God the Father presents His recommendation for His chosen son. A unique moment is offered in the Transfiguration of Christ: the Yahweh speaks audibly and gives a glimpse of his glory, making it clear to these men who Jesus is.
If there is any part of the disciples that is saying, “Following this guy sounds like a sacrifice that I never signed up for,” the Transfiguration is a moment of God the Father saying, “He is not just some guy.” Being patient with our forgetfulness and fears, God speaks by emphasizing that Jesus is worthy of our attention and sacrifice. He is not simply a religious figure who asks to be agreed with. There is something immensely “other” about Jesus that God showcases.
At least three things are made clear by the vision God gives Peter, James, and John:
1. Jesus is God’s Beloved Son.
He is the Chosen One. He is the awaited Messiah. The God who has been in pursuit of this people for generations has shown His cards. Jesus is the one who will bring the restoration of Eden in his eternal kingdom, ridding us of sin’s consequences and offering union with the Father as was originally intended.
In Colossians 3:12, we see that God's invitation to us gives us shared identity as chosen and beloved. When we see the glory of the Transfiguration, we can celebrate the glory that we share as sons and daughters of the Most High.
2. Jesus is worth listening to.
If Jesus seems to not be the Messiah anyone was expecting, God is in Jesus’ corner, making it clear that He did not make a mistake. If we desire another Jesus, then we don’t truly desire the kingdom that God has been inviting all of humanity into.
Like a job applicant with resume in hand, Jesus doesn’t just have to rely on his claims about himself; he has reliable professional references. The authoritative voice of Yahweh has spoken out of His glory, vouching for Jesus’ supremacy. Jesus carries an authority that allows our doubt to become trust.
3. Jesus is everything that the law and prophets were pointing to.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the law that Moses established (Matthew 5:17-19). Jesus is the one that Elijah was declaring as the only true God (1 Kings 18). He is the connection between the Old and New Testaments. His supremacy is not a new development in God's strategy; it is an everlasting truth.
The voice of Yahweh would not have to declare these things to the disciples if they lacked doubt. God is kind to remind them of Jesus’ identity. The privilege they have to see Him shows God’s patience with and faithfulness to them.
As Jesus approaches Jerusalem to do the work of defiant sacrifice and victory over death that will establish his kingdom, it must be remembered who he is and the authority he carries. He does not have merely empty promises; he has authority as the creator of all things.
