TRANSFIGURATION

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© GOD’S BREATH PUBLICATIONS

 

We’ve all seen those old horror movies. A man is walking down a path in a forest. He looks concerned as beads of sweat form on his brow. He regularly looks up into the night sky as if he’s worried about something. Then the camera pans upwards and we see it, the full moon. The camera returns to the man’s face and we see black hair growing all over it at an amazing rate. His nose turns to a snout. He drops to all fours and then begins howling at the moon. The man has just transformed into a werewolf. It’s a ridiculous premise but makes for some good scary entertainment.

 

Believe it or not there are transformations of a Godly sort recorded in scripture. No people changed into werewolves or vampires, but Jesus was transformed in appearance at what we call the Transfiguration. The account is found in three places in the gospels, in Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-10 and Luke 9:28-36.

 

The time of this amazing transformation is about eight days after Jesus makes references to the disciples of His soon-to-come suffering, death and resurrection. This miracle takes place on a high mountain. Traditionally this has been assumed to be Mt. Tabor; but at this time Jesus was traveling in the area of Caesarea Philippi, therefore it seems more likely that it was one of the ridges of Mt. Hermon. Mt. Hermon was a mountain that formed the northern boundary of the country beyond the Jordan River. Israel had taken this from the Amorites. Its full height is 9,101 feet above the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the highest mountains in or near Palestine. The view from Mt. Hermon is magnificent. Jesus, Peter, James and John the brother of James climb part way up this mountain. Jesus is leading them up to this secluded spot to pray. They begin praying but without warning and while Jesus is standing before them He is transfigured. Matthew describes what happens in these words, “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” Mark says it this way, “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.” Luke says, “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” It must have been an overwhelming experience to see their teacher and leader become transformed in such a manner before their eyes. But this is not all that happened.

 

Apparently the disciples were getting tired and sleepy from their long ordeal of praying. Jesus glowing so bright as He did during this transfiguration must have got their eyes open, but when two men also appeared from nowhere at the same time from, this shocked them completely awake. These two men were Moses and Elijah who began talking with Jesus about what was to soon come about in His crucifixion and resurrection. Imagine seeing men of God who lived hundreds of years ago appear before your eyes. Moses and Elijah were impressive men and to hear them speak in your presence must have been overwhelming. Creative and spontaneous Peter suggests that he and the other disciples set up some tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. But something else happened to interrupt his suggestion.

 

Suddenly a cloud enveloped all of them and a voice from heaven was heard to say, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” This frightened the disciples and they fell to the ground. That’s exactly what I would have done. I would have dropped in humble submission, as close to the roots of the grass could allow. The disciples must have been in sensory overload. Jesus was glowing so white and bright that you could hardly look at Him. The man God used to part the Red Sea shows up as well as the prophet that God used to defeat over 450 prophets of Baal with a miracle of burning fire from Heaven. A mysterious cloud covers the whole scene and then God’s mighty booming voice starts speaking to you. YES, I’ll drop to the ground!

 

Jesus responds, as He always does, in a gentle and loving way. He reaches down and touches them. Touch is always a comfort when someone is scared. Whether it’s a touch on the shoulder, a handshake, a gentle caress of the face or a good old bear hug, touching is personal and comforting when fear is gripping our emotions. But Jesus also spoke to them. He said, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.” The touch and gentle words of encouragement must have been consoling for the disciples after such an experience. Miracles and wonders have a sense of overwhelming us. When we feel that we have felt the presence of the Almighty, it can be an awesome feeling. When God miraculously reveals Himself, you feel you have no control over your environment or situation and you are confronted with your frail humanity. What a privilege to witness such an event and then be comforted by the Lord Himself.

 

It’s interesting the conversation that Jesus has with the disciples as they descend from the mountain. The disciples were probably blabbering all sorts of things like, “Can we do this again tomorrow?” “Boy do we have something to tell the other disciples.” Or “Who can we meet tomorrow from the Old Testament?” But Jesus probably just gave them His ears and listened, very likely smiling at their excitement. But He did instruct them to be cautious about what they had seen. He specifically told them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” They agreed to do this but in Mark’s account he mentions another discussion the disciples have after Jesus tells them to keep this precious secret. Mark states that after Jesus tells them to keep this secret, they begin discussing what “rising from the dead means.”

 

It’s kind of funny when you think about it. Jesus makes this dramatic statement that puts boundaries on when they can share what they have witnessed. The disciples agree to it as humble and obedient servants. Then they go about discussing their confusion as to what they have agreed to. They haven’t a clue what Jesus is talking about. But they held to their promise and told no one till after Jesus rose from the grave.

 

So as we reflect on this amazing account in scripture what can we learn from it? First we see again Christ demonstrate His deity. He was fully and completely a man in the flesh, but He was also completely and absolutely God. While Moses’ face glowed after He spoke with God, here Jesus glows pure white because of His own holiness. He reveals His glory as He speaks with His disciples as well as Moses and Elijah.

 

Secondly we are given another account of His Heavenly Father verifying His ministry in an audible voice. There are several witnesses to this miraculous demonstration just as there were at the baptism of Jesus.

 

Finally we see Jesus’ soft manner of dealing with people and His love for those who follow Him. We see Him minister to the frightened disciples, as they are overwhelmed with the moment. We can relate to these humble disciples. Even though we have many amazing technological conveniences in our society and are inundated with special effects in movies we still live in a natural world. We are reminded of this when a loved one dies, when we receive a bad medical report, when our finances are too little for the end of the month. When God supernaturally breaks into our world we can do nothing more than fall on our knees. When God answers our prayers, when we read His word and see how it so closely applies to our life, when we hear the Holy Spirit whisper advice or instruction in the ears of our heart, when we see how God can use us to minister to others, all of these are examples of the supernatural power of God working in and through our lives to show us a glimpse of His glory. God works in our lives because He wants to transform us body, soul and spirit. God will glorify all of us who are true Disciples of Christ one day. We will shine like Jesus did before Peter, James and John. Until that day though, we must seek to be humble servants, bow in adoration of our Lord and seek to have Him touch and speak to us as we serve to bring Him glory.

 

John 17:21-24

“Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory , the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”