Rev. Deacon Allen Batchelder

Trinity Church
Waltham, Massachusetts
March 2, 2014 – Epiphany VIII

Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9

From the Second Book of Moses, Exodus:
Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.

From the Second Letter of St. Peter:
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

And from the Gospel of St. Matthew:
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light.

Let us pray:
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O God, our Rock and our Redeemer, our Strength and our Salvation.
Amen!

How many remember the TV series called “Touched by an Angel”? Touched by an Angel was an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and concluded on April 23, 2003 after nine seasons. The series stared Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della Reese, as her supervisor, named Tess. Throughout the series, Monica is tasked with bringing guidance and messages from God to various people who are at a crossroads in their lives. They are later joined in the series by Andrew, played by actor John Dye, as the angel of death. As an aside, Roma Downey and her husband, Mark Burnett have produced the new movie out entitled, “Son of God.”

We all knew it wasn’t real; it was fantasy, but it was a nice family program. It taught good values, morals and right from wrong. Quite often at the end of a show, one of these “angels” would reveal their true identity to the person or persons they were helping. At that moment, they were transformed or transfigured. Their clothing turned all white and there was a glow about them. At this point, they would deliver a message from God. And where did they get this idea of heavenly glow from; this transfiguration from? From scripture: from the Transfiguration of Christ.
Our Gospel reading today begins with a glorious scene on a mountaintop, and ends with Peter catching fish in order to pay his taxes. What a contrast, but I am getting ahead of myself. Yet, Jesus Christ the King is the theme of the entire chapter of Matthew 17.

Matthew and Mark state that the Transfiguration took place “six days later,” while Luke says “some eight days after” (Luke 9:28). There is no contradiction; Luke’s statement is the Jewish equivalent of “about a week later.” During that week, the disciples must have pondered and discussed what Jesus meant by His death and resurrection. No doubt they were also wondering what would happen to the Old Testament promises about the kingdom. If Jesus were going to build a church, what would happen to the promised kingdom?

Scripture does not name the place where this Transfiguration miracle took place. It was probably on Mount Hermon, which is close to Caesarea Philippi.

The Transfiguration revealed four aspects of the glory of Jesus Christ the King. As far as the record is concerned, this is the only time Jesus revealed His glory in this way while He was on the earth. The Greek word for transfigured gives us our English word “metamorphosis.” A metamorphosis is a change on the outside that comes from the inside. When a caterpillar builds a cocoon and later emerges as a butterfly, it is due to the process of metamorphosis. Our Lord’s glory was not reflected but radiated from within. There was a change on the outside that came from within as He allowed His essential glory to shine forth (Heb. 1:3).

Certainly this event would strengthen the faith of the disciples, particularly Peter who had so recently confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. Had Peter made his confession after the Transfiguration, it would not have been so meaningful. Peter believed, confessed his faith, and then received assurance and confirmation. Peter saw the Son in His glory, and he heard the Father speak from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (2 Peter 1:17). First we put our faith in Christ and confess Him, and then He gives us wonderful confirmation.

Many years later, John recalled this event as the Spirit guided him to write: “And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). In John’s Gospel, John emphasized the deity of Christ and the glory of His person (John 2:11; 7:39).

Jesus Christ laid aside His glory when He came to earth (John 17:5). Because of His finished work on the cross, He has received back His glory and now shares it with us (John 17:22, 24). However, we do not have to wait for heaven to share in this “transfiguration glory.” When we surrender ourselves to God, He will “transfigure” our minds (Rom. 12:1-2). As we yield to the Spirit of God, He changes or transfigures us “from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18). As we look into the Word of God, we see the Son of God and are transfigured by the Spirit of God into the glory of God.

The presence of Moses and Elijah during the Transfiguration was significant. Moses represented the Law and Elijah the prophets. All of the Law and Prophets point to Christ and are fulfilled in Christ (Luke 24:27; Heb. 1:1). Not one word of the Old Testament Scriptures will be unfulfilled. The promised kingdom would be established (Luke 1:32, 33, 68-77). Just as the three disciples saw Jesus glorified on earth, so God’s people would see Him in His glorious kingdom on earth (Rev. 19:11-20; 6).

The Transfiguration also had a special significance for Jesus Christ, who was nearing Calvary. It was the Father’s way of strengthening His Son for that terrible ordeal of being the sacrifice for the sins of the world. The Law and the Prophets (Moses and Elijah) pointed to His ministry, and now He would fulfill those Scriptures. The Father spoke from heaven and assured the Son of His love and approval. The Transfiguration was proof that suffering leads to glory when we are in the will of God.

Peter received this message and never forgot it. “We were eyewitnesses of His majesty…And so we have the prophetic word made more sure” (2 Peter 1:12ff). The experience Peter had on the mount only fortified his faith in the Old Testament prophecies. The important thing is not seeing wonderful sights, but hearing God’s Word. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” (Matt. 17:5)

All who are born again belong to the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). This is a spiritual kingdom that is separate from the material things of this world (Rom. 14:17). But one day, when Jesus returns to this earth, there will be a glorious kingdom for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-7) with Jesus Christ reigning as King. Those who have trusted Him shall reign on the earth with Him (Rev. 5:10).

The disciples had to learn that suffering and glory go together. Peter had opposed Jesus going to Jerusalem to die, so Jesus had to teach him that, apart from His suffering and death, there could be no glory.

Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus about His “exodus” that He would accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). Jesus did not consider His death on the cross a defeat; rather, it was an “exodus” – He would deliver His people from bondage the way Moses delivered Israel from Egypt! His suffering and death would not be an accident, but an accomplishment. Peter used the word exodus in describing his own impending death (2 Peter 1:15). For the believer, death is not a one-way street into oblivion. It is an exodus – a release – from the bondage of this life into the glorious liberty of the life in heaven.

Because Jesus died and paid the price, we have been redeemed – purchased and set free. Remember the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection, they had hoped that Jesus would set the nation free from Roman bondage (Luke 24:21). What He died to accomplish was not political freedom, but spiritual freedom: freedom from the world system (Gal. 1:4); freedom from a vain and empty life (1 Peter 1:18); and freedom from iniquity (Titus 2:14). Our redemption in Christ is final and permanent.

Peter could not understand why the Son of God would submit to evil men and willingly suffer. The Transfiguration was God’s way of teaching Peter that Jesus is glorified when we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The world’s philosophy is “Save yourself!” but the Christian’s philosophy is “Yield yourself to God!” As Jesus stood there in glory, Jesus proved to the three disciples that surrender always leads to glory. First the suffering, then the glory; first the cross, then the crown.

Each of the three disciples would have a need for this important truth. James would be the first of the disciples to die (Acts 12:1-2). John would be the last of the disciples to die, but he would go through severe persecution on the Isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:9). Peter would experience many occasions of suffering and would, in the end, give his life for Christ (John 21:15-19; 2 Peter 1:12).

Peter opposed the cross when Jesus first mentioned His death (Matt. 16:22ff). In the Garden, he used his sword to defend Jesus (John 18:10). In fact, even on the Mount of Transfiguration Peter tried to tell Jesus what to do. He wanted to build three booths or tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah so that all of them could remain there and enjoy the glory! But the Father interrupted Peter and gave other directions: “Hear Him!” The Father will not permit His beloved Son to be put on the same level as Moses and Elijah. “Jesus only” (Matt. 17:8) is God’s pattern.

In the Second Letter of Peter, Peter wrote a summary of what he saw and heard on the Mount of Transfiguration. He saw Jesus Christ robed in majestic glory, and therefore witnessed a demonstration of the “power and coming” of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ came to earth at Bethlehem, he did not display His glory openly. To be sure, He revealed his glory in His miracles (John 2:11), but even this was primarily for the sake of His disciples. His face did not shine, nor did He have a halo over His head. “

As Jesus and His disciples came down from the mountaintop, He cautioned them not to reveal what they had seen, not even to the other nine disciples. But the three men were still perplexed. They had been taught that Elijah would come first to prepare for the establishment of the kingdom. Was the presence of Elijah on the mountain the fulfillment of this prophecy? (Mal. 4:5-6)

Jesus gave a twofold answer to their question. Yes, Elijah would come as Malachi promised. But spiritually speaking, Elijah already came in the person of John the Baptist. The nation permitted John to be killed, and would ask for Jesus to be slain. Yet God’s program would be fulfilled in spite of the deeds of sinful leaders.

You and I were not eyewitnesses of the Transfiguration. Peter was there, and he faithfully recorded his experience for us in the letter that he wrote, inspired by the Spirit of God. Experiences are subjective, but the Word of God is objective. Experiences may be interpreted in different ways by different participants. What we remember about our experiences can be unconsciously distorted, but the Word of God remains the same and abides forever.

Men die, but the Word lives. Experiences fade, but the Word remains. The world grows darker, but the prophetic light shines brighter. The believer who builds his life on the Word of God and who looks for the coming of the Savior is not likely to be led astray by false teachers. He will be taught by the Spirit and grounded on the sure Word of God. May we all use this time of Lent, to surrender ourselves to God, and share in this “transfiguration glory.”

Let us pray:
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed His glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into His likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!