Transfiguration Part II

30. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

We are still on our same text from yesterday which covers the transfiguration of Jesus.  If you are just joining us today, please review yesterday’s note to catch up.

Here is the text for your review:

Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 Yesterday, we focused on the audience that witnessed this event.   If you have been following this daily devotional then you know that this event took place shortly after Peter reveals to Jesus that he knows that he is the Christ, the son of the Living God.  Jesus responds by saying that flesh and blood could not have revealed this to you but my father which is in heaven.  How powerful it is now that Peter gets to witness Jesus in his glory. 

If you remember from yesterday, the word transfiguration comes from the Greek word that we get metamorphosis from and it means to be changed into another form or for the outside to reflect the identity of what is really within.    Jesus is revealed in his glory as the very God himself.   How powerful and glorious that moment must have been.    

Moses and Elijah are both there talking with him.   Moses is accredited by the Jews to have written the first five books of the bible which is called the Torah.  The Jews considered the Torah to be the most important literature in the bible following the prophets.   Elijah represents the prophetic and the one God used to call his people back into obedience.   

 Peter is frightened by the event and doesn’t know what to say.   He suggest that they build an alter there for Elijah, Moses and Jesus.   It was customary in the ancient world that when a miraculous event took place that the person that experienced would build an alter as a memorial.   As Peter is talking a cloud from heaven enveloped them with the voice of God saying that: “this is my Son, who I am well pleased, Listen to him.”

Peter, James, and John fell facedown to the ground terrified and Jesus touches them to tell them don’t be afraid.  When they look up, they see no one except Jesus.   As they head down the mountain Jesus charges them to tell no one of what they had seen until after the resurrection. 

 The disciples then ask Jesus about the prophecy that Elijah must come first before the coming of the Messiah.  Jesus responds and says that Elijah did come first but they did not recognize him yet did whatever they wanted to him and so Jesus announced that he too would suffer.   The disciples understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist. 

Monday, we will discuss what John the Baptist had to say when they asked him was he Elijah.  It is very interesting. 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!!

Jesus is enough!!!!!!!!   God will meet our needs!!!!!!!!

See you on Monday

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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