This is one of the events in the life of Jesus that is written in multiple books of the New Testament and mentioned in other passages (Mark 9:1-13, Matthew 17: 1-13, Luke 9: 28-36 and 2 Peter 1: 16-18). It was a nice exercise to look them up and see how one passage supports the other.
John Stott offers four aspects of interpretation: worth further meditation.
I’m just blown away by the visual: as Jesus is praying, his appearance starts to change. His face shines like the sun, his clothes become as bright as a flash of lightning, Moses and Elijah appear out of nowhere and they are all enveloped by a cloud that speaks to them! So many artists have tried to capture this image. When I get to heaven, I would like to ask Jesus to show me what it really looked like.
The cloud reminded me of the exodus of Israel when God’s presence was seen as a pillar of cloud. This too is a kind of exodus—Jesus is preparing to lead us out of the bondage to sin.
Peter, James and John got a peek into the future. They got to see Jesus in his transfigured body - the way he might look after he is resurrected. And even though Jesus has been telling them about the suffering that is to come, and that he will rise from the dead but how could they really know and understand all these things. They were so frightened and the scripture says they didn’t know what they were talking about. But, this is the part I can identify with… being scared and talking too much!
Someday, we will all see Jesus in all His Glory. Will we be frightened? What will we say?
2 comments:
thanks for a great post, helen. peter, james and john witnessing the lord Jesus Christ talking to elijah and moses must truly have been a foretaste of heaven.
in a way, the three are representative of God's different covenants: moses representing the law, elijah representing the prophets, and Christ the new covenant of the forgiveness of sins.
so we have on the mountain the Law, the Prophets and Christ.
but note the emphasis in the voice from the clouds which says, "this is My Son, Whom I love--listen to HIM".
many people in the church still to this day listen to the "old" covenant of moses and elijah--the covenant of works--trying to be good, living by some moral code etc . . . in order to enter God's kingdom.
but God insists, no . . . this is My Son--listen to HIM. in His is love and mercy and eternal life.
we would all do well to listen to Him.
Thanks Helen. I too really enjoy looking up accounts of the same event across the Gospels as its so interesting to try and fill in as much of the picture in my mind with the different perspectives.
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