(God-Wrestler)

Into the Transfiguration of the Christian Faith

Jesus Christ and his Apostles shared many miraculous events together. Some of these events were shared with all the Apostles and some were shared with only a few of them. Jesus used these times to connect with his apostles on another level. He used these events to reveal himself to his Apostles. Sometimes he used these events to teach his Apostles a lesson about life and God.

The New Testament is littered with accounts of these miraculous events from the viewpoints of those Apostles that were witness to the events and close with Jesus. The Gospel books in the New Testament contain records of these event provide an accurate account of Jesus’ life while here on earth.

One miraculous event that is not widely discussed is one that Jesus only showed to a few of his cherished Apostles. This event is noted as the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. This event appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This will look into the different account of the transfiguration, what is the transfiguration, what is significant about the transfiguration, what the transfiguration revealed, and how the transfiguration applies to life today.

To begin first we will read an account of the transfiguration as written in the Gospel of Mark. “2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

5Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

8Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.

11And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

12Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

In this account we see that Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him up the mountain and at this mountaintop they were witness to what is called the transfiguration. Transfiguration is defined as the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus according to Princeton University’s Wordnet. This scared the Apostles as Jesus was revealing his messiah ship to them. During this account Jesus was affirmed by changing of his presence, the approval of the prophet Elijah, the approval of the Law of Moses, and by the audible voice of God. After this event the disciples knew who Jesus was and their faith was greatly deepened. Jesus commands them after to not reveal this witness under after the son of man had risen from the dead. Confusing the disciples even more.

What is the significance of this miraculous event in the lives of Jesus and the Apostles? This event was very significant in many ways to each Jesus and the Apostles. For Jesus this event for filled Old Testament law (Deuteronomy 19:15) that two to three witness had to give testimony to establish the incident. Allaboutjesuschrist.org goes on to explain that Elijah, Moses, and the Voice of God serve as a heavenly realm of witness to Jesus as the Son of God. The Apostles, Peter, James, and John, serve as the worldly witness’ that Jesus is truly the Son of God. The transfiguration helps to testify that Jesus is really who he proclaims to be and helps to grow the faith of his followers.

Looking into the significance of Jesus shining whiter than any thing in the world we go back to the definition of transfiguration. Jesus having the emanation of radiance in his being or Jesus having the flowing source of God coming through him. In terms of Jesus being the Son of God at this moment the transfiguration brings what is the reality of the internal character of Jesus outward into a physical reality as the Son of God. At this moment Jesus as a whole internally and externally was being the Son of God before the Apostles. This event testifies to the complete character of Jesus Christ. Allaboutjesuschrist.org explains that Jesus in human form veiled his divine nature and that this was a glimpse of his glory.

The transfiguration account also brings about another interesting significance. Jesus explained to the Apostles on their way back down the mountain that were not to tell of this wonderful event of his glory until after the Son of God had risen from the grave. The Apostles were confused by this and just kept to them selves wondering what it meant to be raised from the grave. The transfiguration comes six days after Jesus explained to them that the Son of God would have to die and that the Apostles would have to pick up there cross and follow Jesus. The transfiguration completes Jesus revealing Gods plan to his Apostles as he announces to them that he will return from the grave.

The transfiguration reveals five main points to us and to the Apostles. Crossroads helps to identify these points as:
1. It revealed the divine nature of Jesus as the Son of God. (Hebrews 1:3)
2. The Transfiguration revealed the plan of God for redemption and the importance and necessity of Jesus’ crucifixion. Showing that the Law of Moses and the prophecies of Elijah were not enough to save mankind.
3. The Transfiguration revealed Jesus as God’s Son and having a higher importance over Elijah and Moses.
4. It revealed a promise of the future that Jesus would suffer and go to the Cross because of his obedience and glory.
5. It revealed a glimpse of what is to come for Jesus’ followers once they get to heaven. For Jesus Christ "will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" (Philippians 3:21).
This event to the Apostles revealed so much that they were never able to forget it. They lived the rest of their lives having experience the glory of Jesus as the Son of God. Peter even wrote about it later in Peter’s second epistle.
2 Peter 1:16-18
16We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."[a] 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

For the Apostles we see that the transfiguration event had much meaning in revealing the inward and outward glory of Jesus, revealing the plan of God for Jesus’ life, and revealing the complete divine nature of Jesus. How does this event of the transfiguration have meaning to our lives today?

Since there were detailed accounts left for us in the synoptic Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke we are able to look into the understanding of the transfiguration as the Apostles themselves were witness it. We are able to relate to the Apostles lack of understanding of Jesus glory and can see why they would be scared of Jesus being transfigured, awed by the appearance of Elijah and Moses, and completely confused as they hear the voice of God and see only Jesus. We like them need to witness the glory of Jesus to understand fully how his death on the cross as the Son of God can justify our salvation and entrance to heaven with an eternal relationship with God. Being able to account the witness of Jesus’ transfiguration gives us the ability to discern that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Weldon D. Nisly a pastor in Seattle gave a sermon trying to help the people of his church understand how the transfiguration is still relevant to our lives today. We are able to literally see Jesus in a new light during the account of the transfiguration, in the light of the source of God flowing through him. The transfiguration is giving us a glimpse into what happens to Jesus during the time of his resurrection when there was no one there to witness it happening. It represents our entrance into the heavenly realm.

The sermon also goes one to explain that the transfiguration of Jesus is a metaphor for what happens to us when we gather for worship. We are transfigured as well whenever we gather together in worship. Nisly defines worship as “a transfiguring event for the body of Christ encountering God.” When we gather together to be with God we too have emanation of radiance or the source of God flowing through us. Jesus was giving the Apostles an example of what it is truly like to be in the presence of God. It was an example of what it is like to be completely obedient to God. It was also an example of how God shows his love to you and blesses your obedience.

Today the transfiguration can be just as much of a personal event of the witness to the glory of God for us as it was for the Apostles Peter, James, and John who were able to witness it happen to Jesus before their very eyes. Since Jesus was obedient and completed God’s plan, which was partly revealed in the talk of resurrection coming down from the mountain after the transfiguration, we are able to except Jesus sacrifice and receive salvation. This allows us to receive the Holy Spirit, which then allows us to experience our own personal transfiguration. Then we are able to be transfigured when ever we come together to be with God. The account of the Transfiguration is a small miracle of benevolence that on the surface seems intimating and hard to understand, but underneath is proven to be a pinnacle point in the life of Jesus, the Apostles, and are very lives today.