Transfiguration
Text: 9:2-13
Comments: A. Context.
We see this as a follow up to the first foretelling of Jesus' death
and resurrection. Jesus got two responses: First, Peter rebuked
Jesus. Second, there is no other response whatsoever. To give them a
better understanding of the resurrection glory He takes 3 of His
closer disciples to a mountain.
The mountain experience is
overwhelming for them, and Jesus “charges them to tell no one until
the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (v. 9). This triggers a
conversation and He leaves it with a cliff hanger (v. 10-13).
B. Jesus
and 3 others. Jesus selects James, John, and
Peter as His “mighty men.” He spends more time with them and they
see His glory of transfiguration. This is a pinnacle of Biblical
leadership model. David had 3 mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth a
Tahchemonite, Eleazar son of Dodo, and Shammah son of Agee the
Hararite (2 Samuel 23:8-12).
If we go even further in
history, we should remember Moses and his three supporters: Aaron
(his brother), Hur (community leader), and Joshua a son of Nun
(military leader), helping Moses to pray and win the first battle of
Israel after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 17:8-16). Also, we should
remember Noah and three of his sons: Shem, Ham, Japheth (Genesis
6:9). Or Daniel with three of his friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego (Daniel 1:6-7). In the royal court we can see the following
model: monarch, prime-minister (dealing mostly with the internal
affairs), minister of foreign affairs, and chief military commander.
Ultimately this paradigm
comes from the order of creation, however in reversed order. In human
world/terms we have a leader and three supporters. In creation order
we have Trinity who invites Adam into fellowship of God's counsel.
So, if we begin from the Creation account we need to notice other
stories of the Bible where a human was given this privilege: Abraham
and three visitors (Genesis 18), Isaiah who see the LORD Sabaoth
(Isaiah 6 and Isaiah 53:1).
C. Seven
persons. We know that Jesus was met by Moses
and Elijah. So. So far we have 6 personalities: Jesus, 3 disciples,
Moses, and Elijah. Then the Father speaks, making seven persons
total. This completeness is important. Because prior to that Peter
said something really strange – he did not know what to say, and
have decided to say something.
Proverbs 17:28 says: even a fool who keeps
silent is considered wise. Peter should've
take a class on the Books of Wisdom... What's so strange about his
words? The problem is that he equalized Jesus, whom he just confessed
to be the Messiah, with Moses and Elijah. These later guys are great
BUT (!) Christ is greater, far superior. Author of the Letter to
Hebrews, comparing Jesus and Moses put it this way: For
Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses – as much
more glory as the builder of a house has more honor then the house
itself (Hebrews 3:3).
That's why the voice of
the Father is SO important – He rearranges everything to it's
proper place: this is My beloved Son, listen
to Him (Mark 9:7). Moses, Elijah, David, all
the other writers of the Holy Scripture have no glory of their own.
They are as important as long as they point to Jesus as Messiah.
D. Why
Moses and Elijah? Why these two? Why not
Abraham or David? I think there are at least two reasons for it.
Moses and Elijah represent two very distinctive periods in Israel
history enveloping (more or less) all of its span. Moses is the one
who brought them from patriarchal period to the LAND. Elijah
ministered in the period of divided kingdoms preparing Israel for the
first (Assyrian) exile.
Second, both Moses and
Elijah have “weird” death stories. We are told that Moses died,
but no one knows where his grave is. Who dug the grave? OK, maybe
Moses, but who put the dirt back into the grave?? With Elijah it's
not simpler – if Jesus is the first being raised from the dead,
where did the prophet go to await for the resurrection of Jesus? We
have many questions... AS a result we end up with two mysterious
people who passed through death in some different way – so, they
are the perfect representatives to talk to Jesus about death and
resurrection.
E. Bright glory of Jesus –
a foretaste of the glory of resurrection. As I said in the very
beginning, the mountain experience of the apostles and Jesus' request
not to share it with anybody until resurrection triggered a thought
process in the right direction – what this
rising from the dead means? (9:10). What
Jesus did is gave them a foretaste of His resurrected glory. When we
compare this passage with what we see in the Book of Acts 9:3-6 and
Revelation 1:9-19, the purpose of Jesus becomes clear.
Therefore, we can identify
a few elements of heavenly glory: bright glorious apparel and
profound conversations with the spiritual giants of all, and most
importantly – fellowship with the beloved Son of God, our Lord and
Savior!
