His Transformation Before Men

INTRO

As a former tax collector, Matthew focused on Jesus’ authority and His role as a King. In Matthew 17, we can use one word for the entire chapter: transfiguration––a metamorphosis, to change or transform into a new form. Jesus did this in front of His disciples on a mountain. Stanley Toussaint defined it as “the confirmation of the reality of a future kingdom.”¹Through the transformation, Jesus showed Himself as He would be in the future, after His death, burial, and resurrection. His change would come in front of those who knew Him best.

TEACHING

Matthew 17:1-3: Jesus took His inner circle of disciples up a high mountain: Peter, James, and his brother John (v. 1). Remember that every important occurrence with Jesus seems to happen on a mountain. The transformation possibly took place on Mount Hermon, which stood at 9,400 feet. Jesus’ appearance was totally transformed; something radically changed. Wiersbe says the transformation points to four things: “The glory of His Person–His face shone and His physical appearance changed (v. 2); the glory of His kingdom–(vv. 4-5); the glory of His cross–(vv. 8-9); the glory of His submission–(v. 12b).”²

In verse 3, Jesus was joined by Moses, who represented the Law, and Elijah, who represented the Prophets. See Matthew 5:17: “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” The visual picture of these three together reveals God’s approval of Jesus as the fulfillment. Toussaint says that “The presence of the Old Testament saints with Christ in a glorified state is the greatest possible verification of the kingdom principles in the Old Testament.”³

Matthew 17:4: Peter always seemed to speak the obvious. He offered to build three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Probably, Peter also wanted to remain in the presence of the Old Testament saints.

Matthew 17:5: God interrupted Peter while he was still speaking and announced “the glory of His kingdom”: “This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!” Matthew 3:17 has the same language at Jesus’ baptism. Psalm 2:7 is a Messianic prophecy that points to these specific words (Isaiah 42:1). This meeting on the mountain was the climax when Jesus’ identity and His future kingdom were confirmed. Everything we’ve studied has pointed to the Messiah.

Matthew 17:6: When those who had seen this realized they were in the presence of the Lord, they fell down and worshipped God.

Matthew 17:7: The word “glory” means weight. When the Jews are in prayer, they are constantly rocking forward. So possibly, the weight of being in God’s presence causes us to lean forward, and even fall down on our knees. Jesus immediately comforted them, saying, “Don’t be afraid.” They heard the voice of the Lord while on the mountain.

Matthew 17:8-9: When the disciples looked up, both Moses and Elijah were gone. Only Jesus, Peter, James, and John were left. Jesus began to establish “the glory of His cross,” as they descended the mountain. Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the prophecy had come true––that “the Son of Man is raised from the dead” (v. 9). Five times in Matthew, Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone about Him until God’s timing was complete: Matthew 8:4; 9:30; 12:16; 16:20; 17:9.

Matthew 17:10-12: The disciples questioned why Elijah would come first (v. 10). Jesus responded that Elijah would still come (Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 17:11). John the Baptist had brought the words of Elijah and had been rejected, so Elijah was still coming (v.12a). Jesus would take on “the glory of His submission” (v. 12b).

Each of the glories we’ve discussed––His person, His kingdom, His cross––are dependent upon the final role of submission, which means to cede one’s own authority to that of someone else. There could be no future kingdom until Jesus actually gave up His life on the cross. James, the disciple on the mount with Jesus, was the first to die (Acts 12:1-2). John was jailed on the Isle of Patmos and placed in burning oil. He suffered, even though he lived the longest of any of the disciples. Peter suffered in Rome, was crucified upside down, and died. As the statement goes, “In order to experience life, you have to experience death.”

Jesus was painting a picture for Peter, James, and John, of what would be required of them. They all gave up their lives for His gospel.

Peter explained the significance of Jesus’ transformation with these words: “For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain. So, we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:16-21)

CLOSING

The transfiguration radically changed Peter and drove him to the place where he was ready to give up his own life for the cause of the gospel. Why? Because Peter realized that death will always lead to life.