The Weekend Word

Matthew 17:1-13

The Transfiguration

1And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

• The inner circle
• God has his people on the mountain – mountains are huge in OT theology, and we see Jesus make use of them in the Gospels.

² And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

• Transfigured = changed
• What does this mean transfigured? How was Jesus changed?
• How about this – his divinity is leaking out all over the place.
• He is now truly who Peter confessed him to be.

³ And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

• Sitting around talking – How would you like to be in on that conversation.
• Luke tells us what they were talking about – His Exodus. (9:30-31)
• “Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. ³¹ They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”
• Matt 16:21 ff Jesus describes his exodus – his suffering – death & resurrection.

⁴ And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

• Jesus has laid Peter low and now he takes him up on mountain top.
• Peter likes it here – let’s stay – we can build some condos.
• We can really build a church now from this spiritual high – Peter is back to “step aside Jesus, I can do this now.”
• Peter is the original meme – “hold my beer and watch this!”

⁵ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

• Peter was still speaking … as always, when he gets cut off.
• A bright cloud – OT = God’s presence.
• The cloud in the OT was Mt. Sinai on Wheels.
• God was with his people in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night.
• When does the cloud first show up?… In the exodus.
• According to Luke, they are discussing his exodus.
• “whom I am well pleased” Why is God well pleased? Because Jesus is going to do a Good Friday.
• Hence the preaching – the same voice we heard at the baptism.
• And it is the same message – “listen to him”
• Let his word have the prominent place.

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

• There was no doubt – the disciples knew who was speaking.

⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”

• Rise is the resurrection word.

⁸ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

• Now when they look up Moses & Elijah are gone. Why?
• Because now they are to listen to Jesus only
• Again – the OT done & gone.

⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

• What do they think of this comment?
• “until” = Matthew 28
• Not until = Because this was the conversation – Jesus’ departure.

¹⁰ And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”

• This is difficult – we will see that this is about John the Baptist, but … Elijah did just come in the transfiguration.

¹¹ He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.

• So, is this speaking of reincarnation? Or is this types?
• How about the fact that Elijah never died?
• Luke 17:1 = and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

¹² But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”

• If they did this to John the B, how much more to the one who claimed deity?
• John is the forerunner here also.

¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

• Oh! Now we get it …huh??