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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.” (Mark 9.2-4).
To be transfigured is to be changed. In fact, the Greek word which translates transfigured in this passage is the source word for our English word metamorphosis. A shortened form of this same word which is popular in our culture is morph. The change which Jesus experienced was not a change that occurred due to an outside force in the material universe. It was a change which had all the earmarks of being of Divine origin. Thayer’s Lexicon says that the word means “…to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure.” In addition he says that “…Christ’s appearance was changed and was resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration.”
However, the notable happenings on the mount of transfiguration did not stop with those that were visually perceived. Sounds also accompanied the transfiguration; some of these sounds were quite ordinary and others were entirely out of the ordinary. Notice that Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus. Peter, James, and John had heard the Master’s voice many times before, but they had never heard the voices of Moses or Elijah – and that with good reason. These two notables had lived several centuries earlier. But, this sound was not the most notable sound. Luke says, “…a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’” (Luke 9.34-35). Years later, Peter wrote about this day and said, “For He [Jesus] received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1.17-18).
What was the significance of all of this? Well, certainly it was for God the Father to bestow honor and glory on the Son, even as Peter said. When one perceives that Moses was, from an Old Testament perspective, THE lawgiver, his significance becomes important. Jesus was exalted in the Transfiguration scene as being greater than Moses. Likewise, Elijah when seen as the head of the prophets was also eclipsed in glory by the Son even as was demonstrated on the mountain in today’s focus passage. Jesus was exalted in the Transfiguration scene as being greater than Elijah and all the prophets who followed during the Old Testament era.
This lesson should not seem incredible especially in light of Moses’ own prophecy: From the temple in Jerusalem (Solomon’s Porch in particular) Peter cited Moses’ prophecy, saying, “For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.’” (Acts 3.22-23). Based on Moses’ prophecy, the events transpiring on the Mount of Transfiguration, and other infallible proofs (see Acts 1.3), Peter declared Jesus to be Messiah in fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham (see Acts 3.24-26).
The fact that Jesus was and is greater than the Old Testament worthies made it possible for the Father to give “…Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2.9-11).
Questions:
1. What is the meaning of transfiguration?
2. What did Peter, James, and John see and hear that indicated the Divine source of the events during the transfiguration?
3. What was signified by the fact that Jesus appeared with Moses and Elijah and the Father spoke specifically of the need to hear the Son?
4. In what ways is Jesus greater than Moses and/or Elijah?
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