[1]  THE TRANSFIGURATION 

Matthew 17:1-13  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,  (2)  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  (3)  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.  (4)  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  (5)  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.  (6)  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.  (7)  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.  (8)  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.  (9)  And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.  (10)  And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?  (11)  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.  (12)  But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.  (13)  Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

INTRODUCTION:  When we read these verses, at least in my mind, I wonder if we as Christians could witness the “Transfiguration” as these Disciples did, would we be better Christians.

              For us to know we heard God speak.  Then witness, the glorification of Jesus’ body with utter fear and awe.  To actually see Moses and Elijah, what a day that would be. 

              How long would the euphoria last?  Could it possibly be a week or a month or until eternity before we lost that zeal for God that we acquired? 

              Do we need such manifestations to support us in the hour of sor­row and trial?  When we come to this mount are we apt to be so blinded with the “glory of the light” that we cannot see the helpful lessons we might learn. 

We might learn that-

I.            TO BE ALONE WITH THE LORD IS A GLORIOUS PRIVILEGE.  (vv 1-2)

           

Matthew 17:1-2 a  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,  2  And was transfigured before them:

Luke 9:28  And it came to pass …he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

A.              While Alone With Him,

1.           They beheld His glory,

              i.            Eye-witnesses of His majesty. 

                             2.           If we would know Jesus Christ

                                           i.            In all His glorious fullness,

                             3.           Let us be much alone with Him

                                           i.            In our mount of prayer. 

B.              We Hope To Be Alone With Him In Eternity;

              1.           Why not seek His presence now?

II.           THE LORD IS INFINITELY MORE GLORIOUS         (v 2)

              A.           Than Men See Him To Be.  

Matthew 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

                             1.           There was a double glory,

                                           i.            That which shone out of Heaven  from the Father,

ii.               And that which shone out of Himself

a.             As the image of the Father. 

C.              The Carnal Eye Saw No Beauty In Him,

              1.           He is glorious,

                             i.            Regardless. 

D.              The Hidden Glory Of Christ,

              1.           His glorification

                             i.            The hidden glory of the Christian, 

                                           a.           We will also be glorified

              E.           The Same Lord

                            1.           Who has transfigured our souls

                                           i.            Will one day transfigure our bodies

2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

1 John 3:1-2  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

III.         THE DEATH OF CHRIST                                                 (v 3)

Matthew 17:3  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Luke 9:30-31  And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:  (31)  Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

              A.           The Most Important Subject Under Heaven.

                             1.           Jesus’ Glorification 

                             2.           His impending death on the Cross

              B.           Consider The Subject Of Their Discussion

                             1.           One appointed to die on a cross. 

              C.           Consider, What Moses and Elijah would think

                             1.           Of those today who deny the atoning death of Jesus?

IV.         THE GLORY OF THE LORD                                           (v 6)

              A.           In Our Present State

                             1.           Can only be barely appreciated. 

                             2.           That voice of God terrified them. 

Matthew 17:6  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

V.           ONLY THE LORD IS SUFFICIENT                             (vv 7-8)

                  A.           To Comfort A Troubled Heart.

Matthew 17:7-8  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.  (8)  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

              B.           The Living Word of God

                             1.           When it touches,

                                           i.            The sorrowful or terrified soul,

                                                          a.           It is enough. 

                                                          b.           (It’s all that is required)

                             2.           If all else should fail,

                                           i.            The Touch,

                                           ii.           The Word,

                                                          a.           Of Jesus is sufficient

VI.         THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD                        (v 9)

              A.           Is The Foundation Of The Gospel.

Matthew 17:9  And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

              B.           The Gospel of His Glorification

                             1.           Must come after the Gospel of the Cross. 

1 Corinthians 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

              C.           But Christ Is Risen;

                             1.           Now tell of His Glory   

                                           i.            Your faith is real

VII.        TO HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD                           (v 5)

              A.           Is A Divine Com­mand.

Matthew 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

              B.           Father is “well pleased”

                    1.           Hear the Voice of His Word. 

                             2.           He is a great Teacher come from God,

                                           i.            His with God's message to sinful

                                                          men.

                             3.           The voice of His works.

John 5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

                             4.           His works of miracle and mercy. 

John 14:11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

CONCLUSION:  We have read this story of Jesus’ transfiguration, the descriptions given within the text, allows for our imaginations to wander.

              However, I don’t believe that was the purpose of our being told three times about His transfiguration.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

              God was showing us three transfigurations, one we will witness at our Salvation, the second when God calls us Home, or when He calls His Church Home.  This third is the possibility of the Christians ability to change Governments and to cause the land to be healed, by transfiguration.

              I read a quote this morning stated by Dr. Larry Groves, he said; “If you love God’s Word, the world will not love you.”  We are not of this world, why do we walk with them.

              I watched Glenn Beck’s “Redeeming Honor” this last Saturday.  I heard Jesus invoked more than I have ever heard on secular TV.  The whole program felt to me based on 2 Chronicles 7:14.  It was probably the NIV version, maybe all I saw wasn’t what I would overall agree with.  Yet, the focus was as a Human Race, we need to get first back to God, then look to our Nation.  It is a transfiguration we as Christians need, that of getting ourselves back to God.

              This transfiguration we read about is a description of His Holiness, His Power, and it defines who He is.  It also shows us what we have in store.  If we are greeted at a Pearly Gate, I don’t know for sure who will be greeting us, but my mind tells me Moses and Elijah, not necessarily Peter as all the stories relate.  Of course we do not know, just an un-necessary thought.

              What is your thought?  If you could go to that mountain top and witness what Peter, James, and John saw, would God speak to you or would He shun you as an unknown?

              We as Christians must know God is greater than all the greatest things we know of, He is Majesty, He is Almighty, and He is the Eternal, the Everlasting.

              Would seeing Jesus transfigured (Glorified) change your attitude towards His Church?  Would it make our absences less, our giving more, our smile greater? Would it cause you to praise Him daily, only to find in a few weeks, may be months all that praise has diminished, to an occasional day?  Would it be gone, like the important news stories, until the next important story? 

              We as Christians are a fickle lot and may be as the LORD called the Hebrew children, stiff-necked.  We must get past our thin skin and worship our Lord.  Most here have preconceived ideas, right or wrong; we need to know from our Bible.

              What are we, we are His servants, yet at times it seems we make Him our servant.  If you worked as hard at work as you do for the Lord, how long would it take your boss to fire you? 

              Jesus has promised us eternal Salvation and we know we can’t be fired from Him, just like a tenured union employee or a College Professor cannot be fired, consequently effort is not required.

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[1] adapted from “Handfuls On Purpose” James Smith, Eerdmans Publishing Company, Series I, Pages 165