2/3/08 - Transfiguration - Matthew 17:1-9

A GLIMPSE OF HIS GLORY
- To give us confidence in the days to come
- To give us a foretaste of eternity to come

It was about 6 months before Jesus was to be crucified. He was with his disciples in the northern part of the land of Israel, teaching and preaching to the people, when one day he decided to go up onto a mountain. But he didn’t want all of the disciples to go with him, only Peter, James, and John. Of course, this wasn’t the first time that select group of three was chosen by Christ. A while back Jesus had allowed only that inner circle to accompany him into Jairus’ house. And there in the house of that synagogue ruler, he raised a girl from the dead. But only Peter, James, and John witnessed that amazing event. And so as these three men were climbing up the mountain with Jesus on this particular occasion, I’m sure they were wondering what was going to happen. Was he going to tell them something special? There were no people up on the top of that mountain so he wasn’t going to heal anyone. Would he possibly give them special powers that he had shown on numerous occasions?
But before any of them figured out why they had been once again separated from the rest of the disciples, Jesus was transfigured before them! Transfigured is a word that means a transformation of some sort. Jesus was transformed before their very eyes. The book of Matthew says that “his face shone like the sun.” A blinding, overpowering light that the disciples couldn’t look directly at. And Jesus’ clothes “became white as light.” Not a normal earthly light. This was the light from God’s glory! Brilliant and majestic. So pure and penetrating that it must have taken the disciples’ breath away! And then suddenly there was Moses! And there was Elijah! The disciples’ heroes! The men they had read about and looked to as role models and about whom they had heard countless stories. There they were right in front of them talking to Jesus! And if that wasn’t enough: a bright cloud, not a dark cloud, but a bright cloud filled with God’s brilliance comes down upon them and a voice thundered all around them, “This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well-pleased. Listen to him.” And absolutely terrified, the three disciples fall to their faces in complete fear not knowing what to do.
But then they feel a hand on their shoulders and Jesus’ familiar voice saying, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.” And as they raised their eyes to the scene in front of them, just like that it was over. No more glorious cloud. No more magnificent voice. No more Moses. No more Elijah. No more transfigured Jesus. Just the normal every-day Jesus that they had always known standing in front of them. But they had just witnessed something tremendous. They had just seen Jesus like they had never seen him before. They had just gotten a glimpse of his glory. And they were going to need it.
These three were going to need this glimpse of the Lord’s glory because there was not a whole lot of time after this event before Jesus would be arrested, abused, convicted, and crucified. And these three men: Peter, James and John, the leaders of the Christian church after Jesus would ascend into heaven, were going to need that glimpse of the Lord’s glory in the coming days. Because they were going to go through a lot of difficulties. In fact these three men were taken alone by Jesus one more time before his death: in the Garden of Gethsemane - the night Judas betrayed him. And they who had just witnessed a glimpse of the Lord’s glory on the mountain would see him in the depth of his humiliation. They would see Jesus on his knees, praying so fervently that sweat fell from his forehead like drops of blood. They would see him struggle. They would see him cry out to his Father. But they didn’t see much because they fell asleep! Those three special disciples, specifically chosen by the Lord, fell asleep in the Garden! And then they ran away when he was arrested. And then Peter, the most outspoken of the three, denied he even knew who Jesus was just hours later! They were going to need that glimpse of the Lord’s glory they had seen at his transfiguration to remind them that he was and remains true God and he would always be in control. He is all powerful, all glorious, and no secret arrest, false accusation, corrupt court, severe flogging, unjust murder, or his own disciples’ biting sins would change that. That glimpse of his glory helped Peter, James, and John through those unthinkable events, comforting them with the fact that Jesus is fully capable of displaying his divine majesty and he will use it when the time comes.
We need that glimpse of his glory in the coming days as well. Things are not always going to be great. In fact, many of you would say things aren’t going all that well right now. I know many of you are dealing with sicknesses, diseases, losses, chronic pains, and a variety of other struggles. And as this life continues, as we grow older, as sin corrupts this world more and more, we will inevitably run into things that are heartbreaking, nasty, frustrating, and downright sinful. But when those things do occur, and as you are suffering some of those things right now, remember that small glimpse of the Lord’s glory on the mountain. He is fully capable of displaying his divine majesty and he will use it when the time comes. He knows what’s going on in your life and he promises that the glory you will experience in heaven will be so overwhelmingly sensational, that the passing pains of this life will forever be forgotten.
But that’s not good enough. Or so we oftentimes act. The promise of a future glory is not good enough for us because we want a great life now, don’t we? We want a problem-free and pain-free and sadness-free life right now. We end up being just like Peter, who said to the Lord in the middle of his transfiguration, “If you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Peter didn’t want it to end! He wanted them to stick around for as long as possible. And do you blame him? I wouldn’t want that experience to end either! But the problem was: Peter was focused on this life. He wanted all of the Lord’s glory and perfection right then, he didn’t want to wait for later. He didn’t want a glimpse of what was to come in the future, he wanted the whole thing at that very moment. And that sums up our attitude in a nutshell, doesn’t it? It’s not enough for us that the Lord promises future perfection. We aren’t happy unless our lives are easy and pleasant and enjoyable now. We want more than what the Lord has promised us. We aren’t satisfied with the gifts he has stored up for us in heaven.
Doesn’t that seem a little insolent to you? Insolent is being boldly disrespectful, and isn’t that how we’ve acted? Heaven, perfection, eternal life, never ending glory, a home in the presence of the Lord himself isn’t enough for us? We want more than that? We aren’t satisfied with the Lord’s offer? That is being insolent! I’m surprised that the Lord hasn’t taken the gift of heaven away from us! And we couldn’t blame him if we did. After all, we don’t deserve heaven in the first place and now we want even more than that priceless gift!
No wonder Peter, James, and John fell to their faces when they heard the inhuman voice of God the Father. Because when they were confronted with his perfect power they were also suddenly confronted with their own sinfulness. They realized they could not stand in his presence. And they were moved as sinners to crumble in awe. But when their faces were in the dirt they felt the hand of Jesus and they heard his perfectly human voice, “Do not be afraid.” Their Savior was still there. They would not be destroyed. They did not have to be afraid. Nor do we. We have offended the Lord with our insolence, without a doubt. But we do not have to be afraid. He will not take his heaven away from us. He will not condemn us for what we’ve done or said or thought. He will grant us forgiveness. In fact, he has already granted us forgiveness and he will turn that glimpse of Christ’s glory into the full measure of his glory in eternity. We do not have to be afraid. Jesus stands for us. He reaches down for us. And he will come back for us to take us to be with him in his heavenly home.
And what a sweet foretaste of that heavenly home we receive on that mountain. That small and fleeting glimpse of the Lord’s glory at his transfiguration wets our appetite for what’s to come. Because just as Christ’s body was transformed, so will ours. When our bodies are brought to heaven on Judgment Day, Scripture says that Christ “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). It’s hard to say exactly what that will be like. But we can say this much: you will feel no more pain, you will suffer no more sickness, you will never get old. You will be refreshed, renewed, and glorified. What a great blessing to look forward to! And the Lord’s body at his transfiguration gives us a taste of what that might be like.
And his transfiguration also gives us a hint of something else to expect. Remember: Moses and Elijah were there talking with him. Yes, they were great men of faith and prophets appointed by the Lord. But they were sinners too. Moses wasn’t allowed into the Promised Land because of his sin of disobedience and Elijah was chastised by the Lord for doubting his power. But there they were, those two sinners were talking with the Lord on that mountain. And won’t that be an incredible thing to do yourself? You will be able to talk to Jesus himself, face to face, as long as you want because you will have all eternity to do so. You can ask him any question, you can thank him for every blessing, and the conversation will never get old. He will hang on your every word and you his. No one will interrupt your discussion. Nothing will distract your Savior’s attention. No comment will be out of place or inappropriate. And the joy that will fill your heart because of his words will never fade away. I can’t wait to sit down with my Savior and just enjoy life with him.
And that’s the last taste we get of heaven from Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain. We will be in the presence of the glory of the Lord. It will not be hidden behind a curtain as it was in the Old Testament tabernacle. It will not be veiled in a cloud or a pillar of fire as when the Lord led the Israelites through the desert. It will not be reflected in visions or described by words on a piece of paper. We will experience the glory of the Lord. We will see it and feel it and live in it. And we will not be afraid. That thundering voice of our Father will no longer be frightening. That magnificent appearance of Jesus will not make us back away. And whatever wonderful manifestation the Holy Spirit shows himself as, even that will fill us with joy. Three persons in one God. That is something I’m excited to see. And maybe I won’t even understand it then, but it won’t matter. Because I will actually be in heaven. And you’ll be there with me. And so will Peter and James and John and Moses and so the prophet Elijah. And so will Jesus. The one who really matters. The one who gave us a glimpse of his glory on that mountain. The one who will astound us on that day with his glory in full.
Amen.

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” - Jude 24-25