The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ
Posted by preachgospelblog.com | Filed under New Testament Sermon
When and Where Did the Transfiguration Occur?
A. Luke 9:28 says, “. . . about an eight days after these sayings. . .” while Matt 17:1 and Mark 9:2 read, “And after six days. . . .” There is no discrepancy in these accounts. Luke simply included the day of the Transfiguration and the day of “these sayings” while Matthew and Mark excluded them, counting only the six days in between the two events.
B. The Transfiguration is believed to have occurred at Caesarea Philippi the location of the highest mountain in the area, Mt. Hermon, which rises to an elevation of 9,232 feet. It is specifically referred to as a “high mountain” in two of the accounts (Matt 17:1; Mark 9:2).
What Were the Events and Sayings Which Preceded Jesus’ Transfiguration?
A. First, in response to Jesus’ question “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter made his great confession about Jesus being “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16); “the Christ” (Mark 8:29); “the Christ of God” (Luke 9:20). All of us must still answer this same question today.
B. Next, Jesus had predicted His own death and resurrection (Matt 16:21-27; Mark 8:31-37; Luke 9:21-26).
C. Peter was shocked and objected to the idea of Jesus’ death since He had the power to avoid it. Jesus then rebuked Peter, calling him “Satan” (Matt 16:23; Mark 8:33). Let us learn from Peter’s mistake not to call Jesus “Christ” and then deny His sovereignty over the affairs of men.
This Event Helped Explain the Last and Most Difficult Saying of Jesus in Matt 16:28; Mark 9:1; and Luke 9:27
A. “There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Jesus made this statement six days before the Transfiguration, which was a fulfillment of it. The three: Peter, James, and John were those who did “not taste of death” until they saw the glory of Jesus revealed just six days after Jesus made His prediction.
B. This connection between the two events can be made because of the use of “and” connecting them in Matt 17:1 and Mark 9:2, and the particle
de, in Luke 9:28, translated “and.”
The Transfiguration Foreshadowed the Second Coming of Christ
A. Scripture tells us that Christ will unexpectedly return (Matt 24:44; Mark 13:32,33; Luke 12:40,46) and set up His kingdom just as He predicted (Matt 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27). The Transfiguration was a preview of this wondrous event to come.
B. The transformation began with prayer between Christ and the Father (Luke 9:28). The infinitive used here is proseúxasthai, the aorist tense, which indicates a punctiliar action instead of the habitual practice of prayer. This event was going to be a special time of communion between the unique Son and His Father. What actually happened was that as Jesus prayed, He was “transfigured.” In Mark 9:2 the Greek word is metemorphôth¢, derived from metá, “change of condition” and morphóœ, “to form.” The change which came upon the Man-God here was from the inside out. Luke says, “And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.” What is translated as “fashion” is eídos, meaning the external appearance of His face. It became different, héteron, qualitatively different, and His clothing, “white and glistering.” White is the color of angelic garments (Mark 16:5; Acts 1:10; Rev 3:4). The whole description of Christ then speaks of His heavenly kingship, which He will assume upon His Second Coming.
C. There also appeared two Old Testament personalities with Christ at His Transfiguration.
1. The first was Moses, who represented those who have died in the Lord and will be raised to meet Christ in the air at His return (1 Thess 4:16).
2. The second person to appear was Elijah, who did not die but was taken into heaven alive (2 Kings 2:1). He represented those who will be alive at the coming of the Lord and who will be changed (1 Cor 15:51,52) as they also are taken up to be with Jesus (1 Thess 4:17).
D. Therefore, the purpose of the Transfiguration was to give Peter, John, and James, as well as all believers to follow, a preview of the kingdom of God which we are to eagerly await.
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