The Transfiguration Of Jesus
Or
A Father’s Confirmation
Sunday Nov. 8, 2020
Scripture To Consider:
“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.”
“Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’”
“And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” Matthew 17.1-8
Something To Consider:
Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all wrote of this powerful mountain top meeting between Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. What took place that day has come to be known as the transfiguration of Jesus. Could this be the fulfillment of what Jesus had promised in Matthew 16.28? “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
It is for sure that Peter, James, and John were given a glimpse of Jesus in His coming glory. And why not? These disciples were going to need the assurance that Jesus was indeed worthy of their following Him to Jerusalem, and worthy of their eventual obedience even unto their own death. They needed the Father’s confirmation.
Does their willingness to suffer and eventually die a martyr’s death give us confirmation of their faith? Does their believing even unto death encourage us to believe unto our own death if these end times require it of us? Does the death of thousands of true believers even now around the globe give us further and more recent confirmation?
As the people of God we must ready ourselves for what lies ahead us all if we are not to be offended by the end time events spoken of in the Word of God. A major reality check is fast approaching all who confess Jesus with their lips and yet, their lives speak of living for this world and for themselves. We, myself included, must take spiritual inventory and make the adjustments needed!
Something Else To Consider:
The transfiguration was indeed a confirmation to the disciples, but it was also a confirmation to Jesus Himself. These disciples would need this experience as a reminder in the future to remove any cloud of doubt that might attempt to settle upon their hearts and minds. The same is true of us! We also need the confirmation the Word of God gives us on a daily basis.
Jesus needed divine assurance, for He had set His face in the direction of Jerusalem to die a shameful and most painful death for those who for the most part, had consistently rejected Him and His message at every turn. He had turned His attention to eternal issues and could not be persuaded otherwise. Can the same be said of us? Have we turned our attention unto eternal things?
Do we willingly turn our face in the direction of those things that may cause us pain or to be rejected by some and shunned by others? Have we turned our undivided attention to eternal matters? What is it that we must attain in life or die trying? What is it that has become more important than our making the necessary preparations for eternity?
Jesus declared in Matthew 5.6; “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” What further confirmation do we require? We have the written record of the Word of God! If we are indeed born again we have the presence of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives! If truly born again, by God’s Spirit and not man’s persuasion, we possess all that is required to endure to the end and to be counted worthy to escape all that is coming as a result of end time events. Therefore, are we properly prepared?
Furthermore, we have in 2 Peter 1.19, a prophetic confirmation. “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you [we] do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your [in our] hearts.” Yes, the Word of God is our best and most accurate confirmation of the truth of the gospel message, end time events, and what awaits those who are faithful in eternity!
Something More To Consider:
We are told by Matthew in our text, “And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.” Moses represented the greatest of the lawgivers to the Jewish people, and Elijah depicted the greatest of the prophets. But suddenly a voice declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
God the Father was confirming that Jesus was to be the focus of His redemptive plan and purposes. Could we also say that God the Father was confirming to these disciples and to all who have ears to hear, that the words of Jesus and the gospel of Jesus Christ supersede both the law and the prophets from that day forward? Up to that time the disciples were not willing to lay down their lives for the law or the prophets. But, in time they would lay down their lives for Jesus’ sake.
As this world and all it stands for becomes more and more darkened by sin, by political corruption and political correctness, lawlessness will abound! And yet, the more we allow the more sure word of prophecy, the more sure word of Jesus, the more sure Word of God to dwell in our hearts richly, the more light will brightly shine in and through our surrendered to Jesus lives! And that light will shine brightly as if a beacon of hope to others and as a confirmation of our faith to our heavenly Father.
Though we too are rejected by some and shunned by others while being hated by all the world for Jesus sake, as we endure to the end of whatever, we shall thereby be saved according to Jesus of whom the Father instructed us all to listen to and to obey. How are we doing in our eternal journey to and with Jesus?
A Few Final Words:
Peter, James, and John stood in the presence of Moses and Elijah, the two most influential Old Testament prophets. Suddenly, the voice of God the Father proclaimed of Jesus; “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him! And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.”
As important as the Old Testament was and is, and as important as the Old Testament prophets were and remain, God the Father affirmed of Jesus, “Hear Him!” And yet, how much or how little of the words of Jesus is being proclaimed, preached, or taught as extremely important in the church of this 21st century generation?
How much or how little attention is being given to the observance of all things Jesus commanded? Spiritual leaders and leaders in training should always listen to and hear the instructions of Jesus of Nazareth, with more than just their ears. For according to God, the Father, speaking of Jesus, as recorded by Matthew; “This is My beloved Son…Hear Him!”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, may we listen intently to the words and message of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ and Son of the living God. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 