The Transfiguration of Jesus – Dr. Larry Ollison
What was the that means and significance of the transfiguration?
A couple of week after Jesus plainly instructed His disciples that He would endure, be killed, and be raised to life (Luke 9:22), He took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to wish. Whereas praying, His private look was turned into a glorified kind, and His clothes grew to become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus about His dying that will quickly happen. Peter, not understanding what he was saying and being very fearful, provided to place up three shelters for them. That is undoubtedly a reference to the cubicles that had been used to rejoice the Feast of Tabernacles, when the Israelites dwelt in cubicles for seven days (Leviticus 23:34–42). Peter was expressing a want to keep in that place. Then a cloud enveloped them, and a voice spoke from the cloud: “That is my Son, whom I like; with him I’m effectively happy. Take heed to him!” (Matthew 17:5).
The cloud lifted, Moses and Elijah had disappeared, and Jesus was alone with His disciples, who had been nonetheless very a lot afraid. Jesus warned them to not inform anybody what they’d seen till after His resurrection. The three accounts of this occasion are present in Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, and Luke 9:28–36.
Undoubtedly, the aim of the transfiguration of Christ into at the least part of His heavenly glory was in order that the “internal circle” of His disciples may acquire a better understanding of who Jesus was. Christ underwent a dramatic change in look so that the disciples may behold Him in His glory. The disciples, who had solely recognized Him in His human physique, now had a better realization of the deity of Christ, although they might not totally understand it. That gave them the reassurance they wanted after listening to the surprising information of His coming dying.
Symbolically, the looks of Moses and Elijah represented the Legislation and the Prophets. However God’s voice from heaven – “Take heed to Him!” – clearly confirmed that the Legislation and the Prophets should give strategy to Jesus. The One who’s the brand new and dwelling means is changing the previous – He’s the success of the Legislation and the numerous prophecies within the Previous Testomony. Additionally, in His glorified kind they noticed a preview of His coming glorification and enthronement as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The disciples by no means forgot what occurred that day on the mountain and little doubt this was meant. John wrote in his gospel, “Now we have seen His glory, the glory of the one and solely” (John 1:14). Peter additionally wrote of it, “We didn’t comply with cleverly invented tales once we instructed you in regards to the energy and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, however we had been eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He acquired honor and glory from God the Father when the voice got here to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘That is my Son, whom I like; with Him I’m effectively happy.’ We ourselves heard this voice that got here from heaven once we had been with Him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18). Those that witnessed the transfiguration bore witness to it to the opposite disciples and to numerous thousands and thousands down by way of the centuries.” from the article:
