Transforming Presence

Matt 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 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." 5 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!" 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead." 10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

For those who consider Jesus to be a merely a “good teacher,” there are a number of issues present in the Gospel accounts which become troublesome to those who hold such narrow viewpoint of who Christ is.

Certainly, Jesus WAS a good teacher, but He IS much more than that. He is God in the flesh.

(The very reason Jesus WAS / IS a good teacher, (great, in fact,) is because He IS God.)

For those who continue in striving to hold a narrow, humanistic view, Jesus pulls back the curtain just a bit. His disallows anyone from the position that He is merely a “good teacher.”

As Jesus was about to take His ministry from a place of revival and wonder to a place of turmoil and persecution and suffering, He brought His closest followers in on a bit of everything that was going on behind the scenes. The unseen became the (briefly) seen.

That He did this in private speaks of His particular regard for these three men, James and Peter, and John. Jesus’ more full revelation of Who He is at this point in His ministry life is fantastic. Spectacular. Awesome. And also very humbling.

How are we to respond to this sort of revelation? With pride?

Peter gives a clue of how good a job the flesh does processing the supernatural, with his sort-of bumbling attempt to join in on what is taking place, rather than simply being still.

Can you imagine trying to help God out with something like this? (I can.) God says, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" And the disciples fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

This is our most full place in the ministry of Christ. In fear, on our faces. It’s the very best of what we are capable of.

-Pastor Bill