Matthew 17:1-13--The Transfiguration

​Matthew 17:1-13 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Transfiguration
​17:1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

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This is the second time that God the Father will speak from heaven and reveal the true identity and nature of the God the Son (Jesus).  For those that have been reading my blogs daily, you'll remember that I hinted at this passage a couple of days ago during the time when Jesus asked "Who do men say that I am?"  For Peter James and John, it is about to become very clear who Jesus is and they won't need to ask men what they think because God is about to tell them.

We don't know exactly where this event happened so we call this "The Mount of Transfiguration,."  The location isn't that important though...it's the events themselves that are important.  Jesus has just revealed the true nature of His mission to His disciples and His heart is very burdened with these thoughts and with the cares and burdens of all the people that He's ministering to and all   He needed to get away and speak with God the Father and Moses and Elijah to help Him out.  We don't have the conversation recorded, but I have to assume it was something along the lines of what Jesus shared with the disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection--that the entire story so far was pointing to Him and this event.  The testimony of heaven and of the Law and of the Prophets all came together to say "This is what you were born for" and this was also for the benefit of the three disciples that were closest to Jesus.

Peter was the one that always had something to say even when he didn't know what to say or what he was saying and that came through here when He suggested that Jesus stay up on the mountain top with Moses and Elijah forever and that the disciples stay there with them.  Jesus doesn't rebuke Peter harshly like he did last time, but this again is another temptation to Jesus to not go to the cross--to stay where He is nice and comfortable and where He had a little piece of heaven here on earth.

This is when God the Father spoke from heaven out of the clouds (I'd assume this was the same manifestation of God's glory that was called the "pillar of cloud" that led the people through the wilderness in the book of Exodus).  He added something this time that wasn't said at the baptism of Jesus by John--"Listen to Him."  This time it seems the rebuke to Peter came from God the Father Himself as to say "Peter, open your ears and close your mouth, because He's got something important to say to you."

The disciples did was all men do naturally in the presence of God--fell down in worship.  We can't help but do this whether we are saved or not--one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess in heaven and on earth and under the earth that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.  But like so many times when sinful, unholy men fall like dead men in the presence of a holy, righteous God, He touches them and comforts them and says "Do not be afraid."  This is only something that can be said though to those that belong to Him in Christ because otherwise we have much to fear as we will see when we study the book of Revelation.

When they got up from worship all they could see was Jesus, and His glory had been veiled once again, but they knew what they had seen and who He really was.  He told them not to reveal this vision or His identity to anyone until after His resurrection--when it would be clear to all that He was God in the flesh.  Then He told them that "Elijah," the harbinger had already come they had mistreated him, refused to listen to him and killed him and God gave them the understanding to know that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.  He also told them again pretty plainly that the same people that had their way with John the Baptist wanted to have their way with Jesus and he would suffer at their hands.