The meaning of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ

The transfiguration of Jesus Christ appears in the synoptic gospels, which is an indication that his transfiguration played a pivotal role in his life and ministry. Let us look at the account of Luke: Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

 Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen (Luke 9: 28-36).

From the passage, Jesus took three of his inner caucus namely, Peter, James and John and led them to a high mountain to pray. Various theories have been propounded as to the name of the exact mountain where they went to pray. But it pleased the Spirit of the Lord not to reveal the name of the mountain in the holy writ and we must be content with that. Prayer played an indispensable role in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, even though he was God incarnate. Prayer must equally play an essential role in our lives, as we sojourn here on earth. Jesus is our perfect model and we must see to it that we build a robust and a consistent prayer life.

While Jesus was praying, he was literally metamorphosed, his face shone like the sun and his garments became as white as the sun. He appeared in the form of God, he appeared in his glory as God before he took on flesh (Philippians 2; 6). The transfiguration of Jesus Christ unabashedly points to the truth of his deity. At the time Jesus was transfigured, his beloved disciples were overpowered with sleep, but when they awoke from their slumber, they saw a glimpse of his glory and the two men with him. Someone might ask this question, that why did Jesus choose Peter, James and John to behold his transfiguration, and why not all the disciples at once?

 The answer to such a question is that, Jesus chose them out of the good pleasure of his own will and not because of anything they had done or will do, it was an act of pure grace. From the passage, we are told that Moses and Elijah appeared, and they were speaking to our blessed Lord concerning his impending death at Jerusalem. Learn this, Moses and Elijah were two great figures in the old testament. Moses represented the law and Elijah also represented the prophets. 

The law was in existence for many years and none could fulfill the demands and obligations of the law, even Moses, the best among them failed. For salvation cannot be merited by a strict observance of the law (Galatians 3; 10). The primary reason why the law was given was to lead us to Christ, see, (Galatians 3; 24). Elijah also represented the prophets, they prophesied the coming, sufferings, death and resurrection of the Messiah, who is Jesus, see (Isaiah 53; Acts 10; 43). The only person to meet the requirements of the law and fulfill the Messianic prophecies of the Prophets was Jesus Christ. The law and the various prophecies of the prophets were fulfilled by Jesus Christ (Matthew 5; 17).

 Learn this, Moses died a natural death, and he represents believers who will enter into the kingdom of God after their demise on earth. Unlike Moses, Elijah did not die a natural death, but rather he was raptured into heaven. He represents all those who will enter into heaven during the time of the rapture of the church. As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter spoke and said:  "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah" not realizing what he was saying''. Peter wanted to keep Moses and Elijah here on earth by suggesting to build temporary booths for the three of them, but such a thing was impossible because Moses and Elijah were spirits, and spirits cannot abide in temporary shelters made with hands, but he said that out of mere ignorance.

 We can learn an important truth here, that though Moses and Elijah were long dead, yet they were still alive and living in a conscious state in the presence of the Lord. The fact that they appeared and communed with our blessed Lord is an indubitable proof that those who die in the Lord are still present with the Lord. We can take great comfort from this truth, that our loved ones who died in the Lord are with the Lord as at now, for it is written concerning believers that to be absent from this body is to be at home with the Lord Jesus, see (2 Corinthians 5; 8). For our God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living (Matthew 22; 23). The bible tells us that: While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" (Luke 9: 34-35).

As Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and God spoke saying: "This is My Son, My chosen One; listen to him". Jesus did not become the Son of God at his incarnation, no, but was the Son of God prior to his taking on flesh. God referred to Jesus as his Son which not only affirms his deity, but also signifies the peculiar and intimate relationship that exists between the members of the Godhead. He also called him the  "chosen One", and this is used in reference to him as the "Messiah or the Christ".

 One day Jesus asked his disciples a question, and Peter by the revelation of the Spirit gave a precise and a concise answer: He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus is the Chosen One who fulfilled the Messianic prophecies respecting his coming, death and bodily resurrection, and as the Son of the living God, he is equal with the father. God said "listen to him". 

God did not say we should listen to Moses or Elijah, because their dispensation is over, we are in the dispensation of the gospel, we are in the age of grace, we are in the dispensation of his Son, for in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son (Hebrews 1; 2). The bible continued by telling us that the disciples were sore afraid: When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid." And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone (Matthew 17: 6-8).

 Jesus came to allay their fears by saying: Get up, and do not be afraid". Jesus Christ is also with us, therefore we should wax bold, and not be afraid of what mere man can do to us, because Jesus is not only in us, but he is with us forever. As they were descending down from the mountain, Jesus said to them: "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead" (Matthew 17: 9). Jesus said that to them because, if they tell the people before his resurrection, they will not believe, they will make mockery of the truth. But they were permitted to speak about his transfiguration, only after his resurrection. The reason is that, his resurrection will validate his claim to be the Son of God, and when they now tell the people about his transfiguration, it will come home to their hearts with power and they will believe. 

The disciples heeded to the instruction Jesus gave them: And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen (Luke 9: 36). They began to preach about the transfiguration of Jesus Christ only after his resurrection. Apostle Peter gave a vivid description of the transfiguration of Jesus in these words: For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain (2 Peter 1:16-18). As Christians, just like the early disciples hearkened and obeyed the instruction of Jesus, even so we must heed to instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ out from the holy scriptures. God bless you

                          A thought to ponder

Prayer played an indispensable role in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, even though he was God incarnate

We defend and exposit the truth of the gospel