(Text and Audio)
Title: The Transfiguration, Part Four
Well, today we’ve finally arrived at the end of our series on the Transfiguration. Four weeks ago when we began this journey I shared that I really wanted to work slowly through these 13 verses so that we were fully able to soak up all that was worthy over the course of this amazing vision witnessed by Peter, James, and John. And now we are at the end. Today we will look at the brief conversation that that apostles have with Jesus as they make their way back down the mountain and we will see some very encouraging signs concerning the growth and spiritual maturation of the apostles.
Much of what we see in Jesus’s ministry with his apostles has a familiar pattern. We see Jesus perform a miracle or teach on some topic and we sense there is confusion from the apostles. But they do the right thing, they ask Jesus for further clarification. And Jesus does clarify, but sometimes we sense that Jesus is perplexed that they don’t yet fully understand what they have just seen or heard.
Well, today is a very encouraging sermon if you have felt bad for the apostles and their continual struggle to understand the meaning and significance of many of Jesus’s words and deeds. In today’s passage, they get it. They get it right, and you get the slightest picture from the way Matthew records this trip down the mountain that it’s all starting to come together for the apostles and they are becoming more and more competent in their theology and ability to lead the Church after Jesus will be gone.
(read/pray)
- Tell No One
Today’s passage opens up with Jesus reminding the apostles again to “tell no one” about the vision they’ve seen on the mountain. Now, this was not a new teaching the apostles at all. Most recently, Jesus gives the same reminder to Peter in Matthew 16 right after Jesus praises Peter for correctly identifying Jesus as the Christ.
In a moment, we will see that the apostles do ask Jesus a clarification question, but it’s not about why they can’t yet reveal the identity of the Christ, but rather, that question will be on another topic altogether; Elijah.
I’m led to believe that by this point in their ministry following Jesus the apostles understand that there is something important about the timing of when Jesus wanted his identity to be revealed. The apostles have accepted that, and, therefore, they don’t press Jesus on the issue.
But, we do see some new information introduced by Jesus here. He offers a bit of clue and qualifier as to when it will be okay for them to share this information. Jesus concludes by saying, “…until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
This again, bring us most recently back to the end of Matthews previous chapter, where, in Matthew 16, he explains to the apostles that it is his destiny to suffer and die, but that he will rise again. But here is the first time that these two concepts are connected by Jesus for his apostles. Jesus explains that there will be a time when it is appropriate to tell others about his identity, and what better way to share that than to share the story of what just happened to these three men on the mountain?
There is something very interesting about the method of identifying Jesus as the messiah that I don’t want anyone here to miss. After Jesus is gone, he’s counting on his apostles to share the Good News by explaining that Jesus was indeed the messiah. And what will the proof be?
What’s the Method of Sharing the Good News?
- The stories of his teachings and miracles. (Showing how he fulfilled O.T. prophecy)
- The story of the Transfiguration. (Showing his divine relationship with the father)
- The story of His death and resurrection. (Showing that that the Father accepted the work and sacrifice of the Son)
But here’s the $25,0000 question: what do all three of these things have in common? (Take answers)
They are all stories.
None of them offer empirical proof.
All of them require faith.
- The Question
The disciples have come a great way in their walk, but they do ask one question of Jesus, not about his impending death or about when they are allowed to reveal his identity, but rather about someone whom they’ve just seen on the mountain.
They ask Jesus a question based on their knowledge of O.T. prophecy. IN fact, it’s a very “recent” O.T. prophecy because it comes from the prophet that was closest in terms of time to the Messiah. Malachi was one of the last O.T. prophets to speak before the roughly 400 years of silence between the prophets and the arrival of “the messenger.”
“Remember the Law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with statutes and judgments, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord…” (Malachi 4:5)
Now, it makes sense that as they were coming down off the mountain that they would recall this verse. Why?
They were just on a mountain and saw BOTH Moses and Elijah together!
But this brings a question to their minds: If Jesus is ushering in the Day of the Lord, then when did Elijah come as a forerunner?
It’s a really good question, and Jesus does not hesitate to give the answer.
(Read 11/12)
As he gives his explanation, we see the disciples fully understand:
- John the Baptist was “Elijah” the messenger.
- “They” (Jewish Leadership) did not know him
- “They” caused him suffering and eventually death
- “They” will cause the same suffering and death to the Son of Man
You can almost see the lightbulbs going on over the heads of these three men. With each experience with Jesus, each miracle, each teaching, each answered question, the gravity of what is awaiting them in Jerusalem grows more and more palpable in their hearts.
They can no more change this destiny than you or I can steer a train.
They will claim they won’t do some of these things, they will claim they won’t desert Him, they will claim they won’t deny Him, but it is inevitable. They cannot stop what is coming, for it is the will of a sovereign God.
So this leads me to one final point of theology and application. It seems to me their are two types of Christians.
The first group makes this mistake, “Lord, this is what I’M doing, please help MEe, please bless ME, please join ME, please make it work.”
We need to be the second group, “Lord, what are YOU doing? Where are YOU at? If only I join you, it’s already blessed, it’s already working, because YOU are there.