Matthew 17:1-9, The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, Mr. Earl Byrd

Matthew 17:1-9 and the Reading of the Transfiguration

Matthew chapter 17 verses 1 to 9, hear the word of the Lord. And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves and he was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.

And Behold there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him. 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 one for Moses and one for Elijah.

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. When the disciples heard this they fell on their faces and were terrified.

But Jesus came and touched them saying rise and have no fear. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain Jesus commanded them Tell no one of the vision until the son of man is raised from the dead.

May the Lord add his blessings to the reading of his holy word.

Why the Transfiguration Matters in the Context of Matthew 16

I want to speak on the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's one of the important events That happened to our our savior while he walked here on the earth and that was read by the pastor from Matthew chapter 17 I think which is we can say and I hope you'll be convinced that the transfiguration of Jesus Christ Is one of the more important events which happened to Jesus while he was here on the earth.

One of the things that can substantiate that is the fact that this account also occurs in mark chapter 9 Luke chapter 9 and just a short summary of it in john 1 14 when john says We beheld his glory The glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth.

And not only that but we also had Uh the apostle peter referring to this in his second epistle, which we will look at briefly toward the end. So I want to convince you that the Transfiguration of Christ is very important.

And I think we can see that by several several reasons several things which do point to the importance of his Transfiguration. And the first of those is simply the context Of Matthew chapter 17 and also the context in mark and luke.

But if we look here at chapter 17 and go back to chapter 16 We can see that there is a connection in in verse 1 of chapter 17 Matthew says now after six days Jesus took peter james and john his brother led them up on a high mountain by themselves.

So what we have in chapter 17 is connected to chapter 16 by the context Of where it occurred. In chapter 16, we have the confession of peter which took place in cesarea Philippi. And what you have in chapter 17?

Happens up on a mountain where cesarea philippi is at the bottom. But it's connected in more ways than that. And one of the most important ways in which it's connected I believe is in when the when the father corrects peter.

You you noticed I trust from the reading that peter says. Let's stay here on this mountain and I will build a tent for you Jesus and for moses and for elijah and the father. Is that it's at that point that the father speaks from a cloud?

And in part corrects peter from his suggestion. Peter needs to learn to listen to the lord. Jesus now, let's go back to chapter 16 for a moment. What happens in chapter 16? Jesus asked his disciples. Who do people say that I am?

And what was the answer? Some say you are john the baptist. Some say that you are elijah. Some say that you're jeremiah or one of the other prophets. And then jesus turns to the disciples and he says but who do you say that I am?

And of course peter speaks up as he normally does and he says you are the christ. The son of the living god. What a confession. In that wonderful confession peter is saying you are the promised messiah.

You are the christ. And you are deity you are god. Because you are the son of god. And then the lord jesus commends peter's confession, but he says peter Flesh and blood didn't reveal this to you my father which is in heaven.

Reveal this to you. And then he goes on to speak Of his church the founding of the church and how the gates of hell will not prevail against it. He goes on to speak of his suffering Of his death Of his burial and of his resurrection.

And peter Says something again. And this time he rebukes the lord jesus. Not good his first confession. Good commendable. He said what he should have said In his second statement. It is not good. And so the lord jesus rebukes him and he says get behind me satan.

Now what what has happened here? What's happened here? Is that this does what jesus says about him suffering and dying? Doesn't make sense to peter. And so he rebukes the lord jesus. He should have been listening To the lord jesus and that's why you have on the mount of transfiguration in part.

One of the reasons for the father speaking out of the cloud says this is my beloved son. Listen to him. Hear him. And it was a way of instructing the disciples that they need to be paying attention more attention To what jesus had to say?

So I would argue That the transfiguration is important because of the context. Secondly, I believe we can argue that the transfiguration of jesus is very important because of the setting. What is the setting?

Well verse one gives a setting it says now after six days jesus took peter James and john his brother and led them up where. On a high mountain. Now there's some speculation about which mountain Jesus was up on.

And it is speculation we don't know but we do know that mount herman Which is over nine thousand feet in elevation Is at the top and at the at the bottom of that mountain is cesarea philippi. It's likely That they were Up on this high mountain.

Jesus had led them up on this high mountain. Why on a high mountain? Why do you think he went up on a high mountain? What was his fascination with being up on a mountain? It we won't do this this morning.

But we could take our bibles and see how that jesus often went up on a mountain to pray. Did he feel closer to his father? When he was up on a mountain what what was there about being up on a mountain?

That caused him to go there at special times. My wife and I Used to take our sons steven and micah To hanging rock. State park in the western part of north carolina. Have you ever been there? If you've not some have some shaking their head.

Yes, if you've not it's a wonderful place to go. There's waterfalls are there. There's a lake there. But I always like to to me the gym was not the waterfalls as much as I love waterfalls. But the thing that's the gym is hanging rock itself.

And you walk up there and one of the you just Have that greater sense of being near heaven. And it's quiet at the top of the mountain. And there there is this sense of privacy. And I think that may be why the lord jesus went there from time to time to pray.

And so he went there on special occasions. That argues that the transfiguration Is a special occasion because jesus chose this place uh for his um for his transfiguration. Thirdly, I think we can argue for the importance of the transfiguration.

By what happens to jesus while he's up on this mountain what happens? Look with me again at verse two. It says and he was transfigured before them his face shone like the sun. And his clothes became as white as light.

Something said about his face. Something happened to his face. Such that it was as bright as the sun. And the other accounts say something say the same thing and then In one case it's added it was radiant.

It's shining. His face is shining. Something happens also to his clothing. Because we read here in matthew's account that his clothes became white as light. One of the other accounts say that his clothing was so white.

It was more white than what a launderer could Could make clothing to be with bleach. And another account says that his clothing was like snow white like snow. So his face shone like the sun. His his clothing also was was radiant.

How do we explain this what's going on here? I think the best explanation of what's going on here is first to say It's not something shining on him. That's not what the verse says. It's not that the sun was shining on his face.

And so his face glowed. No. We have to say that there was something about jesus that was normally veiled. Normally his his flesh Concealed the fact That he was almighty god Veiled the fact That he was the god of majesty of glory Of honor and of power.

And as we sung the moat the thrice holy god. We have instances besides this one In the scripture Where something of the deity of christ comes to the surface that normally? Was veiled by his flesh. One of those instances is when jesus christ is arrested.

You may remember that when the soldiers come and judas is leading the soldiers to jesus. He identifies Jesus by by kissing him betrays jesus by kissing him and then the the uh. The soldiers ask this question Are you jesus?

Are you jesus? And jesus responds in this way two words in in the greek. And and that second word is the verb. And you may may know that Greek words greek verbs are unlike english verbs. In that greek word greek verbs will tell you Who the pronoun is?

And the verb that excuse me the verb that he uses actually says I am. Because he also uses the pronoun I. Although the pronoun is one sense not needed. But the fact that he uses the pronoun with the verb that contains the pronoun pronoun.

I Intensifies the I. In other words, it could be translated I I am. What does that remind you of? What does that statement Remind you of? It reminds me and should remind us Of that instance where moses is before the burning bush.

And he's being commissioned by god to lead the children of israel out of egypt into the promised land. And moses says who shall I say has sent me. What's the answer that god gives. You tell them that I am Sent you.

Jesus uses that expression I am To refer to himself. And when he does What happens to the soldiers? The scripture says that the soldiers Fall back. There we have another instance Of the deity of jesus christ being unveiled and here on this mountain top the lord jesus christ Is being His something of his deity.

The veil is lifted as it were. And we can see something Of his deal deity charles. Wesley, I think had it right in that advent hymn veiled in flesh the godhead see Hail the incarnate deity Pleased as man with men to dwell jesus our emmanuel.

The Witnesses on the Mountain: Peter, James, John, Moses, Elijah, and the Father

Fourthly I think we can say that the transfiguration is important because of who was there. Well who was there? The inner circle of the disciples was there which means peter james and john. Why peter.

Well perhaps because he was something of the leader. He was always speaking first. Why james we don't know for sure, but it may be that he was the first disciple to be martyred. Why john. Well we know from the gospel of john and other places.

First john as well second john that J jesus and john had a special kinship one with the other. And so john was there peter james and john moses was there. Moses was there representing the law. He was the law giver.

And elijah was there Representing the prophets. There's a citizen which the entire old testament. Sometimes the old testament is Referred to as the law and the prophets so we had the whole old testament As it were represented here on the mountain of transfiguration.

So you had peter james and john. You had moses you had elijah you had jesus. And you have god the father There on that mountain quite a roll call. There on that mountain. Wouldn't you say? So it's important for that reason as to because of who was there.

Peter, Moses, Elijah, and the Father's Command to Listen to Christ

Fifthly the transfiguration is important because of what was said on that mountain. Now we have to start with peter's statement. Peter says Lord if if you want me to i'll build three tents one for you one for moses and one for elijah.

Well moses. Excuse me Peter should not have said what he said. But I I think the things that the scripture says about him we Should not come down on him too hard. If we had been there Seeing the lord jesus christ Magnified as he was.

With his face shining like the sun. And his clothing the way they were. I think we would have said. Oh, I want can we stay here? Can we abide here? Can we remain here? To to enjoy these moments. Another thing that we can say about peter's response.

He didn't say let. If you want lord i'll build six tents. One for peter. Me and me and james and john and moses and and elijah and for you. He didn't say six tents. He only said three. So I don't think we should come down on him too hard.

I think if we'd been there we would have cherished the moment, too. But What he said is not he should have kept quiet. Uh, the scripture also says That he had just awakened and he didn't know. He was disoriented.

I think we can relate to that. We all know what it's like to be Awakened and maybe Alarmed or shocked by what we see or by by what we hear but We read from matthew and mark and luke. That jesus and moses and elijah are talking.

Matthew and mark don't tell us what they're talking about. Luke does. And luke tells us that they were talking about his suffering his death and his resurrection. We don't know how much the disciples heard.

But it's likely that they heard some of this discussion that was going on. But if they didn't It was encouraging to the lord jesus for what Moses and elijah were saying because he is the fulfillment of what they said in the old testament about him.

So if nothing else this was a time of encouragement of jesus christ as he walked on the earth as in his humanity. But I think it's likely that the disciples Heard about the suffering and the death Of jesus as well as the other things the resurrection.

Remember from matthew 16 That jesus had said i'm going to suffer. And i'm going to die. And peter rejected that can't be no lord. That can't be. I'll go with you. I'll be sure this doesn't happen. Of course, he says that again later and we know how he denied the lord three times.

But if we look at luke We find that They were talking about. That is to say jesus moses and elijah were talking about his um, his death and his resurrection. There are two words that we can take from the luke passage and.

And comment on should comment on. There in luke's account. It says that he will go to jerusalem suffer and die and accomplish his death. Hmm. Accomplish gives the idea of this is a project. This is. This is an assignment.

This is a work that jesus is supposed to do. Did he do the work of suffering and dying successfully so as to please the father. And the answer to that question is unmistakable. God the father was pleased with the work that jesus christ did on behalf of sinners.

So the word accomplished is used. Second word that's used by luke. Is the word departure? And the idea is that he is going there the idea this word is only used two times in the new testament. It's used in luke and it's used in Peter's epistle one of his epistles where he speaks about his death.

The greek word is echadon from which we get the word exodus. What probably the primary event that you read about in the old testament as you look at the as you as you look at The law and as you look at the prophets and as you look at the psalms.

The primary event of the old testament was what? It was coming out of egypt. It was the exodus. And there's constant reminders, especially in the psalms. Of coming out of egypt that that that is it was a deliverance.

It's a picture of salvation. It's a picture of redemption and deliverance from sin and and death. But here in in luke's account he uses that word exodus. In other words, he is calling attention By using that word that what jesus christ accomplished is central To the new testament.

In fact brethren we can say it's central to the entire bible. The entire our entire bible points to the crucifix the suffering and the death of jesus christ and his resurrection from the dead. Is the transfiguration of christ important.

Yes because of what was. Because of what was said there uh on that mountain. Between jesus and moses and elijah. But sixly because of what the father Says here. And this is really of what was said. This is infallible, this is this is absolutely.

Uh Incredible what the father says of his son. What does he say? After peter has suggested that he build these tents. He is interrupted. And there's a cloud. And god the father speaks out of that cloud and he says This is my beloved son.

In whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. And I believe that again as I said earlier the father is in part not totally. But in part he is saying peter be quiet. Listen to what jesus is saying you try to close you try to shut him up earlier.

It's caesarea philippi. Listen to him. It's the father Instructing the disciples. It's the father instructing peter as to who jesus is. This is the way of development. When you look at the disciples their understanding of messiah was much like not entirely but much like what the The idea of messiah was to most of the jews.

And what was that concept? What was that perception? Their perception was that messiah was going to deliver them from rome. And make them a nation of their own. That was the perception perception then At that time that they had of messiah.

Was that a proper? Perception. And the answer is no. Because if you even go back to the old testament go back to the book of isaiah. Messiah, yes. Messiah will be the government will be upon his shoulders.

Yes, that is in the old testament, but in isaiah we read that he will be the suffering servant who will die. Who will be humiliated. But also who will be exalted. But before he will be exalted He is to be humbled.

He is to he he is to be humiliated in his death even the death of crucifixion on the cross. And so the father says this is my beloved son. We are sons if you're if you are a believer you are a son of god.

But not in the same sense in which jesus is the son of god. Jesus is the son of god in the sense that he is the eternal Son of god. He is god himself. But the father says hear him listen to him. Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1 and 2 says God who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets.

Has in these last days spoken unto us. By his son dear ones. We need to be hearing jesus more than we do. We need to be giving ourselves to his word. Where is his word his word is found In these 66 books that is the word of the lord.

Peter’s Second Epistle and the Confirmation of the Voice from Heaven

Jesus Seventhly. The transfiguration is important because of what is said later in Second peter chapter 1 verses 16 through 21, and i'm not going to read that. But I want to read one i'm going to read one verse hear peter.

Who was rebuked on the mount of transfiguration? Now he's looking back on it 30 years later. What is he going to say? About what happened on that mountain? What do you think he's going to say and if you're familiar with second peter chapter 1 verses 16 to 21 You may remember that g that peter makes reference to it.

And one of the things he says there is found in verse 17. For when we received honor and glory from god the father and the voice was born to him by the Majestic glory. This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.

Had peter learned his lesson to hear jesus. And oh, yes. The answer is as we would read second peter chapter 1 we would have to say Yes. He learned his lesson that he Needed to be quiet. And listen to what jesus has to say.

And then seventhly and lastly I normally have three points or four points. I was afraid if I told you how many points some of you already maybe already have the notes of this morning but If I told you there was going to be eight points, uh, you might say oh I better get out of here.

I think you'll be here to till mid-afternoon. Uh, normally I have three or four points, but today I have eight. The eighth and final reason why this is so important is because this is a preview Of things to come it's a snapshot of things to come.

Have you ever been somewhere Where a still photo just Doesn't tell the story. It's it's a representation. Yes, it's it's a photo you were there but It just doesn't tell the whole story. Years ago I preached in I was preaching in sudbury ontario.

And steven went with me and we went. I took him to niagara falls. And we took some pictures. And I came back we came back and I was showing my wife the pictures of niagara falls. And I realized There is no way That she can really Get a full picture of what happened there while we were there.

If you're if you're there there's there's this rush of water and the water going over is loud and and there's There's all this fog and spew in in the air. And it's just absolutely incredible and your eyes looking up you see you see.

More than you can see in a photograph. However, a picture does say something Of what is there Brethren. I believe this chapter Matthew 17 Mark chapter 9 luke chapter 9 John 1 14 2nd peter 1 16 to 19. I I believe the trans the amount of transfiguration is something of a snapshot Of what's going to happen one day.

And the pastor referred to it in his prayer one day. The lord jesus christ is going to come in great glory and power and might. And just as he he was there in glory and majesty. There on that mountain there is coming a day in which the lord jesus christ will be.

It's it's the lord's day. We refer to sunday as the lord's day and I think properly so but there is coming another day In which jesus christ will be so magnified. We will all do what the disciples did and the scripture tells us that they fell down terrified and when jesus christ comes It's going to be so majestic and so glorious.

Listen to what paul says. For the lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout. The greek word is a word of command. It gives us. It reminds us of jesus command to lazarus when lazarus had been dead three days.

He says lazarus come forth. And lazarus came forth from the dead. Dead and when jesus christ comes in his coming and he gives this shout the dead are going to rise all over this globe. Everyone who has died Will be raised by the mighty power Of jesus christ the lord.

What a day What a day That's going to be. And not only will there be a shout of command maybe come forth. The sea will give up the dead and the earth will give up the dead. And the air will give up the dead.

Who've had their bodies? Cremated. There will be the voice of an archangel. And the scripture says that the dead Will be raised. Listen to what paul says in philippians Chapter two and this is pastor Quoted some of this in his prayer.

Let this mind be in you which was also in christ. Jesus Who being in the form of god Did not consider it robbery to be equal with god. But made himself of no reputation. Taking the form of a bond servant and coming in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name.

That at the name of jesus every knee should bow. Star athletes. Star basketball players professional basketball players professional baseball players and football players. That we esteem too highly. They're going to bow to jesus christ.

Presidents Kings queens princes vice presidents Are going to bow their knees to jesus christ the lord. The verse says at the name of jesus. Every knee should bow of those in heaven of and of those on earth and of those under the earth that every tongue Should confess Jesus christ is lord.

To the glory of god the father I'll say to you. Transfiguration Is a snapshot of that glorious day when our savior returns. Let me make some applications. This morning first. Shouldn't we be listening to jesus christ?

In light of the transfiguration and in light of his coming. Shouldn't this be of utmost importance in our lives brother? We are so blessed. We are so blessed. You know from hundreds of years the bible was not the possession of individuals.

Like it is today. For years the scriptures were not translated into different tongues and today we. Do you realize what a treasure we have right here? These are the words of jesus that god the father says hear him listen to him.

Are we giving ourselves to the word of god the way we should? Today is. As was mentioned today is mother's day. Primarily today is the lord's day. It's too bad that it is. There's a sense in which our culture recognizes.

Today is mother's day. Scripture does say to honor your father and your mother. Proverbs 31 says of the ideal mother and and and wife. Her children rise up and call her blessing. There's a place for honoring your mother even today.

It's a shame, isn't it that honors that children will be honoring their mothers more today. Than they honor the lord. Jesus christ. Honor is due to mothers. More honor is due to him. Let's not just say we love him.

Let's show that we love him. One of the things I find interesting in the scripture Is what we normally think about love? Love. The scripture uses the word. More than just a feeling so often in the scriptures love is coupled with giving.

With action. For god so loved. Okay. Okay words are important. I'm not saying words aren't important. For god so loved the world that what? He gave his only begotten son. Husbands love your wives husbands.

We should be telling our wives That we love them. But it shouldn't be just mere words. Paul says husbands love your wives even as christ. Loved the church and what did he connect with? Christ's love for the church.

He loved the church and gave himself for it. Let's let our actions show that we really love the lord jesus christ. Since it's mother's day in a sense. Let me close with an application to parents. When tim when paul writes to timothy.

He reminds timothy of his mother and of his grandmother. And he says to timothy and that from the greek word brefos can be translated baby. He says timothy from a baby. You have known the holy scriptures.

Which are able to make you wise unto salvation. What a statement I can say. I can say that from age nine. I've known the holy scriptures. Parents, let me let me say say to you mothers. Let me say to you this.

When when our children are young they soak up knowledge like a sponge. Do you realize have you ever thought about this a child learns a foreign language when they're young. Did they know did they come out of the womb knowing english.

Uh-uh, they didn't they had to learn the language. They had to learn a foreign language. They go to school. What do they what do they learn? They learn math tables. They they learn to read. There is something about the young tender mind that can absorb so much.

I will say to you this this morning. That most of the scriptures that I can quote. Are scriptures that I learned when I was a boy and so my application to you parents. Do whatever you can to expose your children to the word of god.

Have them in the house of god. Where you've got where you've got a man called of god. Who studies the scriptures to labor to understand what the scriptures mean? And it and to share what they mean to you.

And to apply to you bring them to hear the man of god and teachers. Expound the word of god so they can they can absorb that word while they are young. Timothy. You you had a mother and you had a grandmother who shared the word of god with you from the time you were in the cradle.

May god be pleased to bless our families. Such that they will grow to love the lord. Jesus christ not because. Okay, god can use us as instruments, but we know in the end that a person is converted because God has revealed himself in his son to that person and they've been born again.

That's why people are saved. It's because of the sovereign work of god, but god does use us. He does use us and he uses mothers. He uses grandmothers fathers and grandfathers to bring the little ones to the lord jesus.