The Transfiguration Of Jesus: How Can We Understand It?

For He received from God the Father

honor and glory when there came

a voice to Him from the excellent glory;

This is My beloved Son, in whom I am

well pleased. And this voice which came 

from heaven we heard, when we were 

with Him in the holy mount. We have

also a more sure word of prophecy;

whereunto ye do well that ye take

heed, as unto a light that shineth

in a dark place, until the day dawn,

and the day star arise in your hearts;

knowing this first, that no prophecy

of Scripture is of any private 

interpretation. For the prophecy

can not in old time by the will of man:

but holy men of God spake as they were 

moved by the Holy Ghost.

2Peter 1:17-21

     Peter returns us to the time that he was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, and with John and James (Matthew 17:1-8). There on the mount they saw something that was so supernatural that they were at first frightened for they saw Jesus, not as a man, but as God Himself as He became white as light and then even more supernatural happened for with Him was Moses and Elias walking and talking with Him. What to do? Well Peter once again showed his excitement and quickness as he said that it was good that they were there so then let us make three tabernacles. This was not the will of Jesus and God then showed to them more for He said that Jesus is My Son the beloved in whom He was well pleased and this so frightened the three men that they fell to the ground on their faces. Jesus bent down and picked them up and told them to not be terrified. When they looked up only Jesus was present.

     This narrative has confused many and many false teachings even heresy has been taught misleading many to fall away from Authentic Christian Faith. This event on the Mount of Transfiguration came about when Jesus went there to pray and He took Peter, John, and James with Him. The result of this trip was so unnatural, so supernatural, think about this, two men of old, Moses, and Elias alive walking and talking with Jesus. Did they not die? Yes! But they are alive and could be seen. How could this be? Let me give you hope! Your body may die but your soul will not for if you are a child of God your soul will be with Him alive and if God desires to use you then He as He did with Moses and Elias clothe you so that you can be seen. Does God do this with everyone? No! This time, this event was so important because Peter, John, and James were to become the pillars of the Church. The disciples wanted answers about the appearing of Elias for he was to come first as the Scribes taught and Jesus cleared up this saying that Elias had already come and that the Son of man would suffer of them. Then they came to understand that Elias had come the one doing the work of God as did Elias and that one was John the Baptist. Peter, James, and John were with Jesus in the Garden and saw the agony of Jesus in prayer, and were with Jesus when Jesus raised from the dead the daughter of Jarius. Peter in reminding us that he was qualified to speak and write the way he did for he was a witness to these miracles. 

     Jesus while here on earth took on the form of a servant and until this event he had a veil of His Godhead, but now the disciples  could see that Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of God was also God. The word for transfigured "μετεμορφθώθη" a combination of two words, μετε, and
μορφ, the other letters tell us that it is indicative, passive, third person, aorist, singular. The same word μορφ is used in Philippians 2:6-7. What does this mean? It means to change the external form, to tansfigure, it can also mean to undergo a spiritual transfiguration. The passage in Philippians is that the Divine nature of Actually and inseparably subsisted in the Person of Jesus Christ. The two phrases, "form of God" is confirmed by its recurrence in the corresponding phrase, "form of a servant." These two phrases are antithetical, and that "form" must therefore have the same sense in both. Do not be confused for Scripture is clear that Jesus is God come in the flesh by the will of God, not some angel transformed into flesh, but God sending Himself, His Wisdom to become flesh to pay this debt owed to Him which no man can pay. God paid that debt for all who will receive Him as Savior. 

     This transfiguration and the appearance of Moses and Elias would give the apostles some idea of the Divine Glory that Jesus had before He came to earth. Their faith was supported and even though they had yet to have the salvation from their sins because Jesus had not died to pay this debt, they were being prepared to lead the Church and to bring the Gospel to the world. Peter makes mention that they had the prophecies written by men of God and we too have those prophecies and even more for we have the New Testament, the writings of men of God to lead us to change from this world, our faith to grow from the inside out. We have the promise over and over told to us that Jesus is coming again and we have this narrative from the Mount of Transfiguration that we will live, and this life upon the coming of Jesus for His bride is life eternal. 

     Brothers and sisters we all would do well to take heed as unto a light, that light that shineth into the darkest parts of our lives and this light will illuminate the truth. May now the Day Star arise in your hearts causing you to become an Authentic Christian, not some thrill seeking Christian but one who is sure in the belief and faith that God will save you. 

Praise God in His sancturary;

     praise Him in His mighty heavens. 

Praise Him for His acts of power;

    praise Him for His surpassing greatness,

praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

   praise Him with the harp and lyre,

praise Him with the strings and flute,

   praise Him with the clash of cymbals,

praise Him with resounding cymbals. 

   Let every thing that has breath 

praise the LORD.

   Praise the LORD.

                    Psalm 150: 1-6

Praise God He has done all for you

Richard L. Crumb