I’m in awe of our God-in-flesh Jesus, who came down to sinful earth, to people who forgot about God, who selfishly demanded their own way to live life, and who preferred tradition over a relationship with God.  Jesus came “to seek and to save” lost people without God.  He came to save us!  He is One who works daily to transform us! 

Jesus provide The Way out of our own sin and was Truth, whether we believe Him or not.  On top of all that, Jesus assures us by his work on the cross and rising from the dead, of the hope of Life forever with Him.  I am eternally grateful for our loving God who knew from the genesis of humans, that a sacrifice for sin was required and that sacrifice would have to ultimately be His Son, Jesus.  Jesus—perfect, holy, pure, without sin—was the One and Only who paid the debt for all sin for all who believe for all eternity. 

We now come to a supernatural time of revelation as told by Matthew.  Jesus takes only Peter, James and John to witness a glimpse of His eternal glory on a mountain top.  These men see Jesus has He was when he left heaven for earth.  In this moment, Jesus’ appearance was suddenly transformed, Matthew tells us.  Think about this way for understanding.  Jesus, for a time, takes off the cloak of humanness and lets it fall to the ground to reveal the glory of God, His Father within Him.  Jesus, God-in-flesh is transformed to reveal who He was, is and will always be, the Trinity—God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.

It is interesting who come to talk with Him about Jesus’ impending departure from earth back to heaven.  Moses and Elijah departed earth in supernatural ways, too.  Moses, at the end of his life, was called by God to go up the mountain alone.  He died on that mountain and no one knows to this day where Moses was buried.  But was he alone?  Was God-Jesus-Holy Spirit there when he took his last breath?  Let’s take a look at how Moses died;

“Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. ⁶ He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.”  Deuteronomy 34:5-6, NIV

HE buried Moses.  Who is He? God Himself! 

Now, consider Elijah’s supernatural departure from earth.  “As they (Elisha and Elijah) were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” 2 Kings 2:11, NIV 

Read the whole story.  It is interesting to note, Elijah dropped his cloak of leadership to the ground in his departure from earth to heaven and commanded Elisha to pick up it up and wear it as Elisha would now carry on the work of God! 

We would love to be in on that conversation between the three of them; Jesus, Moses and Elijah–but we know in truth that God in Christ was in their departure. They were not alone.  Were they talking about how Jesus would pass on the work to his disciples as they had done?  Mm.

Because a loving, honest, intimate relationship is uppermost in the mind of God, He made a way for us to come to Him and love Him back.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16, NIV (Emphasis mine)  THIS is what we DO know!

Matthew—God’s Law Fulfilled

Matthew 17:1-13, NLT

The Transfiguration

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. ² As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. ³ Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

⁵ But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” ⁶ The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

⁷ Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

⁹ As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” ¹³ Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.

THINK ABOUT IT…

Wow, there is SO much to learn and meditate on in this passage.  We could camp on all the words that reveal the glory of God, His intent, His lessons, and His supreme, supernatural power for days and not understand it all!  Peter’s knee jerk reaction is to build tabernacles to remember.  But God clearly stated, “Listen to Him.” 

“This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

Friends, at least, understand this, God loves us.  He wants to talk with us in conversations that include two-way communication.  As we communicate in prayer conversations with God, take time to pause and “listen to Him.”  It is in these times of listening to Him that we realize we are never alone and we have the power of the risen Christ within our reach!  We realize that He loves us more than we can imagine. He came down to save us with His Son as the sacrifice.  His Holy Spirit is with all who believe.  Our goal is to go deeper still in relationship with Him. 

His Holy Presence lingers to hear our hearts cry out to him in conversations with him.  He fights our inner battles with evil.  He tears down the walls of this world that come between Him and us.  He is God.  We are not.  He longs to have a growing, intimate forever relationship with us.  No matter what we have done, what mistakes we have made, where we come from or what we have done to ourselves, He wants to TRANSFORM us to be all He created us to be!  He created us with purpose and He will not allow His purpose to be exploited or destroyed.

So, let’s drop the cloak of sin that does not fit us, that trips us up and entangles our walk. Instead, let’s run to Him as He runs to meet us just as the Father ran to meet his wayward, prodigal son on the path to forgiveness and freedom!  Remember, we are not alone.  God didn’t create us to be alone.  He wants to be with us in all we think, do or say.  He is Life.  He is freedom.  He is here.  Come to Him.  Listen to Him.

Abba, Father,

Hallowed be Your Name.  May Your Kingdom come and dwell in us and be see all around us.  May Your Will be done in every detail of our lives here on earth as it is in heaven.  Provide all we need this day.  We know you will.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those yield to evil’s words to mock us as we do your work.  Lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from all evil and evil’s schemes to bring us down and destroy us.  Instead, encourage us.  Be our strength and wisdom.  Help us to stay alert.  Our trust, hope and faith are in you.  There is no one like you.  To you be all glory, honor and praise forevermore.

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.  Now it is time for me to listen to You.  Speak to my heart for your servant is listening.