Only Jesus - Matthew 17:1-13

When the child of God

Looks into the word of God

And sees the Son of God

They are transformed by the Spirit of God

Into the image of God

For the glory of God

-Warren Wiersbe

Jesus said some of them would get to see Him as the glorified Son of Man - 16:27-28

Today’s passage fulfills what Jesus spoke of in 16:28 – Jesus’ transfiguration was a preview of His coming Kingdom spoken of in Dan. 7!

Jesus’ ‘inner circle’ got to see Him as the glorified Son of Man - 17:1-2

The word for transfigured is the word metamorpoo (G 3339), which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. It means to change from one form into another, to transform (see Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18).

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we KNOW that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. - 1 John 3:2-3

Jesus brings together saints from different ages - 17:3

Moses was the great lawgiver and Elijah was the great prophet. Together they represented the Law and the Prophets (the entire O.T.) that testified that the Messiah was coming to deal with sins and rule on earth.

And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. - Luke 9:30

Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. - Rev. 19:7 (see also Dan. 12:3)

God the Father sets Peter straight! - 17:4-6

For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. - Mark 9:6

Peter’s problem was that he was elevating Moses and Elijah to equal status with Jesus, and diminishing the glory due Jesus alone!

You may remember that when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai clouds of thick darkness surrounded him (Ex. 20:21; Deut. 4:11); but here it is a bright cloud that envelopes them (The dark cloud represented the imposing Law, while this bright cloud represented the hope of the gospel).

Jesus alone raises His disciples up - 17:7-8

Jesus keeps teaching His disciples - 17:9-13

We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the Voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very Voice borne from Heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain. - 2 Peter 1:16b-18

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 (see also 1 John 1:1-3)

What should our response to Jesus’ transfiguration be?

When the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-8

Jesus doesn’t want to save you by just scaring you to death at the thought of judgment. He wants you to respond to His lovingkindness!

Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? - Romans 2:4

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing. - 2 Tim. 4:8