Witnesses of His Glory

GOLDEN TEXT: “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and, behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” —Matthew 17:5

MATTHEW 17:1-8, 14-18

THE Transfiguration Vision can best be understood in the light of a statement made by Jesus to his disciples only six days before—“There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (ch. 16:28) This is the last verse of chapter 16, then begins our lesson with chapter 17, where we read, “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them.”

It is clear that the Transfiguration Vision was a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that some of the disciples would not taste death until they saw him coming in his kingdom. They saw a vision of the kingdom. Peter refers to this in the opening chapter of his second epistle, saying, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”—II Pet. 1:16

This vision did much to confirm the disciples’ faith that Jesus was the Messiah, the One whom God had sent to fulfill all his wonderful promises pertaining to a divine kingdom of righteousness through which blessings of peace and life would flow to all the families of the earth. They heard the Heavenly Father’s declaration that Jesus was his beloved Son, and that he was well pleased with him. And in the vision they also saw Moses and Elijah.

Moses, the great lawgiver of Israel, had prophesied that the Lord would raise up a Prophet “like unto” him, and that the people would have an opportunity to obey this Prophet and live. (Deut. 18:18) Peter quoted this prophecy in his sermon on “the times of restitution of all things,” and shows that it was to be fulfilled during Christ’s second presence, when he would be reigning in power and great glory. (Acts 3:19-23) Seeing Moses in a vision of the kingdom would assure the disciples that all the promises God made through him would be fulfilled by Jesus, that he was “that Prophet.”

The disciples also knew that God had promised the coming of “Elijah the prophet.” (Mal. 4:5,6) His was to be a work of reformation—“turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” John the Baptist accomplished a work of repentance in the hearts of some in his day. But this was only a limited fulfillment of the prophecy.

The major work of reformation and repentance is to be accomplished during the thousand years of the messianic kingdom. Since the transfiguration scene was a vision of the kingdom, it was appropriate that the disciples should see in it that which would give assurance that the prophecy of the coming Elijah would be fulfilled through the kingdom of Christ.

What the disciples witnessed on the “holy mount” was indeed a “vision.” Neither Moses nor Elijah was actually there, for they were “sleeping” with their “fathers.” Jesus was “transfigured” before the disciples, and they were impressed with the fact of his kingdom glory and power.

In this reassuring vision the Heavenly Father affirmed the fact that Jesus was his beloved Son. This must have meant much to the Master himself, as well as to his disciples. At the beginning of the Master’s ministry he heard the voice of his Father saying, “This is my beloved Son.” And now, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus was being reassured of this blessed relationship.

It was not long after this that Jesus stood before his enemies, and heard the high priest ask, “Art thou then the Son of God?” (Luke 22:70) How the reassuring words of his Father which he heard such a short time before must have strengthened him for this test! Without hesitation he replied to the priest, “I am.”—Mark 14:62

As Jesus and the disciples came down from the mount, a grieved father approached the Master asking help on behalf of his son who was a “lunatic.” The disciples had been empowered by Jesus to heal the sick and to cast out devils, but they had been unable to give relief in this case. Perhaps it was overruled by the Lord that Jesus should have this opportunity to demonstrate further his kingdom power. On the “holy mount” the disciples had seen a miraculous display of kingdom glory in the shining countenance and white clothing of Jesus, and now, in the healing of this son whom they had failed to help, they were given a practical demonstration of what the power of the kingdom would accomplish on behalf of all who have suffered under the rulership of Satan.

QUESTIONS

What did the disciples have demonstrated to them by the Transfiguration Vision?

What lesson did Peter get from this vision, and how did he later refer to it?

Why was it appropriate for Moses and Elijah to be shown in this vision of the kingdom? Were they actually there?

Was the miracle that followed the transfiguration in any way related to it?

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