The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 17 Part 1 Jesus' Transfiguration And Learning To Walk In The Light

Matthew 16 contained a whirlwind of activity and teaching, much of which centered on the Pharisee's demand that Jesus produce a sign from heaven for them.

Jesus refused to yield to their demand because it violated the law of God.

He issued a strong rebuke to them and warned His disciples to avoid the harmful doctrines of the Pharisees.

After Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, Peter made a bold confession of faith, that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God.

At this point, Jesus mentioned His  "Church" for the very first time.

We noted that the origin and purpose and doctrine of the church was a mystery that was fully revealed through the apostle Paul.

Jesus foretold His sufferings, death and resurrection as He prepared to go to Jerusalem.

Peter was very upset to think that Christ would endure such treatment, especially because like most Jews, he expected Jesus to be a conquering Messiah, not a Messiah who suffered.

Jesus issued a strong corrective to Peter and said that he did not rightly relish the things of God.

Our Lord then taught about what it means to be a true, born again followed of Jesus Christ.

He showed that wealthy people often trust their riches and possessions and do not see that they need a Savior, Jesus Christ.

Then, Jesus spoke of His return in glory and with judgment. It was shortly after this that the narrative in Matthew 17 happened.

The full glory of Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man put on display

Matthew 17:1-2  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 

Six days after the conclusion of the events in Matthew 16, Jesus took three disciples with Him into a mountain apart from the crowds and chaos of gospel ministry.

There is ample precedent in scripture for the people of God getting apart from the cares and concerns of this world, to spend time alone communing with God.

Often, such alone time with God was connected with a period of fasting.

Israel kept the Feast of Tabernacles each year to remember how God faithfully met with them and supplied their needs during forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

Exodus 3:1-2  Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 

God met with Moses alone at Mount Horeb.

1 Kings 19:8-9  And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 9  And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 

God met with His prophet Elijah alone at Mount Horeb and He met with Jacob by the river Jabbok (See Genesis 32).

God met with Isaac alone in the field (See Genesis 24:63).

God met with Jonah in the belly of the great fish (see Jonah 2).

Jesus met with Paul in the desert of Arabia to teach him the gospel of Christ (See Galatian 1:15-18).

Spiritual reality: Those who seek to draw close to God must separate themselves from the normal, mundane and sometimes profane things of life.

To maintain a right relationship with God we must withdraw from the cares and chaos of this world and we will discover that the Father is with us.

God will dwell with those whose hearts are humble and whose spirits are contrite, that He might impart life and reviving to those who call upon His name (See Isaiah 57:15).

A heavenly focus is needed to draw near to God.

Colossians 3:1-2  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

God, speaking to us through the apostle Paul, calls Christians to live a separated life by leaving unclean things behind (See 2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

Thus, Jesus taking Peter, James and John up into a mountain alone helped those men set their affection on the things of God, above rather than being overconcerned with earthly things.

Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him to witness a singular miraculous event of His transfiguration.

Peter, James and John were often selected by Christ to accompany Him for special things.

Mark 5:35-37  While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37  And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 

Jairus was ruler of the synagogue and he had heard of the many miracles Jesus did. His daughter was seriously ill and he came to Jesus seeking His help.

Jesus is always ready to help and He came to go home with Jairus, but a messenger came and told him that his daughter had died.

Jesus immediately offered comfort and hope to Jairus, encouraging him to believe and maintain his faith in Christ.

Jesus selected only Peter, James and John to accompany Him to the abode of Jairus.

Peter, James and John were witnesses that Jesus Christ, the giver of all life, raised her from the dead.

The Spirit of God used James to write what some call, the proverbs of the New Testament. 

The Spirit of God guided Peter to write two letters to the churches, and John to write three letters in addition to the book of Revelation.

These three men in particular, were mightily used of God in leading Christ's church, beginning at Jerusalem.

Therefore, it is significant that Jesus chose Peter, James and John to witness Him raising a dead girl back to life, because they were be preaching a gospel based upon Christ's resurrection from the dead.

Having three competent men as witnesses satisfied the requirements of God's law (See Deuteronomy 19:15).

Matthew 17:1-2  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 

When they were apart and with Christ alone they saw a most amazing thing, the transfiguration of Jesus.

What does this mean? 

The Greek word translated "transfigured" is contained in the word "metamorphosis" and it refers to a change in appearance but not a change in substance.

Remember, that Jesus Christ is fully man, a perfect man, and that He is also the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Both the perfect and full humanity and glorious deity of Jesus Christ are on display in this narrative.

Jesus' face was shining with a special brightness like the sun and His clothing was like pure, white light.

Moses face was shining after he spend forty days with God on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 34:29-30  And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30  And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him

A similar appearance happened in the life of Moses.

After spending forty days on Mount Sinai communing with God and receiving the ten commandments, Moses came down from the mountain to the people of God.

His face was also shining and this made the people afraid. Ultimately, Moses put a veil on his face and took it off when he entered the tabernacle and the presence of Jehovah.

Spiritual reality: Those who spend time with God in prayer, reading His Word and who worship Him, must bear outward evidence of that internal transformation.

The more time we spend reading the scriptures and praying, we will find that God will change us more into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Our minds will be renewed, the ways that we think speak and act will be changed and the fruit of God's Spirit will manifest itself in us.

1 John 1:5-7  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

The great truth which we declare is that God is light.

There is no darkness in God at all and we are called out of sin's darkness into His marvelous light (See 1 Peter 2:9).

If we say we are Christians but we continue to walk in darkness, then we are liars and our profession of faith is proven to be false.

If we walk in the light in fellowship with other Christians, when we sin, we know that confessing our sins will wash us clean by the blood of Jesus Christ.

God dwells in the light that no mortal man can approach, nor has any mortal seen His glorious light (See 1 Timothy 6:16). 

Psalm 104:1  Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 

Jehovah is covered like a garment that reflects the purest, brightest heavenly light to display His honor and majesty.

Therefore when Christ would appear in the form of God, He appeared in light, the most glorious of all visible beings, the first-born of the creation, and displaying the fulness of His Father to His disciples. 

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

Christ is the Light of the world. 

While He was in the world, His glorious light shined brightly into a sin darkened world, but men loved darkness rather than light (See John 1:5; 1:10; 3:16-21).

Ephesians 5:8-10  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

Ephesians 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 

1 Thessalonians 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Thus, we see several great truths communicated to us when Jesus was transfigured before his disciples.

First, God calls us to establish some time alone with Him that is free from life's distractions.

Second, God will transform our lives when we choose to spend time with Him.

Third, the more we read His Word and pray, the more our Father will change us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Fourth, we cannot expect to feel close to God if we do not make the effort to draw near to Him.

When the Psalmist sought God with His whole heart, it was always connected with knowing and obeying God's Word.

God's promises are true and if we seek Him with our our heart and soul, we will find close fellowship with Him.

Deuteronomy 4:29  But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 

May these truths help shape our walk with Jesus Christ, so that we may walk in the light as He is in the light.

Bob