While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
The transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor was a theophany. He was like a new Moses, whose face shone with the glory of God (see Exodus 34:35). He was the Son of Man whom God would give an everlasting throne (see Daniel 7:13-14). But surpassing even even these things was what was signified by his appearance, which was like that Ancient of Days himself (see Daniel 7:9-10), demonstrating the fact that he himself was a perfect image of the Father.
Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
Peter still hadn't fully grasped the degree of difference between Moses and Elijah on the one hand and Jesus on the other. They represented the law and the prophets as they together bore witness to one who was in fact God's "chosen son". The Father's command to listen to Jesus coincided with the disappearance of Moses and Elijah from the scene. It was not that the law and the prophets no longer had any relevance at all. It was rather that they were now properly seen and understood through Jesus himself. It was through this prism that Jesus himself explained the Scriptures at Emmaus.
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself (see Luke 24:27).
His appearance and his relationship to the law and the prophets, to Moses and Elijah and the rest, were indications of the glory Of Jesus, a glory that had been heretofore hidden beneath a more common appearance, and seen only indirectly. It was this same glory that would be fully unveiled at the resurrection. But the revelation taking place on the mountaintop was not yet finished. Next, the Father's voice was heard and the Spirit overshadowed them in a cloud of divine glory as they together gave Triune testimony to the Son. In the Old Testament, the cloud of glory indicated the presence of God dwelling in the tent in the desert, and then finally in the temple in Jerusalem. But here it was demonstrated that the dwelling of God among the human race was to be found truly and definitive in Christ Jesus himself.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God" (see Revelation 21:3).
The glory of Jesus was more than a revelation, however. It was also a promise, since, "if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his" (see Romans 6:5). If the Transfiguration was a preview of the glory of the Risen Lord it was also a preview of what awaits all of God's faithful on the last day. And it was just this that Paul reminded the Philippians.
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified body
The fact of our future resurrection was meant to motivate us and give us perspective. The Transfiguration did likewise for Peter and the others. No doubt memory of that moment helped John to remain with Mary at the foot of the cross. So too did it likely help encourage the hope of the others that the rumors of the resurrection might be true. In a secret and hidden way it prevented the horror of the crush from completely crushing them. It also probably aided Peter to have enough hope in Jesus to repent of his betrayal.
How do we prepare ourselves and help our brothers and sisters prepare for this glory which is to one day be our own? We must imitate the model of holy men and women who themselves imitated Christ. We must not be like those whose God is their stomach and who glory in their shame. We must be like Paul, not in all specifics of his life, but in the way that he himself was an imitator of Christ. In fact, anyone imitating Christ, whether they are among the cloud of witnesses in heaven, or with us still on earth, has much to teach. They can demonstrate with concrete specificity how we can stand firm in the Lord.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
Vineyard Music - Shine Jesus Shine
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