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Transfiguration Sunday
February 8, 2009
Examination of the Witnesses

TEXT:  (Matthew 17:1-9 NKJ) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." 8  When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."
 
We’ll start by considering the background events leading up to the text—Jesus is preparing His disciples for the ministry—Jesus is coming to the end of His earthly ministry—and the disciples will soon be testifying on His behalf—He will leave the Church in their hands—when He ascends to heaven
 
The first thing we might want to consider is that in the previous chapter—Jesus leads His disciples to understand that He is the Son of God
 
 
(Matthew 16:13-17 NKJ) When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16  Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17  Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
 
These men were filled with the Holy Spirit—otherwise they could not have understood who Jesus was
 
(1 Corinthians 12:3 NKJ) …no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
 
The next thing we learn from the previous chapter is that Jesus is trying to get these men to understand the things they are about to witness in Jerusalem—Jesus’ suffering and death—His public humiliation and mock trial—and His resurrection from the grave
 
(Matthew 16:20-21 NKJ) Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
 
Finally, Jesus taught His disciples that the suffering would be part of God’s plan for their salvation and for their glory in heaven—Jesus would be glorified—then the rest of them will join Him in heaven and they will also be glorified—and anyone trying to stop the coming events—even Jesus’ disciples—are workers of the evil one—Satan himself—and Peter filled that role
 
(Matthew 16:22-27 NKJ) Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
 
That brings us up to the point of our text concerning the transfiguration of our Lord—God is showing these disciples—and us today—the glory that awaits us in heaven with Him and God the Father
 
In our text there are three witnesses of the event of the glorification—and three witnesses for the things of God—the number three is significant—and so is the choice of witnesses—first we should remember that there were three witnesses required under the Old Testament Law to condemn a man—and when we preach the Lord Jesus we condemn those that do not believe—let’s look at the Old Testament reference
 
(Deuteronomy 17:6 NKJ) "Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
 
(Deuteronomy 19:15 NKJ) "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.
 
The Gospel message of our Lord Jesus condemns to eternal death all those that hear and do not believe—three witnesses are required—one of the witnesses of Jesus transfiguration was the Apostle John—and in his First Epistle he testifies that today there are still three witnesses
 
(1 John 5:7-8 NKJ) For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
 
The three that were brought before John, James, and Peter were witnesses of the things of God—Moses, the Prophet Elijah, and Jesus the Christ—we remember the story Jesus told of Lazarus and the rich man which spoke of Moses and the prophets witnessing for the things of God
 
(Luke 16:27-29 NKJ) "Then he said,`I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 28 `for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 29 "Abraham said to him,`They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'
 
 
 
So the witnesses at the transfiguration of our Lord were Moses representing the Law of God—and Elijah representing the prophets—and what better man to represent the prophets than Elijah—the one who never died but was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot
 
(2 Kings 2:11 NKJ) Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
 
So the two that God sent to bear witness to the glorification of our Lord for the benefit of the three disciples were the prophet who was taken up to heaven without experiencing death—and the man God chose to lead His people out of Egypt—the man who God Himself chose to bury
 
(Deuteronomy 34:5-6 NKJ) So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.
 
What happened on that mountain affected John, James, and Peter for the rest of their lives—and it also affected Jesus—reminding Him of His real home—in heaven—for those few moments on that mountain top Jesus was reminded that He was not alone—He could confide in Moses and Elijah—two men who God sent to save His people in the Old Testament
 
Now concerning the details of this event—we can take note that Peter, John, and James were not introduced to Moses and Elijah—but they immediately understood who they were—how did they know who they were?—could this part of the text be for our benefit—to remind us that the Holy Spirit will give us knowledge and understanding when we need it—it is one of God’s promises
 
(John 14:26 NKJ) "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
 
Now let’s examine the appearance of the transfiguration—“He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”—compare this to the description of the Christ in Revelation
 
 
 
 
 
(Revelation 1:12-16 NKJ) Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14  His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15  His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16  He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
 
Heaven will be lighted with the Light of the Lamb of God—Jesus the Christ—just as that mountain top was lighted by our Lord
 
(Revelation 21:23 NKJ) The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
 
But what was the effect of this mountaintop experience on the three witnesses?—we can get a feel for the impact the experience made by reading what John and Peter wrote under inspiration of God
 
John mentioned the experience in his Gospel
 
(John 1:14 NKJ) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
 
Peter also mentions the experience—and it is obvious that Peter was driven to a sense of urgency by what he saw on that mountain—the Lord in His glory—listen to the intensity and the
 
(2 Peter 1:13-18 NKJ) Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
 
 
We are all blessed with the opportunity to experience the glory of our Lord on that mountain—we experience it through the eyes and ears of Peter and John—and we experience it in the Light of God’s Word—Jesus shined on that mountain—just like He shines in heaven—Peter, John, and James witnessed that shining light on the mountain—and we will all experience it in heaven—because we are only on this earth by the will of God—our citizenship is in heaven
 
(Philippians 3:20 NKJ) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
 
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!