"Transfigured: Christ's glory in us!"

Transfiguration

Q.1: What happened?

Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
(Matthew 17:1,2)

And His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. (Mark 9:3)

And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. (Luke 9:29)

Q.2: What was revealed?

His Glory

And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem…they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. (Luke 9:30-32)

His Mission

And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30-31)

His Identity

…a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid... Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" (Luke 9:34-35) [confirmation of Matthew 3:16-17]

Q.3: What does “transfigured” mean?

From the Greek word which we derive “metamorphoses” - to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure.

Transformed

Q.1: Were the men different who experienced this?

Peter wrote later in his life about this experience:
I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind. For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"-- and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:13-18)

He was passionate – “to stir you up…”
He was committed – “be diligent that at any time after my departure…”
He was confident – “we were eyewitnesses…we ourselves heard…”

Q.2: When did they change?

Peter was also the one who denied Christ three times (Matthew 26), and was one of the disciples who failed to grasp the resurrection and went back fishing (John 20:9-10 and 21:3). So when and how did this change take place? What made the difference? The glory and power of the Lord is transferred to him (and all believers): When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-4)

* Note: a study into the Jewish Feast of Shavuot or Feast of Weeks is enlightening to the meaning of Pentecost (meaning 50th since it is the 50th day after Passover or Easter in the Christian tradition).

Transferred

Q1. Was this transfer of power and glory foretold?

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, [even] the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you. Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him." (John 14:12-21)

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (John 16:7)… He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." (John 16:14-15)

Did God’s power transfer as promised? Consider in Mark 13:11 Jesus said "When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.” Well, the same man who denied Christ three times was arrested, questioned, and threatened about his authority and power to preach and heal. Peter stumped the religious leaders with his answer and concluded by saying: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20)

** What a difference the Holy Spirit makes in a person’s life! **

Q.2: Does this mean that the glory of God was transferred to us?

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18 –

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Moses had the “afterglow” of God’s glory on him when he returned from receiving the 10 commandments. This glow was so disheartening to the people of Israel, that he wore a veil on his face to hide it. But WE who are in Christ do not just have the reflection of God’s glory, but WE are being transformed into His glory!

Q.2: What does this word “glory” mean?

* a thing belonging to God

* the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity

* a thing belonging to Christ

* the kingly majesty of the Messiah

* the absolutely perfect inward or personal Excellency of Christ

* of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth

* the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven

Glory is a condition, or state of being. It is the embodiment of the Lord’s personal excellence. It is a source of power and authority. It is seen at times as radiant light…as evident in our opening passage concerning Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration. And, if according to Paul, we are being made into or transformed into that light, what are we to do with it?

Transparent

Q.1: What did Jesus tell us to do with the light?

In Matthew 5:15-16 Jesus tells us “[no one would] light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
In this verse, the term “light” can also be translated “truth.” And the Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Truth (John 15:26)! Jesus was anticipating us having the Holy Spirit in us!

Q.2: How do we let this light “Shine”? How do we show that we are transformed?

Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness. (vs. 6-11)

What are the unfruitful deeds of the darkness? Paul explains…

Now the deeds of the flesh [darkness] are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:18-21)

What is the fruit of the light? Paul answers…

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The Holy Spirit is responsible for bringing about a change in us! He takes us from darkness to light! Without the transfer of Christ’s glory in us by the Holy Spirit, we cannot be children of light!

Q.3: Now that we have the light and are commanded to let it “shine” for the whole world, how will others see us and the light?

Paul writes concerning our ministry as Christians:

"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)

Like the fellow Israelites of Moses, the Light of God is too much for some. It is not wanted. But it is not our concern if they accept the light or not. It IS our concern if we are living according to the glory in us and letting HIS light be seen!

I conclude with a story about a little girl who asked her parents some simple but revealing questions after church one day:

“Is it true that God is bigger than the world?”

“Yes,” said her parents.

“Is it true that He can live inside us when we accept Jesus?”

“Yes,” answered her parents.

“Then shouldn’t He be showing through?”