What a day! No human could have invented or crafted that story! Jesus had taken three of His disciples up the mountain to a secluded place. There He was transfigured before their very eyes. The Greek word “transfigured” is metatmorphoo, which is an outward change that comes from within. We derive our word metamorphosis from it.  Jesus had removed the cocoon of human flesh and bone. Jesus had revealed His secret identity. Jesus uncloaked His majesty to Peter, James, and John.

 

Gone was the dust-stained robe that had torn on the climb up to the mountain. There wasn’t a frazzled hem that was in need of repair by one of the precious women followers. His robe was dazzling white, which represents His supreme glory, purity, and holiness. It was as white as snow, just as it is depicted in the courtroom scene of heaven in Daniel 7:9.  His face shone like the sun, just like Moses in Exodus 34:29-35.

 

The Gospel of Luke gives us added insight into Peter’s reaction. Luke 9:33 tells us that Peter blurted out something about building three tabernacles without knowing what he was saying.  Peter’s familiarity with the Son of God as the Son of Man made him forget he was participating in divine matters and dealing with the Son of God. If the appearance of Moses and Elijah and then the transfiguration of Jesus was not enough for him to grasp it, then what happened next did. Matthew 17:5 tells us that a cloud came and enveloped them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and spoke. God said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 

 

I believe these words spoken by God “whom I love” were embossed on John’s heart and mind during this holy mountain experience. John chose to only describe himself in his gospel as the one whom Jesus loved. I think John not only learned about this divine love through living with Jesus, but also through learning how God chose to characterize Jesus by His love. It was of supreme importance. 

 

God’s next part of His message was that He was pleased with His Son. He esteemed Him.  On the mountain, the awe of heaven was upon them sealing the testimony of Jesus. The Sovereign God who sits enthroned in the heavens identified Jesus as His Son. God characterized Jesus by His worth to Himself, the supreme Ruler of the universe. 

 

When the voice of God bellowed out, they all understood this kind of might and this kind of glory was well beyond them.  They understood it was time for silence and just listening. God commanded them to listen and to obey Him. All other thoughts and ideas were to be silenced. Only the Son of Man’s words mattered.

 

The presence of God made the disciples fall facedown. The word means they were prostrate on the ground. He is holy. It was not until Jesus touched them and told them not to be afraid that they were able to get off their faces.

 

This day was a defining moment for these disciples. Embedded into their entire belief system was the deity of Jesus. They saw a glimpse of God with their own eyes. This building block prepared them for the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy of His death and resurrection. Later in life, Peter talked about being eyewitnesses to His majesty. In 2 Peter 1:16-18, Peter described this day on the mountain by saying, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’  We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.”

 

Jesus invited these men to the room in Jairus’ house where his little girl was raised from the dead. He invited these men to the mountain to see the divine transfiguration and to hear the voice of God. Jesus kept stretching their minds beyond the normal course of natural law. He continuously demonstrated that He was beyond any other person they had ever known or studied in Old Testament.

 

He stretches you and me, too. Never forget that we are in relationship with someone who can take us beyond all that we think that we know and all that we think that we are. He is our beyond-us God, yet with-us God. Hallelujah!