Witnessed by Disciples

February 21, 2010

Background Scripture: Matthew 17:1 – 13
Lesson Passage: Matthew 17:1 – 13

The event in today’s lesson is recorded in four passages of scripture. It is worth reading all of them since each passage offers a slightly different perspective. This will allow for more information being that each passage was written to a different group for different reasons. Each of the synoptic gospel writers (Matthew, Mark and Luke) records this incident and Peter recounts it in his second epistle. Peter was the only writer who was an eyewitness and he wrote about it so that after his death, others might be strengthen in the faith in knowing that the teaching of the apostles was not with cleverly designed fiction but with actual facts. Today’s lesson is another example of testimony of Jesus as Messiah under the general theme of Christ the fulfillment.

As we examine Matthew’s account of the transfiguring of Jesus, we note that it took place as Jesus prayed. Jesus had taken Peter, John, and James with him up a very high mountain away from the other disciples and the multitude in the valley. These three disciples are often referred to today as Jesus’ inner circle. It is recorded that on several occasions when Jesus isolated himself from the crowd that he would take these three disciples with him. It is not really explained why these three were included and not some of the others. Matthew for instance is one of the disciples that would later record an account of the gospel but yet he was not included in the inner circle for reasons only God knows. It is sufficient for us to know that Peter, James and John were respected enough by the other disciples as well as other Christian converts that would be added after Pentecost that their testimony was and is most certainly believed and accepted by all. What was witnessed on the mountain was a physical change of Jesus’ appearance. The Greek word that is used of the change is metamorphosis. Jesus’ face and clothes became as radiant as the sun with a very white glow. This scene was further enhanced by the appearance of Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus and they also had radiant appearances. Some see Moses and Elijah as representative of all believers in glory. Moses died physically as a believer and Elijah did not die but was instead translated or raptured from the earth. Even more powerful than this appearance was the conversation between the three focused on Jesus’ future sacrifice of himself for the sins of man. As the disciples began to come out of their grogginess, Peter suggested that memorial tents be set up to commemorate this mind boggling event in the name of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. At that suggestion, God, the Father, spoke from heaven to the disciples and declared Jesus as his beloved son and the only one they should listen to. God would not allow the disciples to elevate the prophets to the same status as Jesus. After all, the prophets, like the disciples, were servants of Jesus and therefore they did his will. This event is another example of Jesus as Messiah and three of his disciples witnessed it.


Robert C. Hudson
February 15, 2010