Matthew 17: Transfiguration

The Transfiguration is perhaps the most “other-worldly” event in the Gospel of Matthew, and also one of the most difficult to understand. When we explore the allusions and connections with the Old Testament however, and previous events in the Gospel of Matthew, we can gain a better perspective on what is happening here. Let’s break down some of the events to consider the overall significance:

Jesus becomes “dazzling” like the sun (17:2).

Matthew’s words here echo Daniel 12:1-3: At that time . . . your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

This passage in Daniel was talking about the resurrection and the advent of the Kingdom of God. Clearly then, Jesus is shown here to possess the power of the Kingdom in Himself. The Kingdom of God has already arrived in Jesus then, even if not in its full power. That is the starting point for the revelation of the Transfiguration.

2.    Moses and Elijah are seen with Jesus (17:3)

First off, Moses and Elijah are the two prophets who escape an ordinary death. Moses dies “at the Lord’s command” (Deut. 34:5 . . . almost like God calling him directly to heaven), and Elijah is taken up into heaven directly in 2 Kings 2:11. Jesus, we know, will  be the one who defeats death.  Furthermore, Deuteronomy 18:15 records Moses saying that God would raise up “a prophet like me” to lead Israel, and Jesus is clearly the recipient of that. Many Israelites at this time believed that “the prophet” would be one who would restore Israel. Finally, both Moses and Elijah encountered God and were commissioned on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:15-18, 33:18-23, and 1 Kings 19:8-13). Moses also indirectly shines with the glory of God and enters the cloud which accompanies God’s presence. The point of then here is that Jesus is set apart like Moses and Elijah, and already stands among them as a great prophet. He will be elevated even higher though by God . . .

3.    God speaks to the disciples in the midst of the cloud of glory (17:5)

The “bright cloud” is the symbol of God’s presence. God lead the Israelites through the wilderness during the Exodus via cloud, Moses entered the cloud on Sinai, and the presence of God in the Tabernacle and Temple was in a cloud. Jesus then has lead the disciples into God’s presence. (And it should be noted that the cloud being outside of the Temple would be an issue . . . God was supposed to operate on Temple grounds.) God reaffirms exactly what He said to Jesus at his baptism to the disciples: Jesus is the Messiah (Son of God) and therefore the ultimate authority on earth for the disciples . . . they must listen to Him! Note that this comes directly after the story of Peter wanting Jesus to avoid violent death- what the disciples have to do is listen and trust that Jesus is what God has revealed Him to be even in the midst of an inglorious death on the cross. This vision must be what they remember even as He sacrifices Himself.

So then, we can say the Transfiguration shows us . . .
The power of the Kingdom has arrived with Jesus.
Jesus stands as the great prophet, leading an Exodus like Moses and in the prophetic tradition of Elijah.
Jesus is the Messiah- and must be listened to (i.e. obeyed)- even as He will give His life in sacrifice. . . the disciples must begin to trust His way and follow along.