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Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 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.” 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!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 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.”(Matthew 17:1–9)
None of us likes to suffer. We would choose health instead of sickness, wealth instead of poverty, gladness instead of grief, joy instead of sadness, and glory instead of suffering.
None of us likes to suffer, and yet, suffering is a reality. We suffer from a variety of illnesses, burdens, problems, accidents, and disasters. We suffer from the consequences of our own sin. We suffer from natural catastrophes. The list of trials and tribulations in this life is endless. What particular troubles have you experienced? No one is exempt. Living in a sin–filled fallen world, we all have problems. Suffering fills our eyes with tears, and it drives us to pray.
Saint Paul once said, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). In other words, our present sufferings here on earth precede the glory of heaven. We must first endure the sufferings of this world, and then, through faith in Christ, we will experience the glory of heaven.
So also, Jesus' suffering on the cross must proceed the glory of the resurrection. There first must be a Good Friday before there could be an Easter. Jesus must first die before He could ever rise from the dead.
The transfiguration of our Lord was truly a glorious event. Jesus' divinity is no longer veiled. It is no longer hidden. His glory now shines forth. Once, when Moses came down Mount Sinai, his face reflected the glory of God — much like when the moon reflects the light from the sun. But the light from Jesus' face was from Himself — much like the light from the sun. Furthermore, Jesus' clothes became as white as light–intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. Jesus is visibly God of God and light of light, very God of very God. Peter, James, and John beheld Jesus' glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.
Then, Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus. The Gospel of Luke tells us that they were talking with Jesus about His departure (Luke 9:31). Most likely, they were talking about Jesus' suffering and death upon the cross. Moses and Elijah are important figures in the Old Testament, but Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah. He supercedes them and all the prophets.
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.” It is as if Peter said, “Lord, let's just savor the glory of this moment. Let's not go down to the valley where there is sin and death. Let's not go to Jerusalem where you will suffer and be killed. Let's just stay here on this mountain. Let's memorialize this event by building a plaque that reads, ‘On this mountain, Jesus revealed His glory.’ Let's make this place a tourist attraction.”
Do you blame Peter? We would probably have said the same thing.
Like Peter, our sinful flesh avoids suffering at all costs. It tries to cover up a lie. It attempts to hurt people in order to get ahead in life. It would deny Christ rather than suffer persecution.
It's wrong for us to demand that God conform to our will. It's wrong for us to tell God what to do. It's wrong for us to see God only in His glory apart from His suffering and death. It's good that we pray, “Not my will but Thy will be done.” It's good that our will is conformed to God's will.
Peter wanted to stay up on the mountain. But if Jesus would never have come down the Mount of Transfiguration, there would have been no cross, no resurrection, no forgiveness of sins, and no heaven. It was absolutely necessary for Jesus to go back down the mountain and suffer and die for Peter's sin, for your sin and mine.
Throughout Jesus' ministry, He chooses the pathway of suffering that leads to death upon the cross. When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, the devil said to Jesus, “All the kingdoms of the world and their glory I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” It is as if Satan said, “Look, Jesus, at all these kingdoms and their glory. You can be King with power and glory over this entire kingdom without the suffering of the cross. Just fall down and worship me, and I will give you all these kingdoms.” But Jesus said “No.” He said to Satan, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve’” (Matthew 4:10).
Thanks be to God that Jesus was faithful in going to the cross. He came down the Mount of Transfiguration and headed straight for Mount Calvary.
We don't have a God who knows nothing about suffering. Jesus has scars, too. The face of our Lord, which once shone like the sun, was the same face which was spit upon and slapped by Pilate's soldiers. It was the same face which was covered with blood caused by the crown of thorns. The clothing of our Lord, which once was white as light was the same clothing which the soldiers cast lots for. The Mount of Transfiguration was bright, but Mount Calvary was dark. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus was the Father's beloved Son, but on Mount Calvary, Jesus was the forsaken son who endured the Father's wrath on behalf of our sin. On the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” On Mount Calvary, Jesus' sacrifice was pleasing to the Father.
The world sees the cross as foolishness, but for us who are being saved, the cross is where the real glory lies. The cross is Jesus' greatest glory, because it was the cross which brought salvation to the whole world.
Again, suffering precedes glory. After Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross — God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus then ascended and now sits at the right hand of the Father.
On Mount Sinai, the law came through Moses. Because of Mount Calvary, grace and truth come through Jesus. Moses delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, but Jesus delivered all people from the slavery of sin and death. Moses and Elijah spoke about the promised Savior, and Jesus is the fulfillment. Elijah was successful in defeating the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, but Jesus was successful in defeating Satan on Mount Calvary.
Only Jesus is God's beloved Son. Only Jesus bore our sin in His own body nailed to the tree. Only Jesus rose bodily from the grave never to die again. Only Jesus sits at the right hand of God to pray for us, to forgive us, and to give us life in His name. Salvation is found only in Jesus. As Peter, James, and John looked up and only saw Jesus, may we fix our eyes only on Jesus as our Savior.
Dearly beloved, while we remain here on earth, things will not be perfect. Suffering is a reality. In the midst of suffering, we are reminded of Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” In other words, God can take the bad things that happen to us and work them out for our good. He reaches down to us in the midst of our anguish and offers peace and hope. He promises to be our refuge and strength. He promises to be with us always.
Again, we don't have a God who knows nothing about suffering. Jesus has scars too. He understands. He is able to sympathize with our every weakness, and He comforts us with His compassion. He says, “Come to me all you who weary and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
But where can Jesus be found? Where do we go to listen to His voice? During worship, we listen to Jesus' words of eternal life. To use the words of Peter: It is good for us to be in worship, because here is where God freely forgives his repentant children. Here, our sin is removed and washed away. Here is where we receive the gift of eternal life. During worship, we come into God's presence and in His glory. We get a glimpse of heaven — a heaven on earth,a foretaste of the feast to come.
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus' glory shined forth. But on earth, Jesus is veiled in water, word, bread, and wine. The glory of heaven is hidden under the Word and the Sacraments. There is nothing spectacular about them. The world regards them as foolish. But the Word and the Sacraments contain the very Gospel which gives us life.
It is good for us to be in worship, but we can't stay here forever. We must go back out through these doors and into our homes and neighborhoods. Out there, the neighbor needs us — a family member, the one across the street, or the one in the work place.
Again, suffering precedes glory. Our present sufferings here on earth come before the glory of heaven.
Our day of transfiguration awaits us. Saint Paul says that, during the resurrection of the dead, the body that was perishable will be imperishable. The body that was sown in dishonor will be raised in glory. The body that was sown in weakness will be raised in power (1 Corinthians 15:42–43). Yes, on that day, we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and immortal, and we will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51–53).
Philippians chapter three says that God “will transform our lowly body that it may be like His glorious body” (v. 21). The transfiguration of our Lord is really a preview of our own transfiguration on the last day. On that day, our face will shine like the sun and our clothes will be bright.
God grant that we may continue to listen to Jesus for He is the only one who has words of eternal life. His words are Spirit, and they are life. God grant that we pick our cross of suffering and follow Jesus on His path of righteousness all the way to heaven. Amen.
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