Moses and Jesus Matthew 17:1-9
There is a lot of similarity between Moses and Jesus, in fact Jesus has been called the second Moses. Moses first miracle was turning water into blood, Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine. They both came out of the desert; Moses to lead God’s people out of the bondage of slavery, and Jesus to lead God’s people out of the bondage of sin. And they both had an encounter with God on top of a mountain; Moses at Mt Sinai and Jesus at his transfiguration believed to have happened on Mt Hermon. I know some will say that the transfiguration happened on Mt Tabor. The Bible doesn’t specify and these two mountains each have reasons why they are thought to be the place in our account. Truth is it doesn’t make any difference.
We do know that at this point Jesus is getting ready to take his ministry to its conclusion in Jerusalem and at the cross. And it’s before he sets out on his final journey that we have the account of his transfiguration.
Jesus has been on earth for over thirty years. He’s been preaching for over three. Why does the transfiguration happen now? I think there are a couple of reasons.
First, the events described here are remarkably similar to those centered on Moses and described in Exodus. And this is significant. To the Jewish people, including Jesus disciples; Moses is the greatest Jew.
It was Moses who led God’s people out of the bonds of slavery in Egypt. It was Moses who stood in the very presence of God. Jesus is about to go to the cross and when he dies at Calgary many of his followers will drift away; many will believe that his life and ministry ended that day.
Jesus is using his transfiguration to show the Israelites and the rest of the world the truth about what is about to happen by equating it with something that already happened to Moses.
Our reading begins, “After six days…” Exodus 24 says this, “For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses…then Moses entered the cloud and went up the mountain…”
Verse 2 in our reading, “…his face shone like the sun and his cloths became as white as snow.” And in Exodus, “When Moses comes down from Mount Sinai…his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” Moses face shone because he was in the presence of God, Jesus transfigured because he is God.
I had someone ask me once why God would let Israel be put into slavery just to have the nation be led out again by Moses. Any of you wonder why? It’s a shadow of what is to come for all mankind. Israel was in slavery; Moses led them out after God’s miracles of the plagues; after the work of God.
Mankind is enslaved by sin, and we are led out of that slavery by Jesus at the cross. Freed by the work of God.
Those who were with Jesus on that mountain had the privilege to see Jesus in all his glory. They got to see Moses and Elijah who were on that mountain with Jesus. And through them, those men had the great privilege and honor to see the glory that awaits all of us who believe in Christ.
I believe the transfiguration can be understood by looking at the backdrop of Moses at Mt Sinai. Jesus went up that mountain like Moses went up Mt Sinai; the difference is that Jesus brought people with him. He brought his inner circle of disciples so they could be witnesses. He did this because he needed someone to be able to describe the scene and its significance after his resurrection.
Why link these two events? The resurrection is the event that proves to the world Jesus is who he says he is. The resurrection is the event that proves Jesus accomplished what he said he did. Without the resurrection we would be asked to have blind faith but God doesn’t want us to have blind faith so he gave us everything we need to believe that everything is true.
Verse 5, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
In a time when life was hard, a time when death could happen from any number of accidents and diseases; people then as well as now could ask, “Is God really interested in me?”
As witnesses they can now avow; yes! By being in God’s presence, by seeing God’s power and witnessing his glory upon Jesus these men can state that God is interested in us, that God is involved in our lives on earth. These men can state that God is not in some far off place, God is here where we are.
As witnesses to the power and glory of God they can rely on it in times of trouble and they can tell others to rely on God. By relying on God during their tribulations their actions give much more weight to their words.
Here on this mountain Peter, James and John are in the presence of God. As Jesus disciples they are witnesses to Jesus life, his teachings, and his death and resurrection. But here they hear God’s voice, they are witnesses to God himself. Jesus is God’s son; all the accounts of his life, all his teachings point to it. And now these three are witness to it, told by God himself. Whatever happens next they know it is God who directs the events.
Let’s take a moment to look at who Jesus brings with him. Peter, James and John; ever wonder why these three? I mean, why not Andrew, Judas and Thomas? What about Bartholomew, Matthew and Phillip?
In Mark 5 we see Jesus brought these same three when he raised a dead girl. Mark 5:37, “And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James and John.” Again, why these three?
Nothing in the Bible is there as filler. I believe there is a message in Jesus choosing these three. I believe this message can be seen by looking at the names of the three apostles and the order that they are mentioned.
Peter, James, John; Peter means rock. Peter the rock is often used to describe the foundation of the church. But we know that rock or stone is often used in the New Testament to point to the law, the Ten Commandments written on stone tablets. Let’s keep that tucked in our mind for now.
James, his name means to supplant. Encarta defines it as “to take the place of.” And John, his name means the grace of God.
These three represent what Jesus has been teaching for the past three years. They represent the miracle that will happen at the cross. Peter, James, John; salvation and life by keeping the law that is written in stone will be replaced by the grace of God.
It is no coincidence that Jesus brings these three with him. I want to look at one last thing. God says “This is my Son…listen to him.” Listen to Jesus, yes but I think it goes farther than that. God is not going to come to earth in a thunderclap declaring what he did at the cross. His plan all along is to have believers tell others what they witnessed, tell others what God did for them, planting seeds and spreading God’s message.
As believers we are God’s children; his sons and daughters. What God said of Jesus on that mountain he says of each of us; “This is my son, this is my daughter; in them I am well pleased.”
God tells the world, “Listen to my children.” Listen to us because we are the avenue God will use to spread the Gospel.
We see today that Jesus transfiguration shows and tells us several things. God is interested in our lives. God is not far off and inaccessible. God is where we are and he’s working in our lives.
We can rely on the power of God when we face trouble and trials in our lives. And knowing God is here and that he loves us, we can be stronger than what we face.
We see that it is by us telling others about God that his message will be spread and his family will increase.
These men saw a great and wonderful thing on top of that mountain, but the reality is mountain top experiences are rare. 1 Kings 19, “Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart…but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came a gentle whisper.”
God doesn’t always come to us on the mountain top; he often comes to us in a gentle whisper. When we quiet ourselves, when we still our minds; it’s then that we can hear the whispers. It’s then that we can move forward as Jesus disciples despite strained or broken relationships; despite sickness, loss or grief.
As Jesus disciples we are to spread the message of the Gospel to the world. And simply, that message is Peter, James and John. That through the cross God took salvation from being dependent on our work; dependent on us following the laws written on stone perfectly; and replaced it with his grace and mercy for all who believe in his Son.
Paul writes in Romans 3, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…and all (who believe) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Amen