Creator, Father, King #198

This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD someone mention having “a mountaintop experience”? Usually that’s figurative language for enjoying a great moment in life.

Well, Peter, James, and John had a literal mountaintop experience with Jesus. We call it “The Transfiguration,” and no one today has ever seen or felt anything comparable.

Here’s how Matthew 17:2-8 describes what happened once they reached the summit:

As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

Bet you’ve never seen that on your latest climbing expedition!

What’s It Mean?

There’s so much to learn from the Transfiguration as Jesus revealed a glimpse of his true glory. But don’t miss what God the Father (the voice from the cloud) said about his Son.

Jesus brings God great joy. (God was reiterating what he had said at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:17.) Jesus perfectly accomplished everything that the triune God had planned, before creating the world, for the salvation of his chosen people (Ephesians 1:3-14). This filled the Father with “great joy,” and he instructed Jesus’ three disciples, “Listen to him.”

Today, through his Spirit and Scripture, God is still telling us, “Listen to my Son.” Drink in the Savior’s words like a desert wanderer who finds an oasis. Hide Jesus’ words in your heart. Feed them to your soul. Christ himself said, “The very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).

Then one day, you will join Peter, James, John, and all the other believers in witnessing and exulting in the Savior’s indescribable glory—not just during a brief mountaintop experience, but for all eternity!

Now What?

Read the other Transfiguration accounts in Mark 9:2-13 and Luke 9:28-36.

Did You Know?

The Transfiguration also teaches us about Jesus’ preincarnate/current glory (Matthew 17:2), and it affirms his fulfillment of the Old Testament and life after death, as evidenced by Moses and Elijah’s appearance.