(Read Mark 9:1-13)
In the New Testament, a miraculous radiance occurred, more glorious than that of Moses’s face. As Jesus prayed, His entire physical being became more radiant than the sun and His clothes became whiter than any material fabric on earth. This New Testament radiant portrait in prayer is what we call the Transfiguration, occurring about the mid-point of all three synoptic gospels. Over the next few devotionals, we will look at the radiant appearance of Christ on the Holy Mount, reading from four different Biblical references to the event.
Jesus went with Peter, James, and John to a high
mountain, occurring immediately after Peter’s confession of Jesus as the
Christ, the Messiah. Following that proclamation, Jesus began teaching them “from
that time forward” (Matthew 16:21) of His approaching death and resurrection. His
crucifixion was undoubtedly on His mind. Peter’s confession occurred “on the
coasts of Caesarea Philippi” (Matthew 16:13), which is near Mount Hermon, one
of two possible locations for the Mount of Transfiguration, with the other possible
location being Mount Tabor, just west of the Sea of Galilee.
Spiritual Revelation -- This spiritual journey with Jesus and His three disciples resulted in a scene of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, radiating a transcendence of Heaven on Earth, a transfiguration of their bodies, and a transformation for the disciples into a deeper knowledge for them of who Christ was.
As Jesus prayed, His clothes became “shining, exceedingly white, like snow,” with only thing brighter than His clothes was His face. With Him were Moses and Elijah, representing “the law and the prophets,” a phrase referring to the entirety of the Old Testament. Moses represented the law and, by implication, death through the law. Paying the penalty of death for all of humanity’s sins, Jesus fulfilled the law, living a perfect life and dying a perfectly sin-atoning death. Ironically, when Moses spoke to God “face to face,” (Exodus 13:11), he was most likely speaking with the second Person of the Trinity in a pre-incarnate form. Now, here was Moses, speaking with Jesus.
Elijah represented the prophets. When Philip told Nathanael about Christ, he said, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote...” Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah, ceasing the era of the Law and Prophets (Matthew 11:13, Luke 16:16). John’s coming was in preparation of Jesus Christ, who at the Transfiguration received encouragement from the prophet Elijah. Jesus references Elijah and John in Mark 9:13.
As great as Moses and Elijah were, God overshadowed the disciples who wanted to remain on this marvelous mountaintop experience, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Mark 9:7). In your devotional time today, think about how your prayer life can help you shine the Light of Jesus Christ to the world today.
As Jesus prayed, His clothes became “shining, exceedingly white, like snow,” with only thing brighter than His clothes was His face. With Him were Moses and Elijah, representing “the law and the prophets,” a phrase referring to the entirety of the Old Testament. Moses represented the law and, by implication, death through the law. Paying the penalty of death for all of humanity’s sins, Jesus fulfilled the law, living a perfect life and dying a perfectly sin-atoning death. Ironically, when Moses spoke to God “face to face,” (Exodus 13:11), he was most likely speaking with the second Person of the Trinity in a pre-incarnate form. Now, here was Moses, speaking with Jesus.
Elijah represented the prophets. When Philip told Nathanael about Christ, he said, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote...” Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah, ceasing the era of the Law and Prophets (Matthew 11:13, Luke 16:16). John’s coming was in preparation of Jesus Christ, who at the Transfiguration received encouragement from the prophet Elijah. Jesus references Elijah and John in Mark 9:13.
As great as Moses and Elijah were, God overshadowed the disciples who wanted to remain on this marvelous mountaintop experience, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Mark 9:7). In your devotional time today, think about how your prayer life can help you shine the Light of Jesus Christ to the world today.
Pray this prayer to God: “Father, thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ. Help me to hear from Your beloved Son and do what He said. Create in me a heart and life of reflection of His light within me, through me, and to everyone I meet. In His Name. Amen.”
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