There are certain sections of Scripture that seem especially holy, accounts like Moses at the burning bush, the Hebrews at the foot of Mount Sinai, the Christ-welcoming night in Bethlehem, and the women at the empty tomb. These are sacred scenes that invite God’s people nearer God’s glory, power, and grace. The transfiguration of Jesus likewise falls into that magnificent category.

In his book, The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce suggests that “the transfiguration is one of those passages in the Saviour’s earthly history which [a preacher] would rather pass over in reverent silence” (p. 190). It’s as if handling it and explaining it risks adding filth to and distracting from something otherwise pristine and breathtaking, akin to throwing a rock into a calm, silent, and picturesque mountain lake. But handle it we must as this is a text that is as essential as it is awesome, a text by which God’s people need to be both dazzled and shaped.

SERMON MANUSCRIPT

There are some sections of Scripture that seem to be especially holy, that describe God’s glory with more potency than others; like Moses at the burning bush, the Hebrews at the foot of Mount Sinai, that Christ-welcoming night in Bethlehem, and the women at the empty tomb. These scenes seem to describe particularly sacred spaces. The passage we come to today, Jesus’s transfiguration, fits in that category. 

In his book, The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce writes, “the transfiguration is one of those passages in the Saviour’s earthly history which [a preacher] would rather pass over in reverent silence” (p. 190). It’s as if handling it and explaining it adds filth to and distracts from something otherwise pristine and breathtaking like throwing a rock into a calm and picturesque mountain lake.

But we’re going chance it and, as we do we’re going to find this passage is as essential as it is awesome and that we need to not only be dazzled by it but to also be shaped by it because in it there is comfort. In it we find a balm for the broken, vitality for the weary, support for the wounded, and strength for those who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. 

Today we travel up the mountain with three disciples and, with them, we hear three important realities confirmed, truths they needed at that moment. We’ll also find a truth confirmed for us today.

As I said, this text holds three confirmations given to Peter, James, and John; three realities that God wanted to make sure they grasped as they faced the painful unknown ahead.

Confirmation #1: The Kingdom is Coming

While the disciples were expecting the kingdom, lots about Jesus had surprised them at this point and, so, maybe what they expected about the coming kingdom was also mistaken. Well, God wanted to confirm for them: the kingdom you expected is coming.

At the end of chapter 16, Jesus promises that some of his disciples, before they die, will see him coming in his kingdom. Fast forward to the end of Jesus’s earthly ministry and they are still waiting (see Acts 1:6). Some say the kingdom came in Acts 2 with the Holy Spirit’s coming but, if we take seriously the OT kingdom descriptions—e.g., perfect, global peace and justice, lion and lamb napping together—we have to admit that doesn’t fit. Pentecost didn’t bring those things. And then the disciples all died.

Since Jesus can’t lie, his promise in 16:28 must have been kept and, the most obvious explanation is that the transfiguration is its fulfillment. Some who were standing there—Peter, James, and John—saw, for a moment, the veil pulled back and Jesus in his glory (17:2).

And what’s Jesus doing? He’s standing on earth speaking with long-dead OT figures (17:3). That’s going to happen when the kingdom comes—the glorified Christ fellowshipping on earth with glorified saints from all eras. God is confirming for these disciples, the kingdom is coming as you expected.

This is actually how Peter himself would understand this amazing event as he remembered it (see 2 Pet 1:16–18). Pointing forward to Jesus’s return and the kingdom that comes with him, Peter says, “We’re not making this up—we’ve seen it already!”

In verse 9 Jesus requests temporary secrecy (17:9). Israel had rejected the king and his kingdom, so its offer to that generation was off the table. But there is coming a time, post-resurrection, when it will be offered again. Confirmation: The kingdom is coming. Not even Israel’s rejection can thwart the plan.

Finally, there’s this discussion about Elijah. As the disciples said in verse 10, the scribes taught that Elijah must come first. They got that from Malachi 4:5–6. God said before judgment and kingdom establishment, Elijah would come and turn Israel back to God. And, coming down the mountain, the disciples are saying, “We just saw him! Why can’t we tell people?”

In response, Jesus agrees with what the scribes were teaching but quickly adds that John the baptist could have been that Elijah had he been recognized and received as such (17:11–13).

Here’s the implication: Because John didn’t get to do Elijah’s work, it’s still future. And, since this Elijah is still future, so too is the kingdom that he ushers in. But the kingdom is coming.

Like many other couples, in the months leading up to our wedding, Patricia and I sent out Save the Date cards. No one who received one was surprised that marriage was coming, but the card confirmed its reality, provided some details that previewed that coming day, and stoked the flames of anticipation.

That’s how the transfiguration functioned. Israel knew the kingdom was coming but this confirmed it, gave them a preview of things to come, and grew their anticipation. Save the date. The kingdom is coming.

It can’t be overstated how important and helpful it is to celebrate, contemplate, and anticipate the glorious future that lays ahead for those who trust in Christ. We will one day—and for eternity thereafter—in glorified bodies, live, play, dine, and fellowship on earth ruled by a perfect king, characterized by perfect justice and peace. This is a comfort and motivation that we can’t afford to ignore.

C. S. Lewis: “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”

The kingdom is coming. That’s the first confirmation the three disciples are provided with in this incredible scene. And, if that didn’t give them a pick-me-up, then the second confirmation probably would.

Confirmation #2: The Messiah is Matchless

Not only is the kingdom coming, but the one they are following, there’s none like him. They’ve hitched their wagon to a very unique star. The Messiah is matchless.

Obviously, that he’s transfigured is a bit of a tip. It’s not that Jesus looked a little different, it’s that he fundamentally  changed. The verb is from where we get, metamorphosis, what a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. The same being, put markedly different. You can feel Matthew fumbling around for language adequate to describe what he’s seeing: he transformed and his face shone like the sun, his clothes became as white as light. There’s something special about this guy. The Messiah is matchless.

Add to his appearance, his company. Moses and Elijah aren’t just any OT saints. They represent the Law and the Prophets (see Luke 16:29). Jesus, the incarnate Word, is chatting with men who represent God’s written word. It’s a Mount Rushmore of Jewish significance. And Peter, albeit foolishly, does recognize the weight of the moment (17:4).

This leads to the most powerful evidence of the Messiah’s matchlessness: the Father affirmation (17:5; see also Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1; Deut 18:15). That it happened while [Peter] was still speaking links the two verses. It’s like Yahweh interrupted Peter to correct him. Don’t you dare put my Son on the same level as Moses and Elijah. He is my beloved. In him I am well-pleased. Listen to him.”

All at once, Jesus is fulfilling Scripture and being lifted up over it, over Moses and the law, over Elijah and the prophets. This Messiah is matchless. There’s none like him. And the disciples need that reality confirmed to them because of what lays ahead.

It can’t be overstated how important and helpful it is to celebrate, contemplate, and venerate the matchless identity of our Messiah and Saviour. To lift his name high with every breath we take knowing that very breath is a gift from him and to him it is owed. He’s the one we follow, and there’s none like him.

When there’s trouble, concern, tragedy, and fear, people look for strong men and women to lead them to safety and stability. Children look to parents, employees look to CEOs, citizens look to generals, patients look to doctors, the accused look to lawyers.

All of those leaders can be gifts from God but, ultimately, for the Christ-follower, we look to Jesus in times of panic, need, and fear. He’s a matchless Messiah. And God wanted to confirm this truth to Jesus’s disciples because of the uncertainty and vulnerability that lay ahead.

While the first two confirmations would have pumped up the disciples’ confidence balloons, the third would have poked a hole but, at the same time, would reveal why the first two were so necessary.

Confirmation #3: The Son Must Suffer

Yes, the kingdom is coming. Yes, the Messiah is matchless. But, just as certainly, the Son must suffer (17:9, 11–12).

OT prophecies spoke of Messiah suffering greatly and Jesus had already hinted at his personal fulfillment of that reality (see Matt 16:21). Why must the Son suffer? According to Isaiah 53:5–6, 11–12, the Son must be pierced, crushed, and killed for the sake of those he loves but who deserve it. The Son must suffer God’s wrath so that those to whom it is actually owed don’t have to. The Son must suffer separation from the Father so that straying sheep can one day stand before him as adopted children. The Son must suffer.

The disciples had to know this, that’s why it’s confirmed to them again. They had to get it through their heads especially because it was fast approaching and because, with his suffering comes theirs.

For the good of the disciples, three things are confirmed for them in this awesome scene: the kingdom is coming, the Messiah is matchless, and the Son must suffer. But all of this culminates in a fourth confirmation, one that’s for you and I today.

Confirmation #4: His Followers Need Not Fear

That’s you and I. God wants us to be confirmed in this truth today: We, as followers of Jesus Christ, need not fear. We are being invited by the God of the universe to be the least fearful people that walk this earth among those who are trembling.

How? Just like the disciples in this text. Their Rabbi, teacher, leader, Messiah, and friend is about to be tortured and murdered and, when that happens, they’re in trouble too. This is confirmed. It’s happening. And yet, see 17:7. How? Because of the other two confirmations: that, in spite of the looming suffering and separation, inconvenience and vulnerability, the kingdom is coming and the Messiah is matchless.

In the same way, God is speaking to you and I, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” His follower need not fear. Will we face suffering, inconveniences, uncertainty, pain, humiliation, and sorrow in this life? Yes. It’s a certainty. Confirmed (see John 16:33). And he that has overcome the world, as we’ve been reminded this morning, is matchless—the perfect leader to follow in a time of crisis—and he’s bringing a perfect kingdom in which he will wipe every tear from every eye.

His followers need not fear. “Get up, and do not be afraid.” How? We are invited to see our present suffering through the lens of the coming kingdom, the Messiah’s matchlessness, and the Son’s suffering. These lenses don’t necessarily remove the heartache, the pain, the annoyance, the loneliness, and everything else. But it does join us with Christ (see 1 Pet 4:13).

What are you suffering right now? I’ll bet it’s nothing the resurrection won’t fix. I’ll bet it’s nothing Christ didn’t endure. I’ll bet it’s nothing his face won’t calm. Save the date, brothers and sisters. The kingdom is coming. Indeed, it’s near. Our Messiah is matchless. Get up, and do not be afraid.

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