Laindon Bible study given on the 11th January 2017 on the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ (as recorded in the synoptic gospel records)

1. The transfiguration of Jesus
Laindon Bible Study, 11th January2017

2. A changein emphasis
The transfiguration of Jesus 2
“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto
his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem,
and suffer many things of the elders and chief
priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised
again the third day.”
Matthew 16 v 21

3. The reasons for the transfiguration
The transfiguration of Jesus 3
For our Lord
A brief participation in
the joy set before him
(Hebrews 12 v 1),
reassuring Jesus that
he did indeed come to
fulfil the Law [Moses] &
the Prophets [Elijah]
(Mark 5 v 17) through
his sacrificial death
For the three
A revelation of the
anticipated glory and
majesty of their Lord (2
Peter 1 v 16-18), which
would be recalled after
Jesus’ resurrection to
provide the disciples
with hope (Mark 9 v 9-
10, John 14 v 26)
For us as well
A profound insight into
a most private
occasion, disclosing the
resplendent form of an
immortalised being –
and the means by
which this was made
possible (through
Jesus’s “decease”)

4. Imprintedupon Peterand John
•The eyewitness testimony in their writings…
The transfiguration of Jesus 4
2 Peter 1 v 16-18
16 For we have not followed cunningly
devised fables, when we made known unto
you the power and coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his
majesty. 17 For he received from God the
Father honour and glory, when there came
such a voice to him from the excellent
glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased. 18 And this voice which
came from heaven we heard, when we
were with him in the holy mount.
John 1 v 14
14 And the Word was
made flesh, and
dwelt among us, (and
we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the
only begotten of the
Father,) full of grace
and truth.
1 John 3 v 2
2 Beloved, now are we
the sons of God, and it
doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but
we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall
be like him; for we
shall see him as he is.

5. Thethree synopticrecords
The transfiguration of Jesus 5
Matthew Mark Luke
17
v
1 - 9
9
v
2 - 10
9
v
28 - 36

6. A fulfilledprophecyof Jesus
•Follows on from Jesus’ prediction of the coming kingdom:
• One of the most adjacent prophecies & fulfilments in scripture?
The transfiguration of Jesus 6
Matthew 16 v 28-17 v 1
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some
standing here, which shall not taste of
death, till they see the Son of man
coming in his kingdom. [ch. 17] 1 And
after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James,
and John his brother, and bringeth
them up into an high mountain apart,
Luke 9 v 27-28
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be
some standing here, which shall not
taste of death, till they see the kingdom
of God. 28 And it came to pass about an
eight days after these sayings, he took
Peter and John and James, and went up
into a mountain to pray.
Mark 9 v 1-2
1 And he said unto them, Verily I say
unto you, That there be some of them
that stand here, which shall not taste of
death, till they have seen the kingdom
of God come with power. 2 And after six
days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and
James, and John, and leadeth them up
into an high mountain apart by
themselves: and he was transfigured
before them.
A clear connection is being made
“we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1 v 16)

7. “After six” or “aboutan eight” days?
•“After six days” (Matthew, Mark) or “about an eight days”
(Luke)?
• The two can be easily reconciled – eight including the day of the
prediction and the day of the fulfilment (six excluding these)
•The significance of these numbers?
• Is six days of a thousand years (2 Peter 3 v 8) before the
establishment of the kingdom and the transformation of the
resurrected saints
• In the eighth millennia all inhabitants of the earth will exist in a
beautified and immortalised state
The transfiguration of Jesus 7
Note: parallels with Moses at Sinai, for six days “the glory of the Lord abode” on the mount (Exodus 24 v 16)

8. Who chosen to accompany& why?
•Remember Jesus’s words “some standing here” i.e. not all
•Three individuals specifically selected: Peter, James & John
•The same three individuals who:
• Witnessed the resurrection of the ruler of the synagogue’s
daughter (Mark 5 v 37, Luke 8 v 51)
• Went further into Gethsemane with the Lord Jesus (Mark 14 v 33)
The transfiguration of Jesus 8
Romans 8 v 16-17
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together.
Also see similar verses in: 2 Corinthians 1 v 5, 2 Timothy 2 v 11-12 and 1 Peter 4 v 13

9. Which mount& doesit matter?
• Was traditionally understood as Tabor
 Location of Roman fort, summit inhabited
•Some have suggested Nebo due to the
connection with Moses or even Horeb
given link with both Moses & Elijah
 Distance to be travelled in a week, also
when descended:
•Now commonly accepted as Hermon
Near Caesarea Philippi (Mt 16 v 13, Mk 8 v 27)
The transfiguration of Jesus 9
“And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were
come down from the hill, much people met him.” (Luke 9 v 37)
Mt
Horeb

10. Which mount& doesit matter?
•Clearly, not the most critical factor
where it occurred
•Important that a mountain:
• Place of solitude (cp. Mt 14 v 23)
• Link with the kingdom (cp. Is 2 v 2)
• Closer to God (cp. Sinai/Horeb)
• Physical effort required to climb (cp.
our probations, towards a summit)
•Highest peak of Hermon is >9,000 ft (snow
capped), could have been a lower peak
The transfiguration of Jesus 10

11. Whenin Jesus’s ministry & in day?
•Probably around 6 months before the crucifixion (perhaps at
time of feast of tabernacles? Hence: Mt 17 v 4)
•Seemingly was at night, which would explain:
• “Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep”* (Lk 9 v 32), as
was the case on the Gethsemane evening
• “And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down
from the hill” (Lk 9 v 37)
• [This was also the time of day when Jesus often prayed (e.g. Lk 6 v 12)]
The transfiguration of Jesus 11
Adds to the dramatic effect…
* Perhaps representing symbolic
death and resurrection, as with
Daniel 8 v 18, 10 v 9

12. Answeredprayer
•Characteristically, Jesus had gone into the mountain to pray
•What was the content of this prayer?
• We don’t know in detail, but it appears that the transfiguration
came as an answer/response from God
• Compare with Daniel’s prayers in ch. 10 that were answered with
the ‘Certain man’ prophecy (also involved a deep sleep)
The transfiguration of Jesus 12
Luke 9 v 28-29
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and
James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his
countenance was altered... Note: contrast the effect of this prayer with that in Luke 22 v 44

13. Jesus’ metamorphosis
•The Greek word translated transfigured is only found four
times in scripture
•Two of these refer to this occasion (Mt 17 v 2, Mk 9 v 2)
•The original word is where we get metamorphosis from
 Gk. metamorphoo  to transform, change completely, to
change into another form
The transfiguration of Jesus 13

14. How Jesusappearedto the disciples
•Comparison of the synoptic records:
•A heavenly glory, like unto the angels (cp. Mt 28 v 3)
•Contrast with the vailed Moses (Ex 34 v 35 / 2 Cor 3 v 13-16)
•If Hermon snow-capped (at night) we can imagine reflections
The transfiguration of Jesus 14
Matthew 17 v 2 Mark 9 v 3 Luke 9 v 29
“…and his face did shine as the
sun, and his raiment was white as
the light.”
“And his raiment became shining,
exceeding white as snow; so as
no fuller on earth can white them.”
“…the fashion of his countenance
was altered, and his raiment was
white and glistering.”
Revelation 19 v 8
8 And to her [the Lamb’s wife] was granted that she should
be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine
linen is the righteousness of saints.
Daniel 12 v 3 (see also Matthew 13 v 43)
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of
the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness
as the stars for ever and ever.
i.e. not of this order of things

15. Moses & Elijah speak ofan Exodus
•A very specific topic of conversation:
•Jesus death an accomplishment, the means of success* (the
way to achieve a transfiguration – as it is for us)
•Only two other NT appearances of Gk. exodos:
• Hebrews 11 v 22: “the departing of the children of Israel”
• 2 Peter 1 v 15: “after my [Peter’s] decease… have… in remembrance”
The transfiguration of Jesus 15
Luke 9 v 30-31
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared
in glory, and spake of his decease [Gk. exodos] which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
* For self and others (represented in Moses & Elijah)

16. Why Moses and Elijah?
Received mountain revelations from God
Representative of the Law Representative of the Prophets
Succeeded by Joshua, who
clearly prefigured Jesus’s work
Succeeded by Elisha, who also
clearly prefigured Jesus’s work
Died and therefore represents
dead in Christ at his coming?
Carried away (held suspended?)
and therefore represents living
at Christ’s coming?
The transfiguration of Jesus 16

17. Was thisa visionor reality?
•“Tell the vision to no man” (Matthew 17 v 9)!
• Vision just means something seen (see NIV, NET, Amplified trans.)
• It is, for example, used in Acts 7 v 31 to describe the burning bush
•Commentators sometimes tied in knots trying to explain the
how - a mistaken approach (God’s workings not limited)
•Argument for a reality (making event meaningful for Jesus):
• “Moses and Elias talking with him” (Mt 17 v 3) “two men that stood
with him” (Lk 9 v 32) “Let us make here three tabernacles” (Mt 17 v 4)
“As they departed from him” (Lk 9 v 33) “Jesus was found alone” (Lk 9
v 36)
•A kind of ‘time bubble’, with Jesus transported to kingdom?
The transfiguration of Jesus 17

18. ‘Two or three witnesses’
•Two witnesses to Jesus’ Messiahship – Moses and Elijah
•Three witnesses to the glory/majesty – Peter, James & John
The transfiguration of Jesus 18
Deuteronomy 19 v 15
15 …at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be
established.
Luke 16 v 31 [Parable of Rich Man & Lazarus]
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
2 Peter 1 v 16-18
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory,
when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
John 1 v 14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 John 3 v 2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

19. The significanceof threetabernacles
•As already noted, possibly time of the feast of tabernacles
•It was Peter’s desire to stop Moses & Elijah departing (Lk 9 v
33), perhaps indicating his immediate wish for the kingdom
• Note: he did not suggest six tabernacles, just three
•The feast of tabernacles is associated with the future age:
• The last feast in the year (a culmination of the religious calendar)
• Tabernacles were made of evergreen branches cp. God’s
everlasting dwelling place with man
• The one feast specifically mentioned as being universally kept in
the kingdom age (see Zechariah 14 v 16)
The transfiguration of Jesus 19

20. Thedivinevoicefrom the cloud
•Link back to the time of Jesus’ baptism (3 years before), see
Mt 3 v 17, Mk 1 v 11, Lk 3 v 22
•Words of great reassurance to our Lord, a public declaration
•Draws from the Old Testament:
The transfiguration of Jesus 20
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
(Matthew 17 v 5, red words indicate differences to parallels in Mark/Luke)
Psalm 2 v 7
7 I will declare the
decree: the Lord hath
said unto me, Thou art
my Son; this day have I
begotten thee.
Isaiah 42 v 1
42 Behold my servant, whom I
uphold; mine elect, in whom my
soul delighteth; I have put my
spirit upon him: he shall bring
forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Deuteronomy 18 v 15
15 The Lord thy God will raise up
unto thee a Prophet from the
midst of thee, of thy brethren,
like unto me; unto him ye shall
hearken;

21. Our Lord’s spirit
The transfiguration of Jesus 21
“And as they came down from the mountain,
he charged them that they should
tell no man what things they had
seen, till the Son of man were risen from
the dead.” Mark 9 v 9

22. Our personal transfiguration(now)
•We must change now to have hope of change in future:
The transfiguration of Jesus 22
Romans 12 v 2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 Corinthians 3 v 18
18 But we all, with open face beholding as
in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

23. Our future hope(Godwilling)
The transfiguration of Jesus 23
Colossians 3 v 4
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then
shall ye also appear with him in glory.