Transcript

Matthew 17:5-9 · NOBA @ Noon

Canon Justin Murff: The Gospel of Matthew chapter seventeen verses five through nine He was still speaking when behold a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, Rise and have no fear. And when they lifted up their eyes they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain Jesus commanded them tell no one of the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. The Gospel of the Lord Today's reading brings us to the Mount of Transfiguration, one of the most mysterious and magnificent moments in the Gospels. Peter, James, and John have accompanied Jesus up a high mountain. There his appearance has been transformed, his face shining like the sun, his clothes becoming white as light, and suddenly Moses and Elijah also appear and are talking with Jesus. Jesus was still speaking when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. The bright cloud recalls God's presence, his Shekinah with Israel in the wilderness, the glory cloud that led them, the same cloud now covering Sinai and filled the tabernacle. This wasn't merely an impressive meteorological event. It was a divine manifestation of the Father's presence and now God the Father was speaking directly to the disciples. The Father's declaration echoes the one that he made at Jesus' baptism, my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. But now here on the mountain, God gives a command. Listen to him. This divine instruction is crucial. Moses and Elijah were being honored by their appearance, but they were not the focus. Jesus is the one to heed. When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. This response is entirely appropriate. Encountering the very presence of God produces terror in sinful humans, and it produces awe and reverence in the in those who seek and know the Lord. But Jesus came and he touched them, saying, Rise and have no fear. And when they lifted up their eyes they saw no one but Jesus only. The touch of Jesus bridges the gap between divine glory and human frailty. The words Rise and have no fear. They don't deny what they've experienced, but they provide the relational context that makes the experience real. When Moses and Elijah had departed, the cloud lifted What remains was and what always has remained is Jesus. And as they're coming down the mountain, Jesus commands them to tell no one of what they saw until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. This command recognizes that the transfiguration would be misunderstood apart from the resurrection. Only after Easter would all of the pieces fit together. You know, for Matthew's original reader, this account confirms Jesus' unique status. He wasn't merely a teacher or a prophet. No, he was the beloved Son of God, endorsed by God the Father Himself. Well, how does this passage speak to us today? First it reveals who Jesus truly is, his real identity. We often domesticate Jesus, right, reducing him to just a helpful teacher, but the transfiguration shatters those reductions, and it highlights who Jesus truly is and why he is worthy of all of our praise. Second, the command of God to listen to Jesus remains binding. Amid all the voices competing for our attention, Jesus' voice should take precedence. After all, God commanded us to listen to him. Third, Jesus' response to the terrified disciples models just how he meets us in our own fear. He doesn't condemn us, he speaks reassurance, and he calls us to be at peace. Today, Spend some time contemplating Jesus' glory. Let the reality of who Jesus is sink in, and that the one you follow shines like the sun. When we hear the Father's command, listen to him. Let's take it to heart. Spend some time today listening to Jesus.