A Moment That Changes Everything
There are moments in life that forever alter the way we see the world. Imagine someone who has been colorblind their whole life suddenly receiving special glasses that allow them to see color for the first time. The once dull, gray world explodes into vibrant hues. Some cry, some laugh, and some are left speechless. But one thing remains true—once they’ve seen, they can never go back to the way things were.
This is precisely what happens to Peter, James, and John on the mountain when Jesus is transfigured before them. They had followed Jesus, watched Him heal the sick, teach with authority, and perform miracles. But they had not yet seen Him in His full glory. The Transfiguration was their moment of revelation, their spiritual "colorblind glasses" experience.
There are moments in life that forever alter the way we see the world. Imagine someone who has been colorblind their whole life suddenly receiving special glasses that allow them to see color for the first time. The once dull, gray world explodes into vibrant hues. Some cry, some laugh, and some are left speechless. But one thing remains true—once they’ve seen, they can never go back to the way things were.
This is precisely what happens to Peter, James, and John on the mountain when Jesus is transfigured before them. They had followed Jesus, watched Him heal the sick, teach with authority, and perform miracles. But they had not yet seen Him in His full glory. The Transfiguration was their moment of revelation, their spiritual "colorblind glasses" experience.
Luke 9:28–37
28 About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. 33 As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen. 37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.
28 About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. 33 As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen. 37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.
Jesus is the Fulfillment of God’s Story
The Transfiguration of Jesus is not an isolated event. It is deeply connected to the overarching story of God’s redemption. Luke 9:29-31 recounts how, as Jesus was praying, "the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem."
Why Moses and Elijah? These two figures represent the Law and the Prophets—two pillars of the Old Testament. Moses, the great lawgiver, led the Israelites out of Egypt and delivered God's commandments. Elijah, the prophet, called Israel back to faithfulness and prepared the way for the coming Messiah. Their presence at the Transfiguration affirms that Jesus is not just another prophet or teacher. He is the culmination of God’s plan. He is the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).
Jesus is Greater than Moses and Elijah
Hebrews 1:1-2 reminds us: “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.” Jesus is not merely one more in a line of great teachers—He is the ultimate revelation of God. The Transfiguration shows that Jesus stands above all others. He is not just a messenger of God; He is God Himself.
Peter’s Mistake: Trying to Capture the Moment
Peter, overwhelmed by what he sees, reacts impulsively: “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying” (Luke 9:33).
Peter’s desire to build shelters shows his misunderstanding. He wants to hold onto the experience, to enshrine the moment. He sees Jesus, Moses, and Elijah as equals, failing to grasp that Jesus alone is the Son of God. This is when God Himself intervenes, saying: “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35).
How often do we, like Peter, try to cling to past spiritual experiences instead of following Jesus forward? We hold onto traditions, old ways of doing things, or moments of past spiritual highs, thinking that God will always move in the same way. But the Transfiguration teaches us that faith is not about freezing a moment in time—it is about moving forward in obedience to Christ.
The Meaning of Jesus’ “Departure”
Moses and Elijah weren’t discussing Jesus’ teachings or miracles; they were speaking of His departure (Luke 9:31). The Greek word used here is "exodus," linking directly to the Old Testament story of how Moses led Israel out of slavery in Egypt.
Just as Moses led Israel to freedom, Jesus would lead humanity out of the bondage of sin and death. But unlike Moses, Jesus would accomplish this through His death and resurrection. The Transfiguration, therefore, is not just about glory—it is about the path to the cross.
Are We Holding Onto an Old Version of Jesus?
Like Peter, we often try to keep Jesus in a box—one that fits our preferences, traditions, or expectations. Here are some ways we might be doing this:
Coming Down the Mountain: Moving Forward in Mission
Luke 9:37 tells us that “The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.” Jesus did not stay on the mountain in glory; He went back down into the brokenness of the world.
This is a powerful reminder for us. The mountaintop experiences with God are important, but they are not the destination—they are preparation. Jesus calls us to step down from the mountain and into the world where people are hurting, lost, and in need of the gospel.
Coming down the mountain means:
The disciples could not stay on the mountain because their mission was in the valley. The same is true for us. Our faith is not just about experiencing spiritual highs but about living in the reality of Christ’s mission on earth. As followers of Jesus, we are not called to keep our faith isolated within the walls of a church or within personal moments of revelation. Instead, we are called to take what we have seen and share it with the world.
The Transfiguration reminds us that Jesus is leading us somewhere. The question is: Will we follow?
A Transforming Vision
When someone puts on colorblind glasses for the first time, they are forever changed. The disciples, after witnessing the Transfiguration, could never see Jesus the same way again.
How will this vision of Jesus change us?
To see Jesus is to be changed by Him. To encounter His glory is to be transformed. The Transfiguration was not an ending—it was a new beginning, a commissioning for what was to come.
Jesus is calling us down the mountain, into a world that desperately needs the hope, love, and salvation He offers. Are we willing to step into that calling, to leave behind our comforts and move forward in faith?
The choice is ours. Will we follow Jesus into the valley, carrying the light of His glory to those in darkness?
The Transfiguration of Jesus is not an isolated event. It is deeply connected to the overarching story of God’s redemption. Luke 9:29-31 recounts how, as Jesus was praying, "the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem."
Why Moses and Elijah? These two figures represent the Law and the Prophets—two pillars of the Old Testament. Moses, the great lawgiver, led the Israelites out of Egypt and delivered God's commandments. Elijah, the prophet, called Israel back to faithfulness and prepared the way for the coming Messiah. Their presence at the Transfiguration affirms that Jesus is not just another prophet or teacher. He is the culmination of God’s plan. He is the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).
Jesus is Greater than Moses and Elijah
Hebrews 1:1-2 reminds us: “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.” Jesus is not merely one more in a line of great teachers—He is the ultimate revelation of God. The Transfiguration shows that Jesus stands above all others. He is not just a messenger of God; He is God Himself.
Peter’s Mistake: Trying to Capture the Moment
Peter, overwhelmed by what he sees, reacts impulsively: “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying” (Luke 9:33).
Peter’s desire to build shelters shows his misunderstanding. He wants to hold onto the experience, to enshrine the moment. He sees Jesus, Moses, and Elijah as equals, failing to grasp that Jesus alone is the Son of God. This is when God Himself intervenes, saying: “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35).
How often do we, like Peter, try to cling to past spiritual experiences instead of following Jesus forward? We hold onto traditions, old ways of doing things, or moments of past spiritual highs, thinking that God will always move in the same way. But the Transfiguration teaches us that faith is not about freezing a moment in time—it is about moving forward in obedience to Christ.
The Meaning of Jesus’ “Departure”
Moses and Elijah weren’t discussing Jesus’ teachings or miracles; they were speaking of His departure (Luke 9:31). The Greek word used here is "exodus," linking directly to the Old Testament story of how Moses led Israel out of slavery in Egypt.
Just as Moses led Israel to freedom, Jesus would lead humanity out of the bondage of sin and death. But unlike Moses, Jesus would accomplish this through His death and resurrection. The Transfiguration, therefore, is not just about glory—it is about the path to the cross.
Are We Holding Onto an Old Version of Jesus?
Like Peter, we often try to keep Jesus in a box—one that fits our preferences, traditions, or expectations. Here are some ways we might be doing this:
- Longing for Past Spiritual Highs – Some people base their faith on one past experience, like a retreat, a worship service, or a powerful sermon. While those moments are important, faith is about a daily walk with Christ.
- Expecting God to Work the Same Way He Did Before – We might assume that if God moved in one way in the past, He must do so again. But God is always doing something new (Isaiah 43:19).
- Focusing on Past Victories Instead of Present Obedience – It’s easy to look back and talk about what we used to do for God instead of asking what He is calling us to now.
- Letting Past Failures Define Us – Some hold onto shame, thinking God can’t use them because of their past mistakes. But Jesus came to redeem and restore, just as He did with Peter after his denial.
Coming Down the Mountain: Moving Forward in Mission
Luke 9:37 tells us that “The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.” Jesus did not stay on the mountain in glory; He went back down into the brokenness of the world.
This is a powerful reminder for us. The mountaintop experiences with God are important, but they are not the destination—they are preparation. Jesus calls us to step down from the mountain and into the world where people are hurting, lost, and in need of the gospel.
Coming down the mountain means:
- Engaging with the broken and the needy, just as Jesus immediately did after the Transfiguration.
- Taking what we have seen and experienced in Christ and applying it in real, everyday situations.
- Understanding that true discipleship happens not just in moments of awe but in the daily obedience of loving others and serving God.
The disciples could not stay on the mountain because their mission was in the valley. The same is true for us. Our faith is not just about experiencing spiritual highs but about living in the reality of Christ’s mission on earth. As followers of Jesus, we are not called to keep our faith isolated within the walls of a church or within personal moments of revelation. Instead, we are called to take what we have seen and share it with the world.
The Transfiguration reminds us that Jesus is leading us somewhere. The question is: Will we follow?
A Transforming Vision
When someone puts on colorblind glasses for the first time, they are forever changed. The disciples, after witnessing the Transfiguration, could never see Jesus the same way again.
How will this vision of Jesus change us?
- Are we seeing Jesus for who He truly is?
- Are we willing to listen to Him above all other voices?
- Are we willing to follow Him down the mountain into the unknown?
To see Jesus is to be changed by Him. To encounter His glory is to be transformed. The Transfiguration was not an ending—it was a new beginning, a commissioning for what was to come.
Jesus is calling us down the mountain, into a world that desperately needs the hope, love, and salvation He offers. Are we willing to step into that calling, to leave behind our comforts and move forward in faith?
The choice is ours. Will we follow Jesus into the valley, carrying the light of His glory to those in darkness?
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