While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Matthew 17:5
Why did the Father repeat Himself? He had already said it after Jesus was baptized in Matthew 3:15. Why did this event happen at all? This appearing of Moses and Elijah. This bright cloud that covered them all. This amazing event that dropped these three to their faces. Was it about Jesus? Was it to demonstrate that He was in good company with the greatest of prophets, even Moses and Elijah?
Ultimately, as with any other being-stretching event, it always does wind up to be about the Son of God. It all points to Him in the end. Which is likely why Moses and Elijah were present and not Abraham or Jacob. For they were the ones who pointed directly to Jesus, even from the Old Testament. Moses, who stated that one would come who was greater than he (Deuteronomy 18:15-22). And Elijah, whom Micah stated would be the one who would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (Micah 4:5-6)
But in all these things, the Father also has an agenda of intentions toward us. In this case, His intention was to baptize them in His glory and thereby to unveil to them - for a brief moment - the full reality of who Jesus is. Much as Jesus was baptized in a commissioning of sorts in Matthew 3, this was a commissioning of these disciples. A commissioning and a charge to listen to Jesus and to take this revelation (in due time) to the people.
There are times when fathers will take their children to a special place and reveal to them amazing things - from father to daughter or son - so that the secret will be infused into them and carried on to the next generation. Such is the case when Jesus was transfigured on the high place.
When was this commission unveiled to you? Is it still as real to you now as it was that day? Maybe it has yet to occur. Wait for it, and savor every minute!
Ultimately, as with any other being-stretching event, it always does wind up to be about the Son of God. It all points to Him in the end. Which is likely why Moses and Elijah were present and not Abraham or Jacob. For they were the ones who pointed directly to Jesus, even from the Old Testament. Moses, who stated that one would come who was greater than he (Deuteronomy 18:15-22). And Elijah, whom Micah stated would be the one who would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (Micah 4:5-6)
But in all these things, the Father also has an agenda of intentions toward us. In this case, His intention was to baptize them in His glory and thereby to unveil to them - for a brief moment - the full reality of who Jesus is. Much as Jesus was baptized in a commissioning of sorts in Matthew 3, this was a commissioning of these disciples. A commissioning and a charge to listen to Jesus and to take this revelation (in due time) to the people.
There are times when fathers will take their children to a special place and reveal to them amazing things - from father to daughter or son - so that the secret will be infused into them and carried on to the next generation. Such is the case when Jesus was transfigured on the high place.
When was this commission unveiled to you? Is it still as real to you now as it was that day? Maybe it has yet to occur. Wait for it, and savor every minute!
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