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Hello everyone, this is Mark Davis, and I want to welcome you to the Gospel Explorations Podcast, where we gather together each week to take time to explore God's Word to learn how we ought to live in this present age. I'm glad you've chosen to spend some time with us today. Let's jump into today's episode. Now, in our last episode, Jesus told his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem to suffer many things, that was to be killed and to be raised again on the third day. And then he called his followers to deny themselves, to take up their cross and to follow him. Now we had mentioned that was a hard word for them to hear. But now we get to Matthew 17, and Jesus gives three of his disciples a glimpse of his glory. You see, before they saw him humiliated on the cross, they saw him shining on the mountain. Before they saw him rejected by men, they heard the Father declare him beloved. And before they descend into confusion and suffering and opposition, they're given this unforgettable vision of Jesus being transfigured and exalted. So let's begin looking at Matthew chapter 17, verses 1 and 2. We read these words. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. So the scriptures tells us that Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up into this high mountain. Now notice he doesn't take all twelve, just three. And these three often appeared very close to Jesus in the most intense moments of his ministry. They were present at the transfiguration, and later they would be near him in Gethsemane. They saw his glory in the mountain and his agony in the garden. And Matthew tells us that Jesus was transfigured before them. That word really means more than just a change in appearance. It speaks to a transformation, an unveiling. It was his inward glory that shined outward. The Bible tells us his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became white as light. This is not Jesus becoming something he was not, it was him revealing what he always was. And the miracle here is not that Jesus shone with glory in this mountain, but rather that he usually concealed that glory. The eternal Son of God walked dusty roads and ate ordinary meals. He grew tired and slept in boats and mingled with sinners. But here for just a moment the veil is pulled back and the disciples see his majesty. And this matters because Jesus had just spoken of suffering and death. The disciples needed to know that the cross would not happen because Jesus lacked glory or power. He would not die because he was weak, he would die willingly. And the one who was going to be crucified is the very one whose face shone as the sun. In verse number three, we read, And behold, there appeared into them Moses and Elias talking with him. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus. These are two towering figures of the Old Testament. Moses represents the law while Elijah represents the prophets. And together they point to the fullness of the Old Testament revelation. Everything that God had revealed through the law and prophets was now standing beside Jesus. But they are not there to compete with him, they are there to testify of him. All of Scripture finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ and in his redeeming work. This reminds us that the cross was not a divine emergency plan. It was not God improvising after things went wrong. It was God's plan from the very beginning. God's redemptive plan was moving toward Christ crucified and risen. Now notice what happens in verse 4. Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias. Now Peter says, Lord, it's good that we're here, and in one sense he is very right. It was good to be where the glory of Christ is revealed. It's good to behold the majesty of the Son of God. But here we find Peter doing what Peter often does. He speaks before he fully understands. He suggests building three tabernacles, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. The problem is that this places Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. But Jesus is not one among many. He's not merely another prophet. He's not merely a greater lawyer. He's not merely just an inspired teacher. He is the beloved Son of God. And before Peter can even finish speaking, heaven interrupts him. In verse number five, we read, While he yet spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him. The scriptures tell us that while Peter yet spake, God interrupted him. A bright cloud overshadowed them. This again is recalling the very glory of God a visible sign of God's presence. And the same God who led Israel by a cloud of fire is the same God whose glory filled the tabernacle and temple, and now is the God that overshadows this mountain. And we hear God the Father speak. He says, This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him. That declaration echoes the very baptism of Jesus, but there's an added command. Hear ye him. Moses was great, but hear Jesus. Elijah was great, but hear Jesus. The law was holy, the prophets were true, but listen to Jesus. Jesus stands supreme, and all the scriptures point to him, all the prophets serve him, all the law is fulfilled in him, and all worship belongs to him. And this is a needed word in every age. We must hear Jesus above tradition, above culture, above religious systems and personal feelings. We have to hear Jesus above popular voices and competing authorities. And God the Father says, Hear him. Look with me at verses six and seven. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise and be not afraid. The disciples saw the shining face of Jesus. They saw Moses and Elijah, they saw the bright cloud, and when they heard the voice of God the Father, they fell down in fear. They were overwhelmed by the nearness of God's divine glory. And what does Jesus do? He comes to them and he touches them. What a beautiful picture. The glorious Christ is also the gentle Christ. The one whose face shines like the sun is the one who touches fearful disciples. And he calls them and says, Arise not and be not afraid. This is the voice of grace. Jesus doesn't just leave them trembling on the ground, he comes near, he touches and comforts them, he lifts them. The majesty of Jesus does not cancel his mercy. He is glorious enough to be worshipped, yet he is gentle enough to touch the fearful. Look then at verse number eight. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only. I believe this might be one of the most beautiful lines in all of Matthew's gospel. The cloud was gone, Moses is gone, Elijah is gone, but Jesus remains. And this is the very point. It's Jesus only. This doesn't dishonor Moses or Elijah, it puts them in their proper place. They were servants. Jesus is the Son of God. They pointed forward that Jesus was the fulfillment. They bore witness, and Jesus is the one they witnessed of. And when everything else fades, Jesus remains. This is the very heart of our Christian faith. Not Jesus plus works, not Jesus plus traditions, not Jesus plus our favorite teachers, or Jesus plus religious performance. It's Jesus only. He is enough for salvation, enough for forgiveness, enough for righteousness, enough for comfort, enough for life, for death, and for eternity. So what does this passage mean for us? Well, there are several truths we need to carry from this mountain. First, that Jesus is more glorious than we often realize. Most of the time, the disciples saw ordinary humanity, but on the mountain, they saw Jesus in his hidden majesty. And the same is true for us. We can become so familiar with the stories of Jesus that we forget his glory. Second, we need to understand that the cross does not contradict his glory. Jesus had just spoken of suffering, and then he's transfigured. The message is clear. His death will not be defeat. The cross is the path of obedience, redemption, and ultimately glory. Thirdly, we understand that the scriptures point to Jesus. Moses and Elijah appear, but they don't remain central. They point to him. The law and the prophets find their very meaning in Christ. And then fourth, the Father commands us to hear Jesus. It's not an option. Discipleship means listening to Christ, trusting him, obeying him, and following him. And then finally we realize that Jesus is enough. When the disciples lifted up their eyes, they saw Jesus only. That's not loss, that's fullness. They saw Jesus transfigured and Moses and Elijah. They heard the voice of the Father. They fell down in holy fear. They felt the touch of Jesus. And when they looked up, it was Him alone. I hope and pray that's true of us as well. That when experiences fade, we see only Jesus. That when voices compete, we hear only Jesus. That when fear overwhelms, we feel the touch of Jesus. And that when we need hope, we would remember his glory. The one who shines like the sun is the same one who went to the cross, and he is worthy of our worship. Friends, I just want to say thank you for joining me today on the Gospel Explorations Podcast. If this has been a help to you, please share it with someone. And be sure to check out the show notes for reflection and further study questions. Until next time, Grace and Peace, friends. Thanks for listening. I hope that you've been both encouraged and challenged today. If you want to connect with us further, please be sure to check us out on the web at Gospelexplorations.com. We look forward to having you join us again next time.