Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus. As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Matthew 17:1-9 (NLT)

Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!” Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them. Mark 9:1-8 (NLT)

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36 (NLT)

These scriptures ought to draw the attention of any serious student of the Lord as regards the revelation of Christ and the conduct of His disciples on such occasions. We will look principally at the Matthew texts but draw from the other gospels to get the full picture of events.

Common to the two sets of scriptures is that they had in context the:

1. 3 disciples that could be regarded as His most trusted: and
2. Disposition that we will speak to later in this treatise – Luke 9:32 on one hand and Matthew 26:40-43

MATTHEW 16-17 THE CONTEXT
Chapter 16:16-23 sets the stage for the Transfiguration. The Transfiguration stands in sharp contrast to the humiliation about which Jesus warned the disciples in chapter 16. On the mountain (spiritually defined as the place where man meets with God), Jesus is glorified–a preview of the godly majesty that He will experience after the Ascension! In Chapter 16, Jesus’ identity, mission, and method were clearly established as the trail to Gethsemane would clearly show and the prophecy of Isaiah 52:13-15 also outlined. A clear pattern indicting the present church of the derailment from the path of the Lord.

MATTHEW 17:1-9 brings into view, Moses, Elijah and the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? For Moses represented the law and Elijah the prophets (Matthew 5:17). We will get to this later.

• Vs 1. UP INTO A HIGH MOUNTAIN – “After six days” (v. 1a). Six is an important number in the Bible. God created the world in six days, resting on the seventh. Hebrew slaves were required to work for their master only six years, being freed on the seventh. The place of revelation is intended to lead us to spiritual rest, providing us with answers to things that trouble us or make us stumble. That’s why sloth and carelessness are to be avoided.

“Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother” (v. 1b). Three disciples—Peter, James, and John—accompany Jesus to the mountain, just as Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu accompanied Moses (Exodus 24:1-9). We might wonder why Jesus chooses these three disciples to accompany Him in the key moments of His life. Peter’s importance as the leader of the disciples is self-evident. John is traditionally considered to be “the one whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23), making him another obvious choice. The three disciples, Peter, James and John, will not appear again as the inner circle until Gethsemane (26:37) where they were called to be witnesses to Jesus’ struggles and agony through the night that culminates with His arrest (Matthew 26:36ff). The Transfiguration and Gethsemane are the two most intimate experiences that Jesus shares with His disciples, and the same three disciples witness both. Peter will mention the Transfiguration in 2 Peter 1:16-18.

“brought them up into a high mountain” (v. 1c). Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain, where they will see Elijah and Moses and hear the voice from the cloud. This contrasts with Moses’ Sinai experience, where he took Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu with him to the mountain, but only Moses was allowed to come into the presence of God (Exodus 24:1-2). The mountain is not named. However, the exact location is less important than what happens there. The high mountain symbolizes the place where heaven and earth meet—the place where God is revealed. The high mountain is also reminiscent of Mount Sinai, where Moses encountered God with such great consequence.

“by themselves” (v. 1d). This phrase and the mention of the high mountain emphasize the privileged nature of this experience.

• Vs.2. HE WAS TRANSFIGURED BEFORE THEM

The Greek word for “transfigured” is metemorphothe, from which we get the word metamorphosis. This word describes the change that occurs when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Jesus’ “face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white,” a reminder of Moses at Sinai. After his encounter with God, Moses’ face shone so brightly that the people were frightened, and Moses had to wear a veil over his face (Exodus 34:29-35). The disciples know the Moses story and would surely make this connection. The New Testament includes other similar images at the resurrection (Matthew 28:3; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:12; Acts 1:10). Paul promises that we who have seen the Lord’s glory shall also be transformed “into the same image, from one glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Revelation speaks of the Son of Man’s face “like the sun shining with full force” (Revelation 1:16).

• Vs.3. MOSES AND ELIJAH

Why Moses and Elijah? “These two men symbolize the coming of the messianic age, and their conversation with Jesus marks Him out the more clearly as the Messiah who comes as the capstone to their eschatological role” They however still did not see the church age in view! As mentioned earlier they represent the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah), the most authoritative portions of the Hebrew Scriptures—and they are two of the most important Old Testament figures.

They are both associated with the “Mountain of God” (Exodus 18:5; 1 Kings 19:8).

The Jews thought of Elijah’s return as ushering in the messianic age which the Lord confirmed again to these disciples as having been fulfilled in John the Baptist (Matthew 17:10-13).

Matthew tells us nothing of the content of Jesus conversation with Moses and Elijah, but Luke tells us that they speak of Jesus’ departure (Greek: exodon—from exodus)— which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31)—an obvious reference to His death, resurrection, and ascension.

• Vs.4. THREE TENTS

Now things get more interesting here with Peter offering to make three tents or booths or dwellings (skenas), one each for Jesus, Moses and Elijah—accommodations worthy of these august men. Why three tents (skenas)? We are not told, but from the account of Luke of them being sleepy and just waking to the spectacle, it is not out of place that Peter’s nature took hold!

Peter, a man of action, may simply have felt the need to do something. After the resurrection, Peter would exhibit the rock-steady maturity that Jesus attributed to him in chapter 16 but not yet! Peter will be a Rock but right now, he is a flake!

1. He does not possess the self-discipline to listen or wait but speaks and acts without restraint. Why tents? They just happen to be the first thing that pops into his mind—not without reason, as noted above—but the first thing that pops into his mind—a plan of action that, if Jesus approves, will allow Peter to get busy. He is comfortable being busy.
2. It is his way of gaining control in an out-of-control situation. We will see this again in a storm (14:28-31) and at Gethsemane (26:51).
3. Here at the Transfiguration, Peter’s plan of action has as much to do with finding his own comfort zone as it does with honoring Jesus.

The events that followed make it obvious that Peter’s suggestion is misguided. What is his mistake? Putting the Lord Jesus Christ at the same level as Moses and Elijah demanded heaven interrupting his speech.

Peter was an action man rather than a contemplative one. Both action and contemplation are needed – and the trick is determining which is required at a given moment. Always remember the adage that says, “Haste makes waste,” and that is certainly true. There are important lessons for all who tend to be eternally busy need to hear!

1. There is a time for action, but there is also a time for prayer—for studying the scriptures—for listening—for reflection—for meditation.
2. Our actions are more likely to obtain the desired results if we first take time to pray, to read, to listen, to reflect, and to meditate.
3. Equally problematic is the fact that our busyness often stands in the way of clear thought and is often an excuse for avoiding close personal relationships.

These are lessons we need to take to heart, all who lay claim to true discipleship, who are learning at the feet of the Lord. Selah