Jesus’ Glory is Revealed

Matthew 17:1-2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. NKJV

Earlier in this gospel of Matthew, our Lord exposed the corruption of man’s inner man by revealing to us the words and actions that we say and do come from our heart. The Lord Jesus also had made this assessment of man prior to Him speaking with one of the lead Pharisees (Nicodemus) by not committing Himself to men who said they believed in Him, yet He knew the corruption that dwelled in man. Our nature was initially made perfect and good and in the image of God before Adam’s disobedience corrupted our nature and made it the complete opposite of the nature of God (which is holy). We were made to have communion with God and a corrupt nature cannot commune with a pure and holy nature. It is like oil and water cannot be mixed together.

This is the reason our Lord had to be made just like us by becoming human. He could rectify what the first man lost by disobedience. He would regain man’s dominion of the earth by obedience to the Father in keeping the entire law of God perfectly in word, thought, and deed and take our punishment for sin and rebellion. Though He became a man He was still God at the same time and He covered up His Glory by His human flesh. In infinite contrast to our corrupt inner man our Lord concealed the very Glory, Purity, Power, and Holiness of God in His inner man.

Peter had just earlier declared who Jesus was by saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And immediately our Lord responded by saying, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven.” Therefore the Father and our Lord must have thought the time was perfect to let the three Apostles Peter, James, and John behold the Glory of our Lord as He was about to speak with Moses and Elijah. When Peter saw our Lord in all of His Glory, he wanted to build a camp up there for everyone so they all could just stay there in the presence of Christ Majesty.

The Lord Jesus was fully man and fully God at the same time. You don’t explain that reality but by faith you just trust it to be true. Our Lord got weary when He walked long distances, and He slept and ate food like all of the disciples and yes He even went to the restroom like the other men also, but in a flash He would be walking on water, or calling a dead man out of his grave, and now before Peter and the others His face looked like the sun. These three men were privy to witness all of the Power our Lord held in reserve and only showed it forth when performing some of the previously mentioned miracles of His. The Apostles saw all that Power in one brief glimpse.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. NKJV

How His humanity and His deity dwelt in the same human body is a Divine mystery for us, yet the evidence of its reality is overwhelming and to deny either would block any chance for a soul to be redeemed. When the Apostles saw the huge cloud over them and heard the Father’s voice speak, they were terrified as any human (even the atheist) would have been and fell on their faces to worship. Peter of course never forgot this day on the mountain and was sure and certain of what he had seen and heard, but he wrote to all who would come to our Lord in the future that the Word of God is to be trusted above any vision or dream one might encounter. Peter wanted all to be sure to confirm everything they saw or heard by the eternal Word of God handed down once and for all to the saints.

2 Peter 1:16-21 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. NKJV

“The indwelling Deity darted out its rays through the veil of the flesh; and that with such transcendent splendour, that He no longer bore the form of a servant. His face shone with Divine majesty, like the sun in its strength; and all His body was so irradiated by it, that His clothes could not conceal its glory, but became white and glittering as the very light, with which He covered himself as with a garment.” John Wesley

“Remember that vision on the Mount of Transfiguration; and let it be ours, even in the glare of earthly joys and brightnesses, to lift up our eyes, like those wondering three, and see no man any more, save Jesus only.” Alexander MacLaren

“He came the first time to die; He is coming again to raise the dead. When He came the first time, they questioned whether He was King; the next time the world will know that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The first time He wore a crown of thorns; the next time He will be wearing a crown of glory. The first time He came in poverty; the next time He is coming in power. The first time He had an escort of angels; the next time He will come with ten thousands of His saints. The first time He came in meekness; He is coming again in majesty.” Dr. Adrian Rogers

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reader, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…