A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

Ses s i on 3: The Gospe l s : The Man i fes tat i on of Chr i s t , Par t I I 79

C. The Transfiguration: a majestic pulling-back-of-the-curtain of the Son’s glory

1. This incident reveals the glory which Jesus emptied himself of in his public ministry on earth.

a. Matt. 17.1-3 – And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. [2] And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. [3] And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. b. Phil. 2.6-8 – . . . who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” 2. The significance of this is prophetic and certain: Jesus of Nazareth is confirmed to be the Messiah from the glory revealed in the Transfiguration, 2 Pet. 1.16-18 – For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ [18] we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”