Matthew 17: Glory and the Grind (1)
Pray Psalm 93.1, 2.
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
Sing Psalm 93.1, 2.
Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King
The LORD in majesty reigns, girded and clothed in strength!
Earth stands secure: Nor shall it e’er be moved;
God on His throne above set it in place with love—
His reign is sure!
Read and meditate on Matthew 17.1-8.
How would you have responded to this?
Prepare.
1. Who came to be with Jesus on the mountain? What do they represent?
2. How would you describe the disciples’ response?
Meditate.
There’s more happening in these verses than we can do justice to in this installment. Here, I want to concentrate on just a few key items.
Jesus took the inner group of His disciples with Him, knowing what was going to happen. They saw Him become transfigured, so that He shone with His eternal glory, and everything about Him was radiant with heavenly brightness. Moses and Elijah appeared to Him there—great men in their own right and symbols of Old Testament revelation, talking with Jesus (as Luke tells us) about His “departure” (Lk. 9.31). By this we learn that the entire Old Testament pointed to Jesus and His glory, depicted and predicted His suffering, and showed the way to redemption through Him.
Naturally, the disciples were excited about this experience, and sought to prolong it. Until, that is, a bright cloud overshadowed them all, and “a voice came out of the cloud saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” Then they became terrified and fell on their faces—a natural response to being exposed to the glory of God. Jesus calmed their fears, and when they looked up, they were alone with Him again. Jesus had allowed these three disciples to see His glory, thus giving them a foretaste of their and our destination (1 Jn. 3.1-3), and a proper incentive for the work He would be assigning to them. They were to understand that all the revelation of Scripture, given in the past, and all that might be given in the days to come, is for the glory of Jesus and the furthering of His divine will.
In these three disciples, all the disciples are represented, just as in Moses and Elijah all the Old Testament is represented. This includes us. It is the will of God, for the glory of Jesus Christ, that we see Jesus, listen to Him, obey His Word, and seek His glory in everything we do. Faith that does not have these parameters and objectives is not true faith at all.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Here are a few other key items of note:
“While Peter was still speaking”—this is experience number three for him: his correct declaration on the Truth of Who Jesus is (Matt. 16.16); his blunderous rebuke of Jesus (Matt. 16.22); and now his bold bloviation on single-handedly building three tabernacles (Matt. 17.4)—“behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (Matt. 17.5).
Of note is this overshadowing: exactly like His birth announcement by the angel to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One Who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1.35).
Next, to be noted, is the fact that the Holy Spirit, the glory of God, affected all aspects of Jesus’ Presence:
“And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matt. 17.2).
It is that even the clothing upon Him was affected.
As was said of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, after they had been thrown in the fiery furnace,
surviving by God’s hand of providential grace: “And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power;
the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them” (Dan. 3.27).
Also, to be noted, were the two men who showed up accompanying Jesus.
They were representatives and summations of the entire Old Testament looking forward to the New:
Moses represented the Law and Elijah the Prophets, enveloping Jesus’ words on the validity of the commandments: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22.37-40).
Additionally noted, is God’s desire to solidify in the disciples’ minds their previous declaration of Truth.
“When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus” (Matt. 17.8).
No one else is the Son of the Living God (Matt. 16.14-16).
Not Elijah, or Jeremiah, or Moses, or any of the other prophets.
“You spoke well, Peter, Jesus is indeed, My only begotten Son.”
And finally, of note, is Jesus’ love, tenderness, kindness, gentleness, longsuffering, mercy, and grace:
“Arise, and do not be afraid” (Matt. 17.7).
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14.27).
“It is the will of God, for the glory of Jesus Christ, that we see Jesus, listen to Him, obey His Word, and seek His glory in everything we do,” knowing that: we have been “overshadowed” and filled by the Holy Spirit, Who will give us the power to have everything about us—even our clothing—be changed and affected by Him; enabling us to keep the Law as Jesus proclaimed it, because He is The Son of The living God. Always knowing that He cares about us, His disciples, as much as He cared for the original twelve.
All things considered and duly noted: we glory in Him, and with Him, on the mountain—
and the plains and plateaus of our lives.
Reflect.
1. How does this vision of Jesus add to, clarify, or otherwise enrich your vision of the Lord?
2. What are some other passages of Scripture that shape your vision of the Lord Jesus?
3. Why is it important that we focus on the vision of Jesus (Col. 3.1-3)?
Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ’s glory, as of the only begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness His crucifixion; and would give them an idea of the glory prepared for them, when changed by His power and made like Him. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 17.1-13
Pray Psalm 93.3-5.
Whatever you’re facing today—whatever seems as if it might overwhelm or drown you—Jesus is greater and more glorious still. Listen to Him, and follow His every Word.
Sing Psalm 93.3-5.
Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King
What, though the floods arise, raising their voice to the skies,
strong though they be, God on His mighty throne,
drowns out their fearsome drone, hasting to save His own,
eternally.
Almighty God on high, Your Word can never lie!
Your truth is sure—holy and just are they
who tread Your holy way; Yours shall they ever stay,
Lord, evermore.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues our readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is working through a study of the role of reason in the life of faith. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
