Matthew 17:2
“And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as whiteas light.”
This is a picture of Jesus coming back in His glory in His second coming. He says this in the previous chapter, the last verse, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom”, (Matthew 16:28). It might look like His pre incarnate self. We don’t know for sure. We know that He was God, the Son, before He came to earth as a baby. God, all mighty, with all the power of any person of the Godhead.
When Jesus came to earth He was still God, but He put His power aside and trusted the Father and the Spirit to guide and empower Him. Philippians 2:6,7 says, “who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.” He was God in all His power, but He laid it aside for us.
This is an amazing demonstration of faith. If any two members of the trinity wanted to get rid of the other, this was their chance. But He did lay His power aside and trust the Father and the Spirit to empower Him to do His great work and bring Him back to His position as God, the Son.
This means we can trust God to work His perfect will in us. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”. If we are trusting Him with our lives, then we don’t need to worry about things. Circumstances may worry us, but we can trust Him. We cast our worries upon Him and He will work them out (I Peter 5:7). Jesus trusted God with so much at stake, so can we.
We know that Jesus looked different when He was resurrected. Many didn’t recognize Him. Mary didn’t until He spoke her name, the two on the rode to Emmaus didn’t. While this is the same Jesus who was transfigured on the mount, that one was in His more full glory and power. The reaction of the disciples was to fall down and cover their eyes. Mary didn’t have that reaction.
I wonder if Jesus will keep His humanity when we are in the kingdom. I don’t know. I do know that He does change the way He is presented. In one image He is a Lamb who was slain. In another He is a Lion and yet another He is coming back on a stallion as a conquering King.
This was quite a revelation to the three disciples. He’s walking with Him one day as a man, but then we see His transfiguration. This is a brief snapshot as to who He really is. He is God. That adds much to the story. Jesus is more than a man. He is God, the One who often visited the saints in the Old Testament. John and Peter will go on to be great influences in the church. They need to know who Jesus is. Peter wrote His epistles and John wrote a gospel, his epistles and the book of Revelation. We see His deity in their writings.
What will be tough for the disciples is the fact that Jesus will die on the cross. Many were hoping for one to overthrow Rome. So, Jesus would bring this up and the disciples were confused. Peter tried to correct Him, but was corrected himself, (Matthew 16:22-23).
God’s plans are often very different than ours. Isaiah 55:8 says, ‘“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.’ That’s a good lesson to learn as a christian. It’s never ending. I entered some circumstances last year that were wrong. I stood my ground and reported this to the authorities, but they took their side. I was shocked. I was expecting God to work this out. It was not to be. I had to give it up and trust Him.
Lord, help us to trust You. Thank You that You are good and You are God. Help us to trust You with all.