The Transfiguration of Jesus
His Glory and Our Glory
Scriptures
2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9 Theme
The Glory of Christ
Sermon Summary
Christ's transfiguration prefigures the salvation and sanctification of the world.
Introduction
There is an unfortunate tendency, within some Jewish and Christian theologies, to
destructively link God's command to be "holy" (Leviticus 11:45-47) with the doctrine of
Original Sin (Genesis 3:17). Persons so disposed tend to then treat the world as an inherently
fallen place, with no redeemable qualities. They look forward to a time when the chosen will be
removed from the world and therefore maintain little concern for improving the state of the
world and the human condition as they are now.
I grieve for those who hold onto such viewpoints. From my reading of the Christian scriptures,
I believe that God loves his creation –and that includes plants and creatures of all kinds, even
the dirt we walk on (Genesis 1:31a).
Of course, this is a fallen world; perhaps not after the manner believed by some to be the case.
But this fallen world is redeemable, and God loves His creation so much that he has both saved
and sanctified it.
I want to proceed to convince you of God's love for His creation –including both you and the
world we live in– and encourage you to hold a more positive and constructive estimate of our
potential, despite the present state of our affairs.
The Transfiguration of Jesus Prefigures God's Intentions
2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high
mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His
clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And
there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters
—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6(He did not know what to say, they
were so frightened.)
7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is
my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
8Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except
Jesus.
9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone
what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:2-9)
1. How overwhelmed we too would have been to be present at the complete unveiling of Jesus'
beauty and glory (:3), as was Peter (:5-6).
2. While we might simply attribute this occurrence to Jesus' divine nature, the presence of
Elijah and Moses (:4) connects Jesus' transfiguration to his human nature as well.
Elijah reportedly never died; Moses was buried by God himself, and some (unbiblical)
Jewish traditions even claimed that Moses was still alive. These two figures were both
expected to return in some sense before the time of the end.
a. Their presence indicates both that the end is near (or the beginning of the end) and that
Jesus is greater than they who were prophets, judges, and rulers.
3. Jesus' transfiguration prefigures his salvation and sanctification of the whole of creation.
a. To "prefigure" is show a likeness of what is to come. Jesus' transfiguration is a likeness
of what will happen after His death (:9).
i. We might say that the human-Jesus is rescued (saved, redeemed) and repaired (made
holy, sanctified) by the divine-Jesus.
ii. God loves His Son (:7) –can we say, "makes Him lovely"– but He also loves the
world. What is good for the Son is good for the world!
16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right
up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies. (Romans 8:22-23)
iii. Why rescue and/or recover something that you are disappointed with or that is
ruined beyond repair?
God does indeed seek to rescue (save) His creation, as well as repair (sanctify) it. God's creation
–that which He works to rescue and repair– includes the world as much as humankind.
The Example of the Holy City
1. God rescues and repairs His creation, one person at a time, with a purpose in mind: to
rescue and repair the whole.
2. The transformation of Jerusalem/Zion is an example of this intention.
a. From Psalm 50 we read that "from Zion ... God shines forth ... He summons the heavens
above, and the earth, that He may judge his people" (:2, 4).
i. Jerusalem/Zion was a city, built on a mountainside, which was given to the ancient
people of Israel –or "conquered by", depending on your perspective– as they entered
the land promised to them by God.
ii. It is a human city, which, as the capital of God's chosen nation, becomes a sanctified
city, to which God will draw all people and all nations to worship Him.
1Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2It is beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth.
Like the utmost heights of Zaphona is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King. (Psalm 48:1-2)
2In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
5Come, O house of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:2-5)
God transforms a city so as to glorify Him and to stand as a witness to all people, everywhere.
God likewise transforms people for this purpose.
Seek God's Light
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness", made his light shine in our hearts
to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2
Corinthians 4:3, 6)
1. Unfortunately, from 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, we discover that the glory of God's salvation and
sanctification is recognisable only to those who seek His light, even though that light shines
perpetually.
a. Elijah was a great prophet of God. From 2 Kings 2:1-12, we read that he was swept up
into heaven without dying. Elisha, his student, saw the glory of God in Elijah and
wanted that same blessing. Both Elijah and Elisha are great witnesses of faith.
29But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with
all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
The seeker is rewarded by finding God; the disciple is rewarded by sanctification; the saint is
rewarded with ascension; the world will be transformed with a glory that will surely
overwhelm us to behold it.
Conclusion
If you, like I, despair of the state of the world and the condition of humanity, take heart in these
words:
16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
God has not left His creation groaning for release from the destructiveness of humanity's self-imposed sinful withering. Instead, He has acted on our behalf to rescue and recover His
creation, to save and sanctify us. Do we, will we, see the light of God's glory around us? Seek
God with all your heart and be transformed into the likeness and glory of Jesus the Christ, and
you, and our world, will be saved!
sermon delivered by Ian Forest-Jones
at Hurstville Church of Christ
on Sunday, 26 February 2006
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