Transfiguration of Jesus instructive

God came down in a cloud and called for faith in his Son

This is Italian artist Titian's depiction of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ with Moses at the upper left, Elijah at the upper right and the Apostles Peter, James and John in the foreground. Titian lived from 1490-1576. (Courtesy Photo)

Described in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ was an affirmation to the Disciples Peter, James and John that Jesus was the Son of God and the old law of Moses was no longer in effect.

Ministers Don Caywood and Greg Fleming say it was a supernatural event in which Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus about his coming crucifixion and ascension to Heaven.

“The three disciples freaked out and as Peter always did, he put his foot in his mouth,” said the Rev. Caywood, pastor of Odessa Christian Faith Center “Peter said, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’

“A cloud came down and covered them and God said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’ Moses represented the old law and Elijah the prophets.”

Asked what mountain the Transfiguration took place on, Caywood said it could have been Mount Herman but was probably the Mount of Olives, where Jesus will go when he comes again to judge mankind.

The minister said the Transfiguration foreshadowed the End Times and that most theologians believe the two witnesses in Revelation 11 will be Moses and Elijah, who will prophecy for 1,260 days before they are killed by the Beast and then are resurrected after 3 ½ days as the world watches.

“God was saying the Old Testament is dead and gone and you are New Testament people,” Caywood said. “You need to look at Jesus and not live by the old law. Put your faith in Jesus.

“Jesus fulfilled the prophets when he went to the Cross.”

The Transfiguration is described in Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-10 and Luke 9:28-36.

Fleming said Peter “seems to think he is doing something commendable by suggesting that Jesus is right up there on the same level with Elijah and Moses, but God interrupts that and says, ‘This is my Son. Listen to him!’

“Jesus is the ultimate revelation for God both in his person and in his teachings,” said Fleming, minister of Downtown Church of Christ in Midland. “The key to understanding the Transfiguration is context.

“Though each of these three Gospels has its own unique emphasis, only Luke emphasizes prayer as part of the story. Common elements in each account are the Cross to which Christ is headed, Christ’s call to his disciples to daily take up his cross and his instruction on Kingdom greatness.

“In a world that says self-assertion and self-promotion are the way to the top of the power pyramid, in word and in action Jesus flips the pyramid so that the way to greatness rests in self-giving and humility,” Fleming said. “The Transfiguration calls Christ’s disciples, then and now, to listen to him.”