The story of the mount of transfiguration is one of those objective moments that should have ended any doubt of Jesus deity for the apostles. Jesus and the boys are up praying and seeking God when, out of nowhere, appears Moses and Elijah. Jesus changes to His heavenly appearance and they the three Heavenly beings are discussing Jesus’s departure. It says that the disciples were sleepy but that woke them up! It would me! Imagine seeing Elijah and Moses and hear them speaking to your teacher as an equal. If that was not enough, then the Father surrounds them and tells them to listen to the Teacher.
Luke tells us that these men kept the experience to themselves, I’m not going to lie; I would not have been able to keep that experience to myself. Peter tells Jesus that this is a good time lets set up camp and hang out with Elijah and Moses for a while. RIGHT!!!!!! I would have at least asked for a selfie with them or some merch. When one encounters God so intensely, it must impact them. It certainly impacted Peter, James, and John. Peter and James experience at Pentecost, the temple and as persecution set in. John’s leadership and ultimate exile and revelation all point to a life forever changed.
We have the benefit of experiencing these amazing miracles through God’s word. We should embrace it and allow it to transform us as it did those three men! What a miracle to see Elijah on Mount Carmel and again on the Mount of Transfiguration. We have the blessing of watching Moses grow into the master shepherd of Israel and become one of God’s best friends. We see these men at their best and worst. The one constant is that in all circumstances God’s Love for these people remains constant and unconditional. That should be the gift we all unwrap this Christmas–the assurance and evidence that Jesus is God! As we are going into the holiday, I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
God Bless You
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses, and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure,[a] which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”
41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.
Walking With God 