Mount Tabor—the historic ground where the glorious transfiguration happened. It is an important moment in the life of Jesus, and often touted as evidence of His divinity. And the witnesses of this event—Peter, John and James—might have been lucky to see the glorious transfiguration and hear God’s voice, but did they truly understand what this presentation meant or even recognise Jesus’ identity as God’s Son?
Over the weekend, I was meditating on Matthew 17: 1- 13,
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.4 Peter said to Jesus, “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.”5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Jesus lived alongside Peter, James and John. They closely watched Jesus teach about God’s kingdom and do extraordinary things. And they witnessed this important biblical event of transfiguration. Can you imagine how shell-shocked they must have been seeing Jesus’ face shine like the sun, then go on to see Moses and Elijah? Forget being just spectators, but being present there on the same ground as the transfiguration is something else. And then they hear the Great God’s voice saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well-pleased. Listen to Him!” The trio got directions from the Heavenly Father in His distinct voice. Such an astounding experience! Witnessing God declaring this beautiful truth over Jesus’ life, and then seeing Moses and Elijah. It was an anticipation of the next grand event—Resurrection—the presentation of a shining Jesus.
John 1:14 says,14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The transfiguration was a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ divine nature and manifestation of His glory, of which He was holder before coming to earth in the human form. It was on those grounds of Tabor, at that moment of the Transfiguration that Peter, John and James understood the importance of what was going around them—Jesus’teachings, the miracles. Surely, they were touched by the whole event and, probably saw Jesus in a new light but their dramatic transformation happened later on.
Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost, the three were filled with Holy Spirit along with others present in the Upper Room. It was here that they truly absorbed who Christ was. They ditched all their plans and ways for God’s will and purpose to come alive in their lives—each of them, transformed forever.
With the help of Holy Spirit inside them, they stood upright in faith; they were full of courage to stand for God, even face persecutions and severe forms of death, or rather martyrdom.
God has not called us to live mundane Christian lives; we cannot do great exploits for Him this way. Merely seeing and hearing does not bring in the power to change us. Surely, an encounter makes us see things differently but real change happens when Holy Spirit takes abode in us. Holy Spirt re-directs our journey to the path that leads to the throne room of God. Without Holy Spirit’s help, we cannot live a life pleasing to God. We might be living by the rules, but that is not enough. It is through the Spirit that a religion of rules turns into a relationship of love and honour. When we receive Holy Spirit into our lives, we erect the inner bracing that enables us to withstand the pressure of all our outer circumstances. All the rules and rituals get flushed out when the new resident—Holy Spirit—steps in. I encourage you to invite Holy Spirit to take residence in your heart today. Your perspective changes, your purpose changes and the person called ‘you’ changes. And then, when Jesus walks besides, you would know it is Him—not by sight, but by the Spirit.
Ask yourself this:
– Are you sitting on a comfortable chair, just being a spectator of divine glorious events? Is the tag ‘witness’ enough for you? – If Jesus walks alongside you, would you be able to recognise Him?– Do you feel that rituals and rules are enough to please God?– Is Holy Spirit a resident in your heart?
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