And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
— Matthew 17:1-8, ESV

We remain where we were last Sunday, in Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus took His disciples for a weeklong retreat.  You may remember this city is the location of the famous Banias Waterfall, a double drop that deposits two streams into the Jordan River.  It is here that two streams of revelation fell, as well.

One revelation is the the great, group, grace confession voiced by Simon Peter (ref. Matthew 16:13-20).  The other revelation is the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ, along with the appearance of Moses and Elijah, right before the eyes of Peter, James, and John (ref. Matthew 17:1-8).  

The great confession leads to great transformation, in more ways than one, because you and I will have more than one life.  In this life the great confession of faith in Christ transforms us into obedient followers of Christ, Christ-like people, true Christiana.  In the life to come, Jesus’ transfiguration shows us what have to look forward to, in glory, where through death or rapture our bodies will be transformed into the glorious light of perfection and peace.

God was Transformed, Twice

One of the cardinal doctrines of Holy Scripture is the immutability of God.  

Malachi spoke for God the Father when he wrote, “For I the LORD do not change” (ref. Malachi 3:6).  The writer of Hebrews affirmed this about God the Son: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (ref. Hebrews 13:8).  The same truth is true for God the Holy Spirit, “Who proceeds from the Father and the Son” (The Nicene Creed), completing the Holy Trinity of unchangeable immutability.

But while the essential nature of Almighty God has never changed, His appearance to mankind had undergone a metamorphosis, a change in appearance, on at least two occasions.  

He became a man, Jesus of Nazareth, “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (ref. Colossians 2:9).  It was an ordinary appearance, the first coming of Christ, so much so that nobody took Him to be God (ref. Isaiah 53:2).  But those who believed in Him knew better, and on this occasion three of them got a glimpse of who Jesus really is.

He became “transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.”  This was a glimpse of afterlife, of glory.  It is perhaps what people see when they die.  It certainly is a a flash of what will come to pass at the second coming of Christ.  That’s why Jesus commends us to “have no fear,” only faith, hope, and love.

As the great gospel singer Ashley Cleveland sang, “God, God don’t never change. God, always will be God!”  But God changes people.  And He changes them, twice.

Moses and Elijah were Transformed, Twice

Two notable men played supporting roles in the transfiguration of Christ.  You know them well if you know your Old Testament. “And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with [Jesus].”

Moses was a man especially transformed by God, twice.  Adrift on a river at birth, Moses was an adopted Egyptian prince, succored and schooled in the ways of the world.  But when he heard the word of God from a burning bush, Moses was changed into the deliver of Israel, and led them to the precipice of the promised land.  Then, he died.  

But, here Moses is, very much alive and talking with Jesus, as witnessed by the disciples.  Moses was, and is, alive.  He was transformed, again, this time through death into everlasting life in the presence of God.  Moses followed God in his earthly life, now he has fellowship with God in everlasting life.  One leads to the other.

Elijah was a man uniquely transformed by God, twice.  A failed preacher ready to quit, God quickened his spirit, put miraculous power in his hands, and made him the reformer of Israel.  He preached mighty sermons, performed mighty miracles, and prepared his mighty successor, Elisha.  He was a new man, until he wasn’t, seen anymore that is, and was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.

But, here Elijah is, talking with Jesus, as witnessed by the disciples.  Elijah was, and is, alive.  In fact, he never died, as far as we know one of only two (Enoch, ref. Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5, and Elijah).  He had been transformed again through his own personal rapture.  Elijah followed God in his earthly life, now he enjoys fellowship with God in everlasting life.  One leads to the other.

The transformations experienced by these two Old Testament saints have also been experienced by saints Peter, James, and John.

Peter, James, and John were Transformed, Twice

When Jesus first met Peter, James, and John, they were simple fishermen in Capernaum.  Jesus changed their lives.  No longer fishermen, they became fishers of men.  They were named Apostles, eyewitnesses of the first coming of Christ, personally appointed by Jesus to lead His church.  Furthermore, these three were the Lord’s inner circle, Jesus’ best friends on earth.  

And so it was, near the end of their retreat in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus hauled them up the mountain and gave them a glimpse of His glory.  Glory is where you see God as He really is.  Glory is where the saints are, like Moses and Elijah.  Glory is where we will end up, if we are following the Lord Jesus Christ.

This was a transformational experience in the life of these three.  But it was just part of the larger transformation that began when the met the Lord, followed Him, joined Him in His work, watched Him die, saw Him resurrected from the grave, and looked on as He ascended into Heaven with the promise to one day return.  

The transformation continued all through their Christian lives on earth, until each one lost their lives.  Peter was crucified, allegedly upside down, in Rome.  James was the earliest martyr among them, executed by evil King Herod Agrippa I.  John lived the longest but died after being hounded, persecuted, and tortured for the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

When each man died they were transformed again, for the second time.  We in the land of the living do not know exactly what that looks like.  But I suppose if the Lord were with us today, transfigured like He was then, there would be at least five guys enveloped in glory, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, and John.  Many more saints await around the throne today.  They are more alive now they they ever were on earth.

All Followers of Christ will be Transformed, Twice

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself.
— 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

The first change is owed to the transforming power of God.  By it we are born again, transformed, from dead sinners into living saints.  This begins when we “listen to Him,” hear, heed, and obey the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We experience repentance, a change of mind leading to a change of heart resulting in a change of life.  We receive faith, the gift of grace that saves us and secures us for eternity.  

It is not a momentary, human decision.  It is a divine transformation.  It is real.  It lasts.  It bears fruit.  And it reminds us that the best is yet to come, at the second transformation.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
— 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Remember how Moses and Elijah came to be with Jesus at the transfiguration.  Moses arrived through the veil of death.  Elijah was raptured.  Most of us will meet the Lord like Moses, the moment we die.  Others will still be alive at the second coming of Christ, and meet Him in the air.  Either way, “we shall (all) be changed.”  

The first change brings justification and sanctification, but also sacrifice, suffering, and there is no immunity from the impoverishments and diseases that plague all the earth.  The second change brings glorification, complete closure with Christ, in a land where there is no suffering, no sickness, no destruction, no death.  Hallelujah, praise the Lord.

So let us remember why we were invited on this retreat with the Lord and His disciples, where the two streams of revelation fall down.  We must make the great confession in order to experience the great transformation.  

“Listen to Him!”  Then, “Rise, and have no fear.”  Give the Lord your life an earth, now, gain it back, better in Heaven, forever and ever.  Amen.