What Jesus did #12: his face shone like the sun

Today we look at what has come to be known as the Transfiguration of Christ. Let’s first of all break down that word ‘transfiguration’.

The noun ‘transfiguration’ comes from the verb ‘transfigure’, which means transform, change, alter, convert, metamorphose, transmute, remodel, renew. And yet it is more than a simple transformation. It is not something that can be achieved by a mere act of will. There’s something more mystical and supernatural about it than that. It’s beyond what can normally be achieved. In the fictional world of Harry Potter, transfiguration is a branch of magic that focuses on the alteration of the form or appearance of an object, via the alteration of the object’s molecular structure. It’s magic. It’s not an everyday normal occurrence.

In the world as we know it (!), transfiguration is a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.  It’s the glow of a bride on her wedding day and that unforgettable look of a dad as he’s handed his firstborn child for the first time. It’s that radiance that comes from a first love, that blissed out expression on the face of someone who has met face to face with God for the first time. It’s those rare glimpses of glory reflected on the faces and in the eyes of those who have witnessed God’s splendour breaking through into the everyday.

This is what happens to Jesus on that mountain top, as witnessed by three of his closest followers.

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

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.”

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!”

When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

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.”

The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognise him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.       Matthew 17:1-13

As Jesus connected with God in that place, he was transfigured.

His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Matthew 17:2

His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Mark 9:3

As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Luke 9:29

There’s a blinding brightness, a searing purity, an awe-inspiring (pretty scary) beautiful transformation as Jesus stands in the presence of the one true God. There’s an awesome power and energy in it that frightens these three ordinary men witnessing this supernatural change and causes them to fall face down on the ground in awe and trembling.

Moses and Elijah are there too. This is all pretty mind-blowing. All Peter knows is that he wants this moment to last forever. He wants to build shelters and stay on that mountain top in the presence of the Almighty God forever. This is so much better than everyday life. If it could always be this way….

It can’t stay that way though. Not now. Not yet. I have a feeling that’s what eternity will be like every single moment of every single day. They have to come down from the mountain. They have to go back to the everyday. They’re not allowed to tell anyone what has happened. They don’t really know how to process what has happened.

And so as we prepare to go out into the everyday, this is what I will take with me from this passage.

• these glimpses of glory cannot be engineered. This kind of divine revelation can only come from God. We cannot force it or grab onto it or make it last longer.
• whilst it can seem pretty scary, we do not have to be afraid. But we should never be flippant about it either. This is awesome, awe-inspiring…we need to approach God with respect and know our place.
• you can see it when someone has experienced God’s glory in this way. You can see it on their face. There’s a radiance about them.
• God is saying to us everyday ‘Jesus is my son. Listen to him.’ We would do well to listen to the words of Jesus more.
• some things are beyond our understanding – and this is one of those things.

Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendour He is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant King of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around