Matthew 17:1-9
‘Jesus took Peter, James and John…and brought them up into a high mountain…. He was transfigured before them…. His face shone like the sun, and His raiment was white as light…. There appeared to them Moses and Elijah…. Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them…. A Voice out of the cloud…said: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased! Hear…Him!”…. Jesus charged them, saying: “Don’t tell the vision to any man, until the Son of man has risen again from the dead!”‘ Matthew 17:1-9.
Calvin comments: “Inquire for what purpose Christ clothed Himself with heavenly glory for a short time!… Christ intended to show that He was not dragged unwillingly to death, but that He came forward of His Own accord…. He was subjected to death, because He wished it to be so…. That same flesh…had already partaken of the heavenly glory….
“His transfiguration did not altogether enable His disciples to see Christ as He now is, in Heaven — but gave them a taste of His boundless glory such as they were able to comprehend. Then, His face shone like the sun. But now, He is far beyond the sun in brightness! In His raiment, an unusual and dazzling whiteness appeared. But now…, a divine majesty shines…. John declares that not until they are like Him, will they see Him as He is (First John 3:2)….
“‘Look, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah!’…. It was intended to demonstrate that Christ alone is the End of the Law and of the Prophets…. ‘They conversed with Jesus’…. The subject on which they conversed, is stated only by Luke (9:31) — they talked of the decease which awaited Christ at Jerusalem…. Our Lord intended once more to ratify by their voice…that the same salvation through the sacrifice of Christ is held out to us in common with the holy fathers….
“‘Look, a bright cloud overshadowed them…. And look, a Voice from the cloud!’… The Voice of God was heard…, but…neither a body nor a face was seen….
“‘This is My beloved Son!’… There is an implied contrast of Moses and Elijah, with Christ…. The disciples of God’s Own Son are here charged to seek no other Teacher. The word ‘Son’ is emphatic, and raises Him above servants….
“‘Hear Him!’… These words were intended to draw the attention of the Church to Christ as the only Teacher…. He is the Sun of righteousness, Whose arrival brought the full light of day…. The Apostle says (Hebrews 1:1) that ‘God, Who at sundry times and in various ways spoke formerly by the Prophets — has in these last days spoken…by His beloved Son’….
“The time for making know the vision, was not yet fully come…. Christ had not (yet) given a more striking proof of His glory in His resurrection…. There are good reasons, therefore, why He enjoins His disciples to keep silence — till He be risen from the dead.”
This, then, is a preview of Christ’s glory — when risen from the dead! Do you so believe?
