Matthew 17 The Turning Point

The Transfiguration of Jesus is a powerful moment, and I have always been interested in the temporary glimpse of the glory of Christ. That glimpse changed the lives of Peter and John, and both wrote about it at the beginning of their letters. However, I had not seen the Transfiguration as being so pivotal in the history of the Kingdom as I see today.

In all three synoptic Gospels, the last thing mentioned before this glorious event is Jesus' strange assurance that "some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom."(16:28) All three then mention that it was about a week later that the mountaintop experience took place. (17:1) Apparently, this seemed at the time to be some sort of fulfillment of that promise. It couldn't have referred to the Second Coming, which I might have assumed without the context.

So there they are on this memorable day, transformed by the image of Jesus with His flesh peeled back and His glory revealed. (17:2) Moses and Elijah speak with Him. (17:3) It doesn't say in Matthew what they talked about, though we have hints of it in this chapter, but it says in Luke that they talked about His coming trip to Jerusalem. And in this chapter of Matthew, we suddenly find Jesus mention His coming death three times, when He had not really talked about before then. (17:9,12,22).

What was the turning point in Jesus' ministry? Perhaps a case could be made for the cross, or for the tomb, but I'm going to say that it is this mountain. On the mountain, three of the disciples see Him "coming in His Kingdom," and it changes their view of Him forever. On the mountain, Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem, and the mood of His ministry takes on a darker tone. On the mountain, everyone got a clearer picture of heavenly reality, and it set in motion all that was to come.

LORD, let me behold You in Your glory. Let me see why You came, and what You accomplished on the cross. And let me never be the same again. Let me never settle for same-ol religion or ho-hum routine. And let me never think that my purpose on this earth is for me and my satisfaction. I am about Your business, and that's all I ever want.
-ker