Matthew 17:1-13
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A New Way of Seeing
A New Way of Seeing
Most of us have been to the optometrist and had our eyes dilated. It is one of the most disorienting things that can happen.
What was clear - even with poor eyesight - becomes blurred and distorted. Dilation also increases the eyes sensitivity to light, which on a bright and sunny day can cause headaches.
However, dilation is often a necessary step in moving from poor eye-health towards better and clearer vision.
Better a little discomfort for a brief time than progressively worsening eyesight.
Read Passage:
Eye’s Open Wide
Eye’s Open Wide
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light.
Language fails Matthew, Mark, and Luke as they describe just how the three disciples with Jesus saw Him as a result of the transformation, or transfiguration.
The disciples were able to see something similar to what their ancestors had seen.
As Moses came down from spending extended time in the presence of God,
As Moses descended from Mount Sinai—with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain—he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone! They were afraid to come near him.
If those with Moses experienced fear, we can only begin to describe what the disciples felt - fear, terror, absolute incredulity.
Daniel, one of the OT prophets that was familiar to first century Jews glimpsed a similar sight
“As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.
Seeing…but struggling to perceive
Seeing…but struggling to perceive
After being blinded by the transfiguration of Jesus the three disciples catch a glimpse of Moses and Elijah - casually having a conversation with Jesus. Only Luke’s gospel refers to the subject of their conversation:
They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
We are not told how the three with Jesus recognized Moses or Elijah!
Peter’s response reveals how his sight has been impacted:
Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Sensory Overload
Sensory Overload
One website identifies the condition called ‘sensory overload:’
Sensory overload is when the brain is not able to process the sensory information taken in by the five senses: smell, taste, hearing, sight, and touch. This makes people panic or blank out, and they feel like distancing themselves from the source that has triggered this response.
https://www.medicinenet.com/what_does_sensory_overload_feel_like/article.htm
Seeing Jesus in a radically new way, watching and listening to Jesus, Moses the LawGiver and Elijah, the chief prophet speak about Jesus’ death was more than the three men could handle.
Being enveloped in a cloud one more voice would demand their attention:
While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him! When the disciples heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified.
What Matthew describes is the least one might expect after seeing and hearing what these three experienced.
Healing Touch
Healing Touch
Most of the encounters between those needing healing and restoration have come as individuals and families bring their loved ones TO Jesus for His touch.
The disciples, likely in shock, need restoration.
So, Jesus comes TO them:
Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.” When they looked up they saw no one except Him —Jesus alone.
After the experience Peter, James, and John had, the only way forward was for Jesus to come to them, touch them and speak peace to them
Compounding Confusion
Compounding Confusion
After moving to Salem in 1987 I needed an eye exam. We’d lived in Salem a couple of weeks. An optometrist was recommended and I made an appointment. Not really knowing much about anything, I drove myself. Upon being seated in the optometrist’ chair my eyes were dilated.
The exam continued, a prescription for lenses was written.
I was free to drive home. Except…my eyes were still dilated. Cindy was home with Josh and Meg, and with only one vehicle I had a problem.
No problem, I thought. Until I pulled away from the parking lot realizing I couldn’t read street signs, nor could I easily make out landmarks that might help me get safely home.
With a prayer I headed in what I hoped was the right direction. More by feel than sight I did make it home safely.
I can begin to imagine the confusion of Peter, James, and John. Having been told that Jesus ‘MUST’ die, and that Jesus would ‘be raised again on the third day’ had seriously challenged everything the had been taught about the Messiah.
Seeing Jesus ‘changed,’ overhearing a conversation between two men having been dead for centuries, and being enveloped in a cloud from which a voice reminded them of Jesus’ intimate relationship with God the Father adds up to confusion.
Their question seems a little out of the ordinary:
So the disciples questioned Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Confusion Changes Into Clarity
Confusion Changes Into Clarity
Jesus answers the question in the same way He had spoken about John the Baptist earlier:
if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.
Jesus wraps this experience with a reminder that what happened to John is a foretaste of what will happen to Him
UNDERSTANDING
UNDERSTANDING
To gain a little perspective on how Peter processed this experience, how Peter’s ‘eyes’ were opened listen to his later reference to this:
For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Visiting an optometrist and/or eye doctor may be an important first step when we are experiencing vision issues.
What about when our spiritual vision begins to fade?
In a recent book, C. Kavin Rowe wonders if we really know a genuine Christianity any longer.
He shares the following observation:
…one minute we hear a mega-preacher claiming that God is finally bringing America back to its Christian roots; the next we read about the president of a famous seminary who denies the resurrection of Jesus (not a Southern Baptist seminary!). The very next we hear about the impending ‘rapture’; and directly after that we’re told that Christians are to achieve nothing less than full justice in the present world. We also know … about Christianity’s precipitous decline in once thriving communities....
Christianity’s Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope (Nashville, TN.: Abingdon Press, 2020), 7-8.
Peter, having been surprised by his experiences with Jesus gives a way forward:
a). Trust the Truth, not an Experience
a). Trust the Truth, not an Experience
Though Peter had been at the transfiguration and many of the events recorded in the gospels, his ultimate trust was not to his memory but to the fact that God’s Word - yes, the OLD TESTAMENT - was the unchanging and always reliable truth that speaks of the Messiah and God’s Kingdom purposes.
b). Focus on the Purpose not just the Process
b). Focus on the Purpose not just the Process
Why did Jesus come? Was His life and death an example for us to mimic? Was Jesus’ experience really necessary to usher in the Kingdom of God (reminder....Matthew 16:21-22
From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to You!”
Jesus knew that for God to fully unveil His eternal kingdom His death and resurrection were absolutely essential. Jesus MUST die, Jesus MUST be raised again.
None of the disciples had any inkling of what lay in store for them. Peter, when writing this second letter likely knew of James’ death (see Acts 12) but he had no idea of how he himself would die.
God’s kingdom will come, it will prevail:
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.
I will build My church...
the gates of Hades WILL NOT OVERCOME THE CHURCH
c). God Has Everything Under Control
c). God Has Everything Under Control
Circumstances will rock our world. That is an unchangeable fact. Yet, the constantly changing life we live is no challenge for God.
What are you experiencing that He has not led His people through?
What makes you so unique that God can’t provide all that you need…if you will allow Him!
So What?
So What?
How is your sight? Are you seeing clearly or are things still a little distorted and unclear?
Maybe the optometrist is not your first step.
When you think of following Jesus what comes to mind first?
Drudgery? Dullness? Dumbing life down?
Following Jesus is a remarkable journey. One may not know what comes next, but whatever comes next remember this:
Jesus is present.
Life can be overwhelming. Let Jesus come to you today…let His touch transform your life, let His words of hope and promise empower you to get up and move forward knowing that God’s kingdom IS COMING!