Seeing the real Jesus

Read Matthew 17.

Speaking to His disciples, at the end of chapter 16, Jesus stated that "some" (not all) would "see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom" in their lifetime!  The chapter and verse divisions were added much later and, unfortunately, this particular division is ill-placed in the text.

Who will get to see this?  When will they see it?  What will they see?  The answers are here in chapter 17:1-13.

Who?  That inner circle of His followers, Peter, James and John.
When?  A week later.
What they saw and heard marked them for the rest of their lives.

1. They saw Jesus transfigured before them.
He was fully man and fully God.  Philippians 2:6-8, "...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."  In that moment, Jesus pulled back the curtain of His humanity and allowed these three to see His real identity.  This is the Jesus that John saw again in Revelation 1 and how He will appear when He returns to earth in Revelation 19 to establish His earthly kingdom.

2. They saw Moses and Elijah.
Luke 9:31 informs us that they were talking about "his departure."  Indeed, Jesus had been teaching concerning His death, burial, and resurrection.  In Acts 1, His departure was to ascend visibly back into heaven.  Most conservative scholars believe that Moses and Elijah will be the two powerful witnesses of Revelation 11, who will prepare the world for the second coming of Christ.  Peter's response regarding making tents may have been in keeping with the Feast of Tabernacles.

3. They heard the Father's voice.
This is the second of three times God, the Father, is heard audibly in the Gospel's.  Each time, the purpose was to unmistakably authenticate the identity and authority of who Jesus is and the word of God.  Peter would later write: "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty...for we were with him on the holy mountain.  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed...men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:16-21)

The transfiguration of Jesus put the three disciples on the ground and "terrified" them.  Jesus reassured them.  "And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only."  The Father said, "...hear him."  Jesus said concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit, "He will glorify me" (John 16:13-14).

When we read and study the Bible, we get to see Jesus as He really is.  When we live for Jesus, we get to see His power and majesty displayed everywhere we turn.