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The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1-18

Abraham was the great father and David was the great king, but Moses was the great deliverer and redeemer—he led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt and to the border of the Promised Land. He also experienced something no one else in Israel experienced—"face to face" meetings with God (Exodus 33:8-11). As a result of Moses' meeting with God on Mount Sinai, "the skin of his face shone, and [the people] were afraid to come near him" (Exodus 34:30). Moses' experience and elevated relationship with God became a marker not only for Jesus but for Paul as well.

Because the New Testament letter to the Hebrews was addressed to a Jewish readership, it was important that Jewish believers recognize Jesus' superiority to all the institutions of Judaism—especially Jesus' superiority to Moses (Hebrews 3:1–4:13). One of the ways Jesus demonstrated this in His time on earth was by going, like Moses, high up on a mountain where He was overshadowed by the glory of God (Matthew 17:1-8). But unlike Moses, it was not just Jesus' face that shone but apparently His whole body as the glory radiated through His clothing. And like those who saw Moses, the three disciples with Jesus "were greatly afraid" (verse 6). Just as the Father did at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:17), He spoke from heaven declaring His favor with the Son (Matthew 17:5). It was important for the disciples to understand that one greater than Moses was in their midst. Both Moses and Elijah (the law and the prophets) appeared at that moment in confirmation of Jesus' position of glory and favor.

The apostle Paul compared Moses' and Jesus' experience in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18. Moses was partly glorified by mediating a ministry that condemns (the law) with a glory that fades, while Jesus was totally glorified by mediating a ministry that brings righteousness! The glory that transfigured Jesus is now transforming those who believe in Him "from glory to glory" (verse 18).

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