He was Transfigured
As the sun is setting, Jesus calls three disciples, Peter, James, and John, to follow Him across the fields and up a rugged path, to a lonely mountainside spot. The disciples don’t ask where He is going and for what purpose, because Christ often spent entire nights in prayer, so they obediently follow their Master. When Jesus arrives where He desires them to be, He tells them to stay there, while He goes just a little bit further.
Jesus then pours out His heart in prayer, with crying and tears, He prays for strength to endure the test that is soon to come. He longs to gather strength from His Father, and He will not stop until He does. He prays for His disciples that when that day of darkness comes their faith will not fail. At first the disciples pray, but as the hours pass, they are overcome with weariness, and fall asleep.
Jesus pleads that His disciples may witness a manifestation of His divinity, when suddenly the heavens are open, and the gates of the glorious Holy City are opened. A holy radiance descends and covers Jesus, and He stands in godlike majesty. The agony is gone and His countenance now shines like the sun.
The disciples are suddenly awakened, and they witness divinity flashing through humanity. As the disciples adjust to the radiant light, they see that Jesus is not alone, there are two heavenly beings close to Him and they are speaking. Who are these two? They are Moses and Elijah; the first one saw death and the latter was translated with out seeing death. Why these two representatives?
We read in Desire of ages, “Moses upon the mount of transfiguration was a witness to Christ’s victory over sin and death. He represented those who shall come forth from the grave at the resurrection of the just. Elijah, who had been translated to heaven without seeing death, represented those who will be living upon the earth at Christ’s second coming, and who will be “changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump;” when “this mortal must put on immortality,” and “this corruptible must put on incorruption.” 1 Corinthians 15:51–53. Jesus was clothed with the light of heaven, as He will appear when He shall come “the second time without sin unto salvation.” For He will come “in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Hebrews 9:28; Mark 8:38. The Saviour’s promise to the disciples was now fulfilled. Upon the mount the future kingdom of glory was represented in miniature,—Christ the King, Moses a representative of the risen saints, and Elijah of the translated ones. DA 421-422
Now heaven had sent its messengers to Jesus; not angels, but men who had endured suffering and sorrow, and who could sympathize with the Saviour in the trial of His earthly life. Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ. They had shared His longing for the salvation of men. Moses had pleaded for Israel: “Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.” Exodus 32:32. Elijah had known loneliness of spirit, as for three years and a half of famine he had borne the burden of the nation’s hatred and its woe. Alone he had stood for God upon Mount Carmel. Alone he had fled to the desert in anguish and despair. These men, chosen above every angel around the throne, had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering, and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven. The hope of the world, the salvation of every human being, was the burden of their interview. DA 422-425
What an incredible story in the life of Jesus. What can we learn from this story? There are many lessons but let me leave you with this. At the transfiguration Jesus was strengthened and glorified by His Father. Jesus spent much time in prayer, this was one key element for His strength. The disciples started out with prayer but then became weary and fell asleep. This reminds me of many Christians today, who are getting weary and falling asleep, right before Jesus comes in all His glory. Now is the time to awake and pray. As we approach the final conflict, we will need this strength that Jesus received. Can we endure to the end? Only if we stay focused on God, surrender all to Him, and spend ample time in prayer like Jesus.
