For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Matt. 17
What was the intended impact of the transfiguration on the disciples? On you? I can’t say that I really know the intended impact of the transfiguration on the disciples, or why only the three were privy to it. However, here is what I do know about it:
- The transfiguration was book-ended by Jesus’ predictions to His disciples of His own death.
- Prior to His transfiguration, Jesus told them that some of them would “see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom”. (Matt. 17:28b). The gospel of Mark states that they would “see that the kingdom of God has come with power”. (Mark 9:1). Also, I think it is no accident that the transfiguration happened “after six days” (Matt. 17:1).
- Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. When I asked myself, “Why Moses and Elijah”, the thought occurred to me that these two represent the Law and the Prophets, with Jesus being the fulfillment of both.
- At the transfiguration, God spoke from a cloud, affirming Jesus as His Son, just as He had done immediately after Jesus’ baptism at the start of His ministry. As it was at the beginning, so it is at the end.
So, looking at what I know, it seems to me that the transfiguration was meant as a reassurance, at least for these three disciples, through what was to come. It’s like they got to skip to the last chapter of the book to see how it ends. As Mark’s statement (point 2 above) implies, it let them know that Jesus’ death was not defeat. Thus, the transfiguration was their preview of what would become the good news for all of us. It was, in fact, through Jesus’ death that God’s power was revealed to the world, ushering in God’s new covenant with us and freeing us from the bondage of sin forever.
Deut. 15-16
There is clearly a theme of sevens throughout the Bible. Seven days, weeks, years, or even seventy years. We know that seven is associated with God’s Sabbath – the day He rested after creating the world. I did a brief lookup of the meaning of the word “Sabbath”, and found that its root meaning is “to cease, to end, to rest.” And indeed, we see all of these ‘sevens’ in the Bible associated with some kind of ceasing, end, or rest. Here in Deuteronomy 15, God set the seventh year as a year to cancel debts and free servants.
Sabbath isn’t just about taking a break or even simply remembering God. It is a symbol of our salvation. God cancels our debts and frees us from our slavery to sin. We cease striving and enter into His rest; His salvation. I think this is why Jesus’ transfiguration, which we just read about, happened on the seventh day after telling His disciples they needed to lose their life for Him in order to save it. God’s rest. Just as that was the end of God’s creation work, so it will also be the end of His redemption work. Thus, as it was at the beginning, so it is at the end.
Ps. 36
How does the psalmist describe God’s love and righteousness? Paul tells us in Romans 1:20 that God reveals His character to us in His creation. In Psalm 36, David makes that case. We see God both in the awesomeness of His created world and in His care and provision for it. The wicked do not see it. Their eyes are too full of self to see truth. May the fear of God be ever before my eyes so I can see what really is!