And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Matthew 17:1-8

Today we look at an event, where Jesus gives some of his disciples a revelation on the future of his glorification, but also demonstrates the New Covenant. When The Lord Jesus appeared to Peter, James, and John, his face shined like the sun. This is the same way , the Apostle John of Revelation described Christ, The Lord was showing them his future glorification after the cross and empty tomb

But also we see Moses and Elijah here on the mountain with Jesus. Now the first thought is these men are supposed to be dead, but they are alive and well in Heaven. Those people who support the concept of “soul sleep” would have a hard time explaining how Moses and Elijah are alive and standing with Jesus. But more importantly, it’s what these men represent. Moses represents The Law and Elijah represents The Prophets. As Jesus said “I did not come to abolish the Law and Prophets but to Fulfill “ (Matthew 5:17) This is a representation of the New Covenant of Christ. 

And more importantly we hear the voice of God the Father affirming who Christ is “This is my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased, listen to him” The Father also affirmed Christ at his baptism. But it also reminds you of Mt. Sinai when Moses stood before God in the cloud and was delivered The Law. Now the Church is receiving the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. Matthew 17:9-13

Now notice Jesus didn’t want his disciples to tell anyone what they saw, until the Son of Man is glorified, why? Because Jesus wanted people to come to Christ in faith, we see this over and over again throughout his ministry. Then once Christ rose from the dead on the 3rd day, the gospel was and still is preached everywhere to everyone.

Another thing is the fulfillment of John the Baptist is revealed, it was prophesied the Elijah must come before the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6) Christ reveals this was fulfilled by John the Baptist, the Messenger of The Lord

The Transfiguration of Christ, gives some disciples a future glimpse and revelation of who Jesus is, and about the New Covenant has come, Amen!