The Transfiguration Matthew 17:1-8
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
There's much going on surrounding the supernatural and prophecies. A lot was expected and promised regarding Donald Trump. There's no denying that prophecies exist and it calls for discernment to distinguish between what really is God's voice and what is out of the imagination. It can be very confusing, not to say chaotic.
Here in this passage, Jesus chose His closest disciples to come away with Him up a high mountain. We aren't exactly told which one - some say Hermon, but the tourist venue is Mount Tabor. It's an epic ride up the winding road, and, doing it in crazy driven taxis, it is an experience not for the faint-hearted!
Jesus obviously wanted to reveal a part of His Heavenly nature to those able to digest it. So they must have walked up the mountain to be alone with Jesus.
Can you imagine the amazing, awesome sight of Jesus changing right in front of them. They were used to seeing Him as a normal Galilean guy - now He became shining like the sun and as white as light. Wouldn't you have thought that their gaze would have been just on Jesus?
No, they became distracted when Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus.
Peter got diverted from the main point of seeing Jesus as He really is - his gaze directed to the two cherished Old Testament prophets.
So much so that God the Father has to interrupt Peter's plans and re-focus the disciples on Jesus.
In effect God says to them, forget about your own ideas - this is My Son, my beloved Son - LISTEN to HIM.
The disciples were fearful, but Jesus reassures them saying: "Don't be afraid".
The best part was, when the big supernatural experience was over - they saw ONLY JESUS.
Whatever our experiences may be - when they dissipate and fade - when our expectations are disappointed - let us not drop our gaze in doubt and despair - let us look up and see only Jesus.
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