Matthew 17:1-9 ~ the disciples heard this

Transfiguration, painted by Sarah Boys


Matthew 17:1-9

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version


1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, [my Son, my Beloved] with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”


Not everything written in the Scriptures is available to us, with our transient knowledge, to completely understand. How often would today's Christian say they went on a walk with the Son of God and ... saw Moses, Elijah and then fell to their faces in fear, hearing the voice of God.

And how would we respond going back down the mountain when Jesus commands not to tell anyone.... I would imagine it would be a dumb, but emphatic nod. And relief... and questions. Maybe questions only because of the relief in being told not to tell. Anything that knocks you off of your feet and on to your face is fairly overwhelming. The only time in my life I've prayed on my face, it wasn't immediate but with a decision to get down on the floor.

Peter later wrote of it:

2 Peter 1:16-21
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, [Or my Son, my Beloved] with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


I feel blessed to hear Peter go on to describe the vision as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

It reminds me of Christians talking about the knowledge we have in our hearts of our salvation from Jesus Christ. You know that you know. In your heart. It is difficult to put the assurance into words, but I remember the first hour I believed and it was exactly a light shining from within in my soul.

John was so overcome with what we call the Transfiguration, he didn't include it his Gospel, he only alluded to it. John called this Glory and referred to the Glory of God 16 times to signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So, when something is majesty; For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory we want to know more more. And God, our Father, does not disappoint us.

We learn more in Acts 12. James, John's brother, never had the chance to write about seeing this Majesty.

Acts 12:
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peter is about to encounter a second vision and he tells how it felt to him:

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Peter tells us a vision feels unreal, it is difficult for a human brain to completely process a mighty work of God.

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James (Peter obviously did not know what had happened to James) and to the brothers [brothers and sisters].” Then he departed and went to another place.

A vision has real consequences:

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

John wrote for us many of his thoughts after seeing the Glory and Majesty given to Him by the LORD.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

2 Peter 3:18
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.



<><