Friday, February 13, 2015
Matthew 17:1-2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. Exodus 34:29-30 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai ... Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
SHINING GLORY
When Moses first came down from Mt Sinai the skin of his face shone brightly enough that for a while he wore a veil in meeting with the people of Israel. Moses had been in the presence of God and His face shone with reflected glory, with borrowed light -- like the moon shines with the reflected light of the sun.
It was different with Jesus. The glory which shone from Jesus' face on that mountain where He took the three disciples -- that shining glory came from within. It was His own. In fact, the word for "transfiguration" in the original Greek text means a change resulting from the essential nature within.
One greater than Moses was here. As the God-inspired author of Hebrews noted in chapter three: " ... this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house ... Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, ... but Christ as a Son over His own house ..."
To make us members of His, of God's own house, the Son of God set aside the use of the glory, majesty and power that was His as the eternal God. He humbled Himself to redeem you and me. On the Mount of Transfiguration the "curtain" was pulled back for a few moments and Jesus' disciples could see the glory of the LORD.
The God who made covenant with men on Sinai has come to deliver them. For a second time Moses stands on a mountain in the presence of the LORD God almighty.
