GOSPEL Gem: The Transfiguration

Synergy of Matthew 17:1-9/Mark 9:2-10/Luke 9:28-36

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 became shining,

exceeding white as snow;

so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses:

and they were talking with Jesus.

Who appeared in glory,

and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep:

and when they were awake, they saw his glory,

and the two men that stood 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 Elijah.

For he wist not what to say;

for they were sore afraid.

While he thus spake,

there came a cloud,

and overshadowed them:

and they feared as they entered into the cloud...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.

And as they came down from the mountain,

he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen,

till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves,

questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

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Peter Adds - For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2 Peter 1:17-19

"The faith of the disciples was greatly strengthened at the transfiguration, when they were permitted to behold Christ's glory and to hear the voice from heaven testifying to His divine character. God chose to give the followers of Jesus strong proof that He was the promised Messiah, that in their bitter sorrow and disappointment at His crucifixion, they would not entirely cast away their confidence. At the transfiguration the Lord sent Moses and Elijah to talk with Jesus concerning His sufferings and death. Instead of choosing angels to converse with His Son, God chose those who had themselves experienced the trials of earth."

Early Writings ch.39  E.G.W.