A revelation of the more glorious

          The transfiguration of Jesus was an amazing event that transcended the natural order of things.  The face of Jesus “shone like the sun” (Mt.17:2);  “His garments became radiant and exceedingly white” (Mk.9:3);  and Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, speaking with Jesus about His exodus (Lk.9:31).  A shekinah cloud manifesting the presence of Jehovah God appeared on Mount Hermon and with it a voice saying, This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him (Lk.9:34-35).  This miraculous revelation proclaimed the glory of Christ, but IT ALSO POINTED TO THE COMING OF A MORE GLORIOUS COVENANT.  That which transpired on “the holy mountain”(2Pet.1:18) that day brought a preview of good things to come:  that which Abraham sought so faithfully - - - the city which had foundations, whose architect and builder was God (Heb.11:10).  On that day Peter, James and John awaken just in time to behold a snapshot of that which was in the offing.  A little over three decades later, John would write of things “shortly to take place” (Rev.1:1 & 3 and 22:6 & 10).  Chief among them was the arrival of the heavenly city, the new Jerusalem, the bride of Christ, the wife of the Lamb (Rev.21:2 & 9-10).    

          Peter proposed making three “tents” (Lk.9:33) - - one for Jesus; one for Moses; and one for Elijah.  The feast of tabernacles was a Jewish commemoration of God’s work in leading the nation of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.  Over a span of forty years throughout the wilderness exodus, God had worked among them with signs and wonders in caring for them and leading them to the promised land.  All of this was but a foreshadowing of what would occur in Israel’s last days.  While the cross of Christ Jesus ushered in “the new and living way” (Heb.10:20), the new covenant would not (and could not) be fully established until the old covenant was once and for all set aside (Heb.8:13 & 9:8-9 and 2Pet.3:7).  What began in AD 30 with the preaching of Jesus (Lk.3:23) would soon be certified by the cross of Christ (Col.2:14) and would eventually be consummated when Jerusalem was finally destroyed by God some forty years later in AD 70 (Lk.21:22).  This forty-year time period brought about the establishment of the new covenant in the very manner foreseen by the Old Testament prophet Micah (Mic.7:15).  According to Paul, if the Old Covenant (ministry of death) arrived with glory (2Cor.3:7), the New Covenant (ministry of righteousness) would abound with even more glory, a glory surpassing that of the old (2Cor.3:8-11).  When the cloud dissipated on the mount of transfiguration, gone were Moses and Elijah, and all that remained was “JESUS ALONE” (Lk.9:36).  “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, world without end” (Eph.3:21). 

                                                                                                            Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ