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2025 Study of Matthew’s Gospel

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

Matthew 17:1-13

Key Verses 17:2

1. Why do you think Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him up the mountain (1)? What does the transfiguration of Jesus reveal about his identity (2-3; Rev 1:13-16)? Why do you think Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus at this moment?
2. Why do you think Peter suggested building three shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah (4)? What does the Father’s voice reveal about Jesus’ identity and authority (5)? Why is it significant that God the Father commands the disciples to “Listen to him”? In what area of your life do you most need to listen to Jesus right now?
3. Why did the disciples fall facedown when they heard the voice from the cloud (6)? How do Jesus’ gentle touch and words of comfort reflect both his divinity and his compassion (7-8)? Why do you think Jesus told the disciples to keep silent about this experience until his resurrection (9)?
4. Why did the disciples ask about Elijah coming before the Messiah (10)? What did Jesus teach about Elijah (11-13)? Why do you think Jesus revealed his glory on the mountain at this point in his ministry?

2025 Matthew’s Gospel September 28 , 2025

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

Matthew 17:1-8

Key Verse 17:2

There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

As I was meditating on today’s passage, a beautiful memory came to mind. Back in 2014, there was an international conference in Venezuela. After that grace-filled conference, I joined the journey team on a trip to see Angel Falls—the tallest waterfall in the world. To get there, we had to take two flights from Caracas and finally arrived in Canaima National Park, where Angel Falls is located. Right in front of the lodge where we stayed, a beautiful waterfall poured down before us, and we enjoyed our dinner with that view. The next morning, we set out to see Angel Falls. We got into a boat and traveled upriver, passing through beautiful and untouched rainforest. At one point, we got off the boat and walked about thirty minutes on a path made of pure, unpolluted clay. We took off our shoes and walked barefoot on that clay path. I still remember Dr. Jose Ahn from Chicago. He found a stick somewhere and walked with it. The picture reminded me of Moses walking through the wilderness with his staff. Then we got back on the boat and went further upriver. As Angel Falls drew closer, we began to see other waterfalls pouring down around us. We shouted for joy at the sight! We reached the point to go to Angel Falls, and then hiked up a mountain trail for about thirty minutes. And then finally—it came into view. Angel Falls! From 3,212 feet high, the water poured down, breaking into mist and forming clouds along the way. It was breathtaking. In that moment, I felt like I was seeing the greatness of God. And honestly, I didn’t want to leave. One day, I hope we can go together and see Angel Falls.

Today’s passage is about the moment when Jesus was transfigured in a high mountain before his disciples. Do you remember what we learned last Sunday? It was about “The way of the Messiah and the way of the disciple.” Jesus said that he must go to Jerusalem, that he would suffer many things, that he would be killed, and then—on the third day—he would rise again. Then, Peter stepped in front of Jesus and said, “This shall never happen to you, Lord!” But Jesus rebuked him—calling him “Satan.” You can imagine how crushed Peter must have felt at that moment. Then Jesus turned to all the disciples and kept teaching them about the way of discipleship: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” “Whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Hearing this, the disciples were troubled. Following Jesus suddenly felt heavy. The road ahead seemed too hard, too costly. Their hearts were weighed down with fear and anxiety.

When I preached on this passage last week, for some of us, it felt like a heavy burden. Maybe you thought, “Why does Pastor Juan have to give us such a hard message? Why can’t he preach something more cheerful and hopeful?” And honestly, I’d love to preach that kind of message every Sunday—the message that makes you feel good and comfortable. Something like, “If you believe in Jesus, you’ll get a great job, make lots of money, and live a successful life.” Wouldn’t that be nice? But here’s the thing: I didn’t invent the way of discipleship. It’s the teaching that Jesus himself gave us. My role is simply to pass on what he said. And what Jesus wants is not for us to live easy, comfortable lives, but for us to become faithful disciples—men and women who hear his voice, who obey his words, and who follow him wherever he leads. And when we do that, even though it may feel heavy at times, we will discover life.

Jesus knew that his disciples were struggling with the thought of following him on the way to the cross. So he showed them the glory of God through his transfiguration. After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. So what happened up there on the mountain? Look at verse 2: “There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” The word transfigure comes from the Greek word μεταμορφόω (metamorphoō). It means “to transform the essential nature” or “to change appearance.” Jesus’ essential nature is God. That never changes. What changed in that moment was his appearance. The glory of God—the glory that belongs to him as the Son of God—shone outward, visibly, before the disciples. Jesus, the Son of God, chose to lay aside the outward glory to come into this world. He obeyed the Father’s will and took on human form so that he could suffer, carry our sins, and die on the cross. His life on earth didn’t look glorious at all. It was marked by labor, hardship, and suffering. He walked from village to village, preaching the gospel. He often worked late into the night healing the sick. Many times, his face looked tired. His clothes, not often washed, were stained and dirty. Without proper baths, his body and feet carried the smell of sweat. He was poor—sometimes eating nothing more than a piece of bread, and often skipping meals. He had no house of his own, so he slept wherever he could—under a tree, in a boat, or in someone else’s home. When the disciples looked at him, I imagine they sometimes felt pity. Maybe they wondered, “How can someone with such power live such a humble life?” And on top of all this, he faced constant attacks from the religious leaders. He was arrested, interrogated, whipped, and ultimately nailed to a cross. Compared to the wealthy and powerful of this world, Jesus seemed so weak, so humble, so insignificant. His life showed a radical contrast to the glory of this world.

But what did Jesus look like when he was transfigured? “His face shone like the sun.” Have you ever tried to look directly at the sun? The moment you do, the brightness blinds you—you can’t see a thing. “His clothes became as white as the light.” Mark describes that they were “dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.” In other words, no amount of Clorox or detergent could ever come close to that brilliance. In Scripture, white clothes represent purity, righteousness, and the glory of God. So when Jesus’ face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as light, his glorious nature as the Son of God was revealed.

But here’s the thing—this glorious image of Jesus on the mountain was only a glimpse of the glory he would fully receive after his resurrection. The apostle John saw the risen Lord years later on the island of Patmos, and this is how he described him: “¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” That is Jesus who now sits at the right hand of God’s throne, reigning over all the world. How did he come into this glory? Through the way of suffering. By carrying the cross, he received the crown of life. And this is the Jesus we must remember, because his way is also the way for us, his disciples. We too will walk through hardship and suffering. Through the cross, we will also share in his glory. By carrying our cross, we too will one day receive the crown of glory.

Luke tells us that Jesus was transfigured while he was praying. He had gone up that high mountain not just to rest, but to pray. And in prayer, he entered into deep fellowship with the Father. In that moment of prayer, the glory of God rested on him, and his original glory as the Son of God shone through. The same is true for us. When we pray, we too can experience the glory of God. In prayer, we meet him deeply, our hearts are cleansed, our souls find peace, and the Spirit of God fills our spirit. Let’s be honest. Life is hard. Day by day, we carry heavy burdens. At work, many of us face pressure and even mistreatment from bosses or coworkers. Sometimes you feel like quitting your job, maybe even taking a whole year off just to rest. Students know this stress too. The assignments, the exams, the sleepless nights. The fear that if you fail one test, you might not graduate. The anxiety that if your GPA isn’t good enough, you won’t get that job or be accepted into graduate school. It feels like failure will mark you forever as a loser in this competitive world. Many of our families face struggles too. Brokenness between parents and children. Conflicts between husband and wife. Some of you may even feel so overwhelmed that you just want to disappear. So how do we overcome it? How do we live each day with strength, with hope, with joy, and with thanksgiving in our hearts? There is one path that is absolutely essential: to encounter God’s presence through prayer. When we pray, we can experience the glory of God. When we pray, his Spirit can fill our soul. When we pray, joy and peace come down from heaven into our heart. And when that happens, our face will shine—like the sun. And through us, the glory of God will be revealed to the world.

Look at verse 3. When Jesus was transfigured, who appeared with him? Moses and Elijah. They showed up and spoke with Jesus. Now, why Moses and Elijah? Moses was the greatest leader in Israel’s history—the one who led two million people out of Egypt. He was the man who went up Mount Sinai and received the Law from God to deliver to the people. Moses represents the Law. And Elijah—he was recognized as the greatest prophet in Israel’s history. At a time when idolatry covered the land like darkness, Elijah stood firm, called down fire from heaven, and revealed God’s glory. Elijah represents the Prophets. The Old Testament is often summed up as “the Law and the Prophets.” So Moses and Elijah together represent the entire Old Testament. And both the Law and the Prophets point forward to Jesus. Jesus is the one who fulfills the law and the prophecy.

Now, what did they talk about? Luke tells us they were “speaking about Jesus’ departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” In other words, the topic of their conversation was Jesus’ death on the cross. Last week, world leaders gathered here in New York City for the UN General Assembly. They met to discuss global issues, but to be honest, we don’t see much result from those meetings. In contrast, this meeting on the mountain—between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah—was a meeting of eternal significance. It was a conversation about the salvation of all humanity.

So what were the disciples doing while all this was happening? Luke 9:32 tells us: “Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.” While Jesus was praying, the disciples couldn’t keep up. They were too sleepy to pray. The disciples often lived with a shortage of sleep. Yes, their bodies were tired, but it was more than that. Emotionally and spiritually, they were drained. Think about it: Jesus had just taught them that following him meant denying themselves, carrying their cross, and walking the hard road of discipleship. Deep down, they didn’t want to face that. The burden felt too heavy. And so what did they do? They tried to escape it by falling asleep. Some of us know what that feels like. When problems weigh us down, some people just go to sleep, hoping the troubles will fade away. Sleep becomes a kind of escape. And I think that’s what was happening with the disciples.

So there they were—half-asleep, unable to pray. And then suddenly—Jesus was transfigured before their eyes! Moses and Elijah appeared and began speaking with him. In an instant, the disciples were wide awake. “What is this? What’s happening? This magnificent glory—this is the glory of God! Look at Jesus—his whole appearance has changed. He’s shining, beautiful, radiant. And wait… who are those men with him? That’s Moses! That’s Elijah! The greatest servants of God, right here with Jesus!” Can you imagine their shock? Their excitement? It must have felt almost unreal. Now here’s a question—how did the disciples even know it was Moses and Elijah? Did Moses and Elijah show up wearing name tags? Probably not. But somehow, in that moment, God gave them the understanding—they just knew. They recognized Moses and Elijah standing there in glory, talking with their Lord.

At that moment, Peter quickly offered a suggestion: “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.” You can almost hear the excitement in his voice. Peter loved this place. Why? Because up there on the mountain, everything was perfect. There were no crowds pressing in. No sick people to heal. No demon-possessed shouting around. No Pharisees or teachers of the law criticizing and arguing. None of the daily burdens that weighed them down. It was just Jesus—the Lord he loved—and Moses and Elijah—the heroes he deeply respected. Peter wanted to stay there forever. So he offered, “Lord, let me build three shelters for you.” Now, Peter didn’t say it, but maybe he was also thinking about a fourth shelter—for himself—so he could stay there too.

Have you ever felt like that? Wanting to stay in a place because it was so beautiful, so joyful, so peaceful? Last summer, during our three-day retreat, I noticed many wished to stay longer at the retreat center. It was such a refreshing time—you didn’t want it to end. We long for rest. We dream of lying on a white sandy beach, swimming in the crystal waters of the Caribbean. Some of us can’t wait to retire, just so we can travel freely and leave behind the routine of daily life. So when Peter wanted to stay on the mountain, we could understand his heart.

But just then, the voice of God broke in. Look at verse 5: “While Peter 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!’” That voice from the cloud was the voice of God himself. And notice when it came—right in the middle of Peter’s speech. God actually interrupted him! Sometimes it seems even God doesn’t wait until we finish talking before he cuts in. And to be fair, Peter really didn’t know what to say. He was just speaking whatever came into his head. So maybe God decided there was no need to let him go on any longer. Instead, God spoke clearly: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Here, God reaffirmed that Jesus is his beloved Son. And then God gave the disciples a direct command: “Listen to him!” What does that mean? It’s about hearing Jesus’ words and obeying them. Especially the words he had just spoken about the way of the Messiah and the way of the disciple. God was telling them: “Don’t ignore what Jesus says. Follow him.”

Sometimes, we’d rather listen to other voices than to Jesus. It’s easy to pay more attention to the voices of people around us—even friends or family—when their words pull us away from Jesus. It’s easy to give in to the voice of the enemy whispering in our own hearts. “Come on, don’t take your faith so seriously. Just loosen up. Everybody else is doing it.” “Why are you spending so much time at church? Shouldn’t you focus on making money or advancing your career instead?” “Just one more time won’t hurt. You deserve to enjoy yourself.” But when we listen to these voices, we begin to drift away from the path of life. That’s why we must listen to Jesus. How do we do that? Through God’s word and prayer. Day by day, we need to come back to the word of God, we need to come back to prayer, so that we can hear the voice of Jesus clearly—and obey it.

When the disciples heard the voice of God, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. Whenever a human being hears the voice of the Almighty, the natural response is fear—as if they were about to die. But then, something beautiful happened. Jesus came to them. He reached out his hand and touched them, saying, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.” He knew their fear. He understood their weakness. And with just a gentle touch and a word of comfort, he calmed their trembling hearts. And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Moses and Elijah were gone. The bright cloud had disappeared. The only one standing there was Jesus.

So how can we live as disciples of Jesus here on earth? We need to experience the glory of God and listen to the voice of Jesus. When our hearts are filled with the glory of Jesus, then we can willingly deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. And in the end, we will enter the heavenly glory of God the Father. The apostle Peter never forgot what he saw on that mountain. Years later, he wrote these words: “He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” (2 Peter 1:17–18) May we encounter the glorious Jesus through prayer and the word of God. May we listen to Jesus and obey him. May we faithfully walk the way of discipleship, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following him. Amen.