We continue today to meditate on the topic of Jesus being God. In the last few days, we have stated that the Holy Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, demonstrate that Christ is God in the flesh, entering the world for a specific purpose—that of being the sacrificial Lamb of God who would pay the sin debt of all who put their faith in Him.
On one occasion, Jesus took three of His disciples to a mountaintop. While they were there, something significant happened to Christ that the three witnessed. We refer to this event as the Transfiguration of Christ. Here’s what the Scripture says:
2And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only (Mark 9:2-8).
Mark uses the Greek word "Metamorphoo" to describe the change in Jesus that the three disciples witnessed. This word translates to English as "transfigured." We derive the English word "metamorphosis" from this Greek term, which we use to describe a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly. The term means to change the form, place, or condition of something- or, in this case, Someone. God revealed to the three disciples the true essence of the Lord Jesus, His divine glory, as witnessed by the three disciples.
Let’s examine a passage that will help clarify what was happening. Paul the Apostle, writing to the church at Philippi, describes Christ in this way:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:6-7).
The Greek word translated as "made himself nothing" is "Kenoo." This word means to make empty, be without content, be ineffectual, render insignificant, and cause to be irrelevant. The mystery of the Gospel is that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). When Jesus left heaven and the glory He had with the Father, He became fully man to offer Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice, voluntarily accepting the restrictions placed upon Him as a man without laying aside His nature as God.
While Jesus became a man, He was and is fully God. In the passage about the transfiguration, not only did the disciples see Christ as He truly is, but they also saw two others, Moses and Elijah, in the glorious state they now inhabit in the realm beyond the flesh. This change of nature, or metamorphosis, will also occur in believers in Christ. The Lord was encouraging the disciples that, by denying themselves, an inner glory would result, and this glory from God would be revealed in the future, just as they witnessed in Elijah and Moses. What God is doing within us- shaping and molding our inner spiritual life- will eventually manifest outwardly. How glorious that time will be! Keith Thomas
Have you ever committed your life to Christ? What does it mean to be a Christian? The following links to studies will help you: Why Did Christ Die? Or another, How Do I Become a Christian?
YouTube video teachings at: https://www.youtube.com/@keiththomas7/videos