I had a strict basketball coach when I was in junior high. One area was the importance of listening to him. If I dropped a basketball while he was talking, I had to drop down and immediately give him pushups. If I was looking away while he was talking, I had to do pushups. I learned quickly to pay attention and listen to him; which helped me become a better player.
We have an amazing, incredible, glorious passage of Jesus in Matthew 17:1-8. It really does defy earthly description. And because there is so much about Jesus to take in, we can easily get distracted and miss the main point: listen to Jesus! Listen doesn’t just simply mean use your ears. Listen to Jesus implies obedience to Jesus. And to be a disciple of Jesus, you must listen and obey Him.
#1 The Full Glory of Jesus (v. 1-2)
Jesus takes three disciples on a hike up a high mountain. This is the first time that Jesus has pulled any disciple or disciples from the 12. There, on the mountain top, the three disciples of James, John, and Peter saw Jesus transfigured. He was still the same Jesus they had been with for two years. But yet, He was gloriously different! It says in verse 2 that His face shone like the sun, and His garments were as white as light. For a moment, the full reality of Jesus as the Son of God was on display! Jesus is Immanuel, God with us (see Matthew 1:23).
#2 The Father’s Approval of Jesus (v. 3-5)
As if seeing the glory of Jesus wasn’t enough, something else surprising happened: Moses and Eljah appear! These two key Old Testament prophets were now back on earth, talking with Jesus. What were they saying? Nothing is recorded in Scripture, but a good guess seems to be about Jesus’ coming death and resurrection.
Peter speaks up in verse 4, suggesting that this is such a wonderful moment, let’s camp for a while. Peter is ready to put up three tabernacles and make it an overnight stay; maybe even a week. In Luke 9:33, we find out that Peter didn’t really know what he was saying. Overwhelmed at the sight of Jesus in His glory, at Elijah and Moses returned, Peter wasn’t making much sense – and who can blame him?
And just in that moment, a voice from heaven comes. God the Father has entered this moment as well, and He speaks with powerful clarity, “This is My Beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to Him!”
God the Father had previously testified that Jesus was His Son at the baptism of Jesus (see Matthew 3:17). God was well-pleased with Jesus; no constructive criticism is needed. But what the three disciples do need to understand is this: Listen to Jesus!
#3 Jesus Takes Away The Disciples’ Fear (v. 6-8)
The three disciples respond immediately to the powerful voice of God Himself; they fall down flat on the ground, terrified. God’s Word should leave us with a sense of awe, even fear.
Jesus walks over to His three friends, and touches them. He calls on them to get up and do so without fear. Just as Jesus has comforted them in the face of a storm (see Matthew 14:26), so here He comforts them as they take in God’s Word. And just like that, the glorious scene had ended.
I wonder – were the disciples glad it was over, so terrified were they? Or did they wish it to last longer, being in the presence of Jesus’ glory and hearing God speak?
But there I go, getting distracted. Because what is the main command that God the Father gave? Listen to Jesus! Obey Jesus! Follow Him to learn about Him and also to imitate Him.
In the previous section (Matthew 16:23-28), Jesus called the disciples to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Him. They are to leave all else behind, physical possessions as well as personal preferences and ideas. Their lives are to be consumed with Jesus. Which is a tall order, right? But that’s exactly why we have this scene of Jesus’ glory and the words of the heavenly Father. To follow Jesus and to make disciples like Jesus will cost you much. But it will also be glorious! Just make sure you listen to Jesus!
Discussion Questions:
- How can your Bible help you to listen to Jesus today? How can attending a church that preaches the Bible help you to listen to Jesus today?
- When you read or hear God’s Word, how can you rightly respect and revere His Word?
- If Jesus commands you to do something that you don’t want to do, what can you think about to help you listen to and obey Him?
- Can you share a moment where obeying Jesus was costly to your personal preferences, but was worthwhile for God’s glory?