Explore the Bible By Robert Olsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile
Is Jesus Fully God?
Matthew 17:1–13
Presence (1–6)
The transfiguration is an important event as it is recorded in three Gospels immediately following Jesus’ statement about some of the disciples not tasting death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.
This suggests the transfiguration is a demonstration of Jesus coming in His kingdom, presenting Christ as He truly is.
It also is proof that Christ fulfills the Old Testament, while Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets.
In the presence of Moses, Elijah and the transfigured Christ, Peter asks if he should set up shelters for the three.
However, while Peter is speaking, God the Father interrupts him stating Jesus is His beloved Son and Peter should listen to Him.
It suggests that for Peter, as well as Christians today, Jesus is the one on whom we should focus.
Many people today believe obeying the law leads to eternal life.
However, it is impossible to uphold the law and James says if anyone disobeys the law at any point they are guilty of breaking all of it.
This is why the good news of the gospel is that Jesus is the one who fulfilled the law taking the punishment we deserve for breaking it.
Trusting in Christ as the solution to our sin is the only way we can be reconciled to God.
Purpose (7–9)
Jesus often told His listeners to keep silent about His miracles.
Why wouldn’t Jesus want people to know what He did?
Jesus wanted people to determine for themselves who He was not based on a preconceived notion of what the Messiah would do.
Many in Jesus’ day expected the Messiah to overthrow Roman occupation and set up an earthly Kingdom that would rule over Israel’s enemies.
This is not why Jesus came the first time.
However, Jesus told His disciples to tell others about this event after the resurrection because it would help to affirm the resurrection and confirm Jesus as the Messiah.
Perspective (10–13)
Malachi states that Elijah is going to precede the coming of the Lord.
Seeing Elijah probably made the disciples ponder this prophecy.
If Jesus is the Messiah as the transfiguration indicates, then how is Elijah “turning the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” (Mal. 4:6)?
Jesus reminds them that John the Baptist has fulfilled this role as Elijah (see Matt. 11:14).
Moreover just as John the Baptist was killed, Jesus also was going to experience death at the hands of the political leaders.
The disciples had a hard time understanding this because a suffering Messiah was outside their understanding.
It is important for believers today to have a proper understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to be one of His followers.
There are people today who believe if you follow Jesus you will be healthy and have monetary blessings.
This belief does not represent the Jesus of the Bible.
The Jesus of the Bible promises His followers will suffer and be persecuted but He also says the cost is worth it because it leads to eternal life.
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