Matthew 17 - Who Really Was Jesus?

Oftentimes, we ask people, “Do you believe in Jesus?” And they say, “yes,” but their life doesn't seem changed in the way that the lives of others have been changed. Why is that? Could it be that they do not understand what we are asking? Nearly every religion or cult has a position on what they believe about Jesus Christ. However, what they believe about Jesus varies dramatically. What are you going to believe? What credibility do the sources have? The Bible is God's holy, inspired, inerrant, infallable, and preserved Word and testimony of Jesus Christ. Some will attack the Word of God or say that it was corrupted... I beg you to study it yourself. Do not discount the Word of God because that is what you were taught. If you will do an honest study of it, I'm sure you will find it is much more than the writings of men. But, apologetics aside, it is God's Word written and preserved for you and me.

Many people, when they think of Jesus, think of an ordinary baby born in a manger. They think of one who was a great teacher, and one who has died on the cross and no longer lives. Some think of Jesus as the brother of the devil or as an angel. This is all wrong. Here, in Matthew 17, Jesus gives his 3 closest disciples a glimpse of who He really is. As he brought them up into a high mountain, he was transfigured before them. To transfigure means to change in outward appearance.

“His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light...” (verse 2)

Have you ever seen somebody like this before? Can you imagine seeing one whose face shined as the sun? What an awesome sight! Jesus was no ordinary man! The apostle John would later write in I John 1:5- “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” He would never forget this experience.

“And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him...” (verse 3)

The disciples then saw Moses and Elias (The prophet Elijah) talking with him. But didn't Moses die? Deuteronomy 34:7 says, “And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died.” This was a heavenly vision. Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus. The Old Testament is often referred to as the “Law and the Prophets”. Moses represented the Law, and Elijah represented the Old Testament prophets. Moses and Elijah represented the Old Testament, which was to prepare us for the Messiah. When some accused Jesus of getting rid of the Old Testament, he replied, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The law and the prophets prophesied of the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ. Can you imagine them speaking with Him face to face?

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him...” (verse 5)

If you thought Jesus was just a man, think again. Here, God Himself speaks of Jesus and says “this is my beloved Son.” Some of us may have a hard time comprehending that. The Bible teaches that Jesus is God, and that Jesus existed before the foundation of the world. He received a human body when He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem... but he existed long before that. Notice that God is in a cloud. This is how he appeared to the Children of Israel when He led them out of Egypt. In a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God Himself said, “Hear ye him.” This is the prophet greater than Moses that was prophesied long ago. Deut. 18:15- “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, LIKE UNTO ME; unto him ye shall hearken.” This Prophet, this Jesus, is much greater than Moses. He is the Son of God! Jesus is not another God. His very name means, “Jehovah Saves.” He is the one whom Jehovah God has sent into the world to save us from our sins. There is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Only through the name of Jesus Christ!

“Jesus charged them, saying, 'Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.'” (verse 9)

Have you ever wondered why Jesus said this to them? They knew He was the Son of God, by why was this to be a secret? Because Jesus had a mission to accomplish. Jesus came into this world with the express purpose of dying for our sins. Dying for YOUR sins. Jesus knew, before He was ever born as a baby, that He would give his life on the cross. He wasn't murdered. He gave his life as a sacrifice for your sins. He died so that we wouldn't have to be forever separated from God in a placed called Hell. He charged them to keep this secret until after He was resurrected from the dead. Have you ever known somebody who was dead for 3 days before miraculously coming back to life? This Jesus was not an ordinary man. He wasn't just a great prophet. He was God! Do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe in His promises? He will save you, if you will repent from your sins, and ask Him to save you!