Read Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-9 and Luke 9:28-36. This event is called the transfiguration. In it, Jesus is transfigured or changed in His appearance. We are told the appearance of His face changed, and His clothing began to shine or radiate bright white light. If one compares His appearance here with His appearance in Revelation 1:13-16 and 19:11-16, it is very similar. What is probably taking place is that God the Father allows Him to step out of time and appear as He will appear at His coronation ceremony as described in the book of The Revelation. Two people appeared. How Peter and the others knew who these two were, we are not sure. Possibly they overheard something about who they were as Jesus talked to them. Then as these two were leaving, a cloud quickly engulfed them. The voice of God the Father came to the disciples from the cloud.
1. Who did Jesus take with Him to pray?
Peter, James and John
2. Why do you think Jesus took just these, and not all twelve?
The text does not tell us. He may have taken those who were best apt to understand what would happen or these three since they seemed to be the leaders among the Twelve.
3. Who are the two people who appeared to Jesus when He was transfigured?
Elijah and Moses
4. What did Jesus talk about with these two men?
His coming death in Jerusalem
5. What was Peter’s response to what he saw?
He wanted to build three tents (shrines for worship), one for each of the three.
6. What was God the Father’s response to Peter?
He said, “This is My Son, you listen to Him!”
7. Why do you think God allowed Peter, James and John to see this event?
They needed a vision of the ultimate outcome. Times would soon look very dark. They needed a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel.
Read Matthew 17:10-13 and Mark 9:10-13. Having seen Elijah sparks questions in the minds of the disciples. The popular teaching at that time was that Elijah, who had never died but was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire, would return right before Messiah came to set up the Kingdom. This, indeed, is true, based upon Malachi 4:5-6, the last two verses in our Old Testament. The religious leaders had been using this to prove that Jesus was not the Messiah. If He were, they argued, then Elijah would have already appeared according to the prophecy. Since there was no Elijah, Jesus could not be Messiah.
8. In Matthew’s account, Jesus states two things about Elijah, one in verse 11, the other in verse 12. The tense of the verbs in these statements is important. What are the two statements?
a. Elijah is coming and will restore all things.
b. Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him.
9. To whom is Jesus referring in the first of these statements in verse 11 using the future tense? In the second statement in verse 12 using the past tense?
a. Elijah himself
b. John the Baptist
Read Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:37-43a. When they down from the mountain, Jesus and the three disciples found a problem had developed with the remaining disciples.
10. What problem faced the disciples?
A man brought his demon-possessed son to be cured, but the disciples had been unable to cast out the demon.
11. What was Jesus’ reaction to this?
He addressed the present generation as unbelieving and perverted and then cast out the demon.
12. About whom was Jesus referring when He addressed those present as unbelieving and perverted?
The multitudes in general and probably included the disciples who had also failed
13. Why did the disciples fail in their attempt to cast out the demon?
Their lack of faith and their lack of prayer
The Applications:
What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.
1. God often allows us in the midst of trying circumstances to see the light at the end of the tunnel in order to encourage us. It is quite easy in our human weakness to allow the circumstances we face to cause discouragement and despair. Therefore during troubling times, we need to focus our attention, not on our immediate surroundings, but on the future victory, the ultimate goal and end to which we strive and on our Savior who has secured that victory (Hebrews 12:1-2). Knowing where we are headed, and the security of that future gives us the strength to endure the day at hand.
What do you do to help focus your gaze upon what is yet to come? Do you read those Scriptures dealing with our coming victory? Romans chapter 8 is a chapter that not only should we read often but commit to memory as well. Do we sing hymns and spiritual songs which direct our mind and heart on that which is coming? We all need some way or means of turning our attention from the here and now to that glorious day that awaits us.
2. The father of this boy who was cruelly possessed by the demon cried out, “I do believe! Help me in my unbelief!” There are those times when we must grab ahold of the faith that we have, small although it might be, and hang on for all that we are worth, all the while crying out to God to help us in our doubting. Our Lord knows us; He knows just how weak we are in regard to faith. We need to remember that He will not allow us to face more than we are able to bear and will in those times provide all the strength, physical, spiritual and emotional, that we need to get us through.
3. This passage teaches us, among other things, that there are some answers that will come only after a hard struggle in prayer. There are demons, and then there are demons. With some, these disciples had had no difficulty in casting out. They had been empowered by our Lord to do so, and they had done it. I suspect that they were genuinely surprised when this particularly stubborn one refused to budge. “What is wrong?” they asked, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” It is true that their faith was lacking. Our Lord says this was the case. He also states, however, that this was a demon of a different order of magnitude. This kind only comes out with prayer. They were spiritually unprepared for this battle and the struggle with Satan and his hosts.