Barton's Bible Study Notes

Life of Christ: Unit 23 - Sections 90-92

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?

2. Why do you think Jesus took just these, and not all twelve?

3. Who are the two people who appeared to Jesus when He was transfigured?

4. What did Jesus talk about with these two men?

5. What was Peter’s response to what he saw?

6. What was God the Father’s response to Peter?

7. Why do you think God allowed Peter, James and John to see this event?

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?

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?

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?

11. What was Jesus’ reaction to this?

12. About whom was Jesus referring when He addressed those present as unbelieving and perverted?

13. Why did the disciples fail in their attempt to cast out the demon?

The Applications:

What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.