Have you ever looked for a sign from God? Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “If only God could show me a sign!” Because the reality of signs is that they point to something larger, something far more important than the sign itself.
In Matthew 17, Jesus takes his inner circle of Peter, James, and John up a mountain. The disciples might have assumed it was another hiking trip to find solitude, as Jesus often took. But soon they discovered it was about much more.
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus (Matthew17:2-3).
In this short passage, we are given three clear “signs” that Jesus is truly the Messiah, which is the main theme of Matthew’s Gospel.
- Jesus is transformed. The original Greek text tells us this means they saw Jesus in a glorified or resurrected state. Of course, we know this is foretelling just a short time later when Jesus will return, resurrected for real, after defeating sin and death. The first sign: transfiguration. The reality: Jesus is Savior.
- Elijah and Moses “appear” before them, standing with Jesus in the middle. Elijah and Moses are the Old Testament characters who represent the “law and the prophets.” The sign: the law and the prophets. The reality: Jesus is the very center of the story of God.
- A giant cloud envelopes them and God says to listen to Jesus as his son. The sign: the cloud. The reality: Jesus is Lord.
We’re always looking for signs to know if God is real or if Jesus is truly “The One.” In this short story, we’re reminded that if you miss the signs, you miss a lot! Jesus is “The One”!
Reflection:
- Put yourself in the shoes of the disciples in this story. What emotions would you be feeling after this encounter?
- What other story in Matthew does verse 5 remind you of? In both stories about Jesus, what is the message from God?
- If someone asked you who Jesus really is, how could you use this story to help answer?