The Transfiguration Part I: Winds of Change

Mark 9:2-8
2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.
3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" — 
6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"
8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
NKJV

The Lord is highlighting revelation for our day through this event in Jesus’ life.  I would suggest the mount of transfiguration was not a one time event for Jesus.  He consistently lived in a realm of supernatural relationship with the Father. I do not believe this was the first “transfiguration” for Jesus, it was only the first time His disciples saw it.  He would often go to an isolated place to pray (Lk 5:16).  These were times of intimate communion between the Father and Son. 

Jesus stated in John 5:20, “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things  that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.”  In His daily life and ministry, Jesus merely acted out what the Father had already revealed to Him.

There was a constant communion between heaven and earth through Christ. Even under the old covenant, Moses’ face glowed with the glory of the Lord. As he had communion with the Lord on the mountain, there was a residue or transference of heaven’s virtue upon him (II Cor. 3:7-11).  How much more would this be a common occurrence in the life of the Son of God?

A New Light Upon The Son
“And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” (Matt 17:2)  There is a prophetic application to the mount of transfiguration for our time. First, we see the Lord Jesus appearing to his disciples in a different form. To be transfigured basically has the meaning to be changed into another form. We are being prepared to see Jesus in a way that we never have prior.

In no way is this a “new” Jesus.  It is just another part or aspect of Him being opened to us. The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. However, there are expressions of His person that we have yet to experience.  Just like a diamond that is slightly turned to reveal what seems to be a new diamond.  It is the same diamond, but because the light shines upon it in a different way, the whole of the stone looks completely new.  Even so today there is a “new light” upon Jesus that is opening our eyes to see Him as we never have before.

Church Age to Kingdom Age Revelation
The disciples no longer saw Jesus of Nazareth, but a revelation of the Glorified Son (Jn 1:14).  Jesus has revealed Himself in many ways throughout the scriptures and history. He revealed Himself differently to each of the seven churches in the book of Revelation. These were not only churches in John’s day, but also church ages throughout history. As we read each dispensation of time in Revelation 2 and 3, we see each carried a fresh revelation of Jesus. 

He revealed Himself according to the need of that church age dispensation.  For example he manifests to Pergamos as the One who has the sharp two-edged sword (Rev 2:12).  It is no coincidence that this church was dealing with false doctrines (Rev 2:14-15).  They needed the spirit of truth to combat the evil of their day.  Even one of the promises to those who overcome this doctrinal error is of the hidden manna (i.e. revelation of truth and secrets).

Many would agree we are currently in a time that symbolically points to the Laodicean church age (Rev. 3:14-22). It has become increasingly easier to live in lukewarm Christianity with the deception that we are in good standing with the Lord because of ministry and external signs of success.  Ministry status or success can be achieved through talents, advertisement, charisma or hanging on the coat-tails of the right personal contacts to gain recognition.  All our ideas of divine approval and success that are based upon externals are about to be challenged.  More than ever we are being called to go to Him (Rev 3:17-18).

However, the Laodicean age is not the way the church will end.  We have been transitioning from Revelation chapter three to chapter four. Those who overcome the deceptive lukewarm condition of Laodecea will move from church age to Kingdom age.  As we open the door to Him in Rev 3:20, He in turn brings us to the open door in Rev 4:1.  We are then catapulted from a maintaining church mindset to an advancing Kingdom mode.  This is an entirely new dispensation than ever experienced prior and will be set in motion by a fresh revelation of the King and His Kingdom.

The Spirit of Revelation
The Lord also instructs the Church of our day to, “anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” (Rev 3:18)  This eye salve is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.  According to Eph 1:17-18, it is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that opens the eyes of the heart.  This results in us possessing the knowledge of Him (Eph1:17).  This is not mere mental knowledge, but experiential relationship that comes from our eyes being opened to a fresh revelation of the Son.  This is one of the fruits of our dining with Him in Rev 3:20-21. 

 

The Glorious King
We are like the disciples on the mount who are going to see Him in an entirely different way.  We will begin to see Him not only as the Lamb upon the cross, but the Lion who has come forth from the tomb. Not only as the Prince of Peace, but also as the Captain of the Lord of Hosts. He is not just the Word made flesh, He is also the Living Word (Heb 4:12) that is active and powerful.  These may be “titles” we are familiar with, but the Spirit of wisdom and revelation are opening our eyes to experience and be intimately acquainted with a side Jesus we have never met.

He is not only Head of the Church, but He is coming now as the Glorious King (Rev 19:11-16) of the Kingdom.  That is a picture of how Jesus is coming to us now, not looking to take sides but to take over (Josh 5:13-14).  As our perception of Jesus changes, so also will we. This will be the focus of Part II.