How many of you are familiar with the Old Testament festival of Sukkot? Maybe you know it better by its English name, the feast of tabernacles or the feast of booths. Today we're going to be looking at the account of Jesus transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-9. So naturally, since we're going to talk about the transfiguration, we're going to talk about the feast of tabernacles. What in the world am I talking about there? Does any of that make sense? How so?
What does the Old Testament feast of tabernacles have to do with the New Testament account of Jesus transfiguration? Well, we're about to find out. And also, what the transfiguration account in the Gospel of Matthew meant for Jesus original disciples, what it meant for Matthew's original audience, and what it means for us today.
Matthew 17:1-9 The Transfiguration
17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
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