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K.E.Y. Study

The K.E.Y. Bible Study program at Dawson is a systematic Bible study that allows participants to become acquainted with the basic truths of the Bible over a five-year period. Each lesson is self-contained, so, you can join the study at any time during the five years.

Purpose: To help Christians: Keep the Faith Be Equipped to Serve Become Yoked in Ministry

“The Transfiguration” March 12, 2014 :1-13

Accounts of the transfiguration are also found in Mark 9:2-13 and :28-36. In this session of K.E.Y. Bible Study, we will follow Matthew’s account.

General Introduction

To many Christians, the transfiguration is often perceived to be an interesting but non-essential event in the life of . The birth, death, and resurrection are considered the pivotal events; the transfiguration is often thought to be more like an isolated miracle of manifestation. There are at least three reasons we minimize the transfiguration:

• We can’t identify with it because nothing like that has happened to us. • It is very difficult to imagine or picture in our minds. • We are uncertain of its meaning.

This is a very important event in the narratives because it helped the disciples begin to understand who Jesus was. When we see the historical context, we will have a better understanding of Jesus’ relationship with God, the Father.

Who:

• God the Father as revealed in His Son, Jesus, the Christ. • Peter, James, and John, who were considered the inner of the disciples, were invited to go with Jesus to a high mountain. While these three are neither more important than the other disciples nor are they Jesus’ favorites, they were some of the stronger and more natural leaders. More than likely James and John were children of Mary’s sister and were cousins of Jesus.

When:

This event occurred in the third and last year of the public ministry of Jesus, very soon after Jesus had told the disciples of his pending death. In both Mathew and Mark, this event occurred six days after the prophecy at , while in Luke it happened about eight days after the prophecy. This is not a contradiction; both are common ways of stating that this was approximately one week after the preceding event.

To fully capture the meaning of the transfiguration, it is necessary to read Matthew 16 and give attention to Peter’s statement to Jesus about Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Within the next few verses, Peter rebuked Jesus for saying that He would die. First, Peter affirmed who Jesus was by his faith statement, and then he denied who Jesus was by arguing with Him. It is easier to have the right words to describe Jesus than it is to have the right heart for Jesus.

Where:

For years, it was assumed that the transfiguration occurred on Mt Tabor, which lies south of . Today, more think it was on Mount Hermon, which is a taller mountain on the route between and Caesarea Philippi. A few biblical historians think it may have been at Mt. Miron.

K.E.Y. Bible Study (2013 - 2014) Dawson Family of Faith Gary Fenton

K.E.Y. Bible Study

What Happened?

• Verse 1: Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain. Luke wrote that Jesus went there to pray. Jesus frequently retreated for the purpose of prayer. Historically, unusual actions had occurred among God’s people in mountain settings. • Verse 2: As Jesus prayed, He was transfigured, which means the act of giving outward expression of one’s inner character. One of the better explanations of this word is found in www.freebiblecommentary.com by Dr. Bob Utley: “This is a compound Greek term from "after" (meta) and "form" (morphē). The term "transfiguration" comes from the Latin . We get the English term metamorphosis from the Greek compound term. The theological connotation is that Jesus' eternal divine nature broke through His human nature. The term is also used of what happens in a spiritual sense to believers (cf. Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).” The face of Jesus changed in appearance (see Luke 9). The Scripture suggests that it was not a light shining on Jesus, but a light shining from Jesus. Then as now, the face was thought to reveal a person’s identity. Jesus’ clothes Jesus appeared abnormally white. The Jewish readers would have remembered how ’ face glowed (Exodus 34:29-35) when he came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the law. • Verse 3: Peter, James, and John saw Jesus talking Moses and Elijah. To the Jews, Moses was the symbol of the law, and Elijah was symbolic of the . Both Moses and Elijah had encounters with God on mountains. Moses received the Law on Mt. Sinai, and Elijah found God in the small still voice on Mt. Horeb. Luke told us they were talking about what would happen in . The word translated “departure” in Luke 9:31 literally means “exodus.” Note the symbolism here between and the cross/resurrection/ascension. • Verse 4: Peter apparently interrupted to suggest that they build three tabernacles in honor of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. During the Feast of Tabernacles, small temporary shelters were built as acts of remembrance. Luke bluntly wrote, “Peter spoke without knowing what he was saying.” Mark is kinder in suggesting that Peter spoke out of fear. Remember that Peter is the source for most Mark’s Gospel. Luke is more closely associated with Paul; and in the book Galatians, Peter and Paul had a conflict. Personality conflicts have always been part of church life. • Verse 5: A bright cloud surrounded Jesus. In the Old Testament, the Shekinah cloud of glory was a symbol of God’s presence. While Peter was speaking, a voice from the heaven spoke these words, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” This is the same message as what was heard at the . It identified Jesus as God’s Son. In Matthew 16, Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” If we don’t know who Jesus is, we will not understand what He did. • Verse 6: The disciples fall to the ground out of fear. This is a reverent falling to the ground, not an involuntary being thrown to the ground. This is a deliberate act of reverential fear. • Verse 7: Jesus touched the disciples and told them “Get up” and “Don’t be afraid.” • Verse 8: The disciples looked up and saw no one except Jesus. • Verse 9: Jesus told them to tell no one until after the resurrection. • Verse 10: On the way down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus why the Old Testament taught that Elijah must come before the Messiah. Remember, they were thinking of a literal return of Elijah. • Verse 11: Jesus told them that Elijah had come, and he was not recognized but persecuted just the way the Son of Man was being persecuted. Apparently for the first time, the disciples realized that had fulfilled this prophecy related to Elijah.

KEY Truths

KNOW Jesus is the Son of God. BE In a faith relationship with God. DO If Jesus is the Son of God, we need to follow His commands.

K.E.Y. Bible Study (2013 - 2014) Dawson Family of Faith Gary Fenton

K.E.Y. Bible Study

Map and Chart on next page copied from: http://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/

K.E.Y. Bible Study (2013 - 2014) Dawson Family of Faith Gary Fenton

K.E.Y. Bible Study

Mountains (In alphabetical order):

• Mt. Abarim: The name literally means "the mountains across or beyond ." • Mt. Ararat: The mountain or mountains where Noah's ark came to rest. • Mt. Bashan: The name denotes soft rich soil, and the territory was famous for its oaks and wild cattle. • Mt. Carmel: The scene of Elijah's sacrifice. The mountain is not to be confused with the town of Carmel, mentioned in I Samuel 25:2ff. • Mt. Ebal: A sacred mountain from the earliest of times, where the stones inscribed with the Law were deposited. • Mt. Gerizim: Sacred from early times, this mountain is still the scene where the Samaritans hold the Passover. • Mt. Gilboa: The scene of the death of both Saul and Jonathan (exact location is under speculation). • Mt. : A mountainous region east of Jordan. It was the scene of the covenant between Laban and Jacob. • Mt. Hermon: A high mountain north of the , which very well could have been the scene of the transfiguration. • Mt. Hor: The mountain where Aaron died (exact location is under speculation). • Mt. Horeb: Most likely synonymous with Sinai. It was the scene of the burning bush, of the giving of the Law, and of Elijah's vision. • Mt. : In the central mountains of Syria and famous as the source of timber for Solomon's Temple. • Mt. Moriah: The site of Abraham's intended sacrifice, and the mountain on which the Temple of Jerusalem was built. The Islamic Mosque of Omar resides on the site today. • Mt. Nebo: Range of hills forming the western edge of the Moabite plateau above the Jordan. • Mt. Olivet/The Mount of Olives: The scene of David's flight from Absalom, of Jesus' weeping over Jerusalem, and of His ascension. • Mt. Pisgah: The headland of the Nebo range from which Moses saw the Promised Land. • Mt. Seir: The land of Esau/a mountain range identified with Edom. • Mt. Sinai: The mountain where the Israelites encamped for nearly a year, and where the Law was given to Moses. • Mt. Tabor: The site of Barak's camp; some identify this mountain as the scene of the . • Mt. Zion: The eastern hill of Jerusalem. It was the stronghold of the Jebusites, attacked by Joab, and became the site of David's palace and the Temple.

K.E.Y. Bible Study (2013 - 2014) Dawson Family of Faith Gary Fenton