Matthew describes the event that Luke spoke of, in these words – “Jesus…was transfigured before them” (Matt. 17:1, 2). What does that mean – transfigured? Exactly what took place on that mountain? We know that Jesus “went up into [the] mountain to pray” (9:28), and there, in solitude and in communion with the Father, “the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering” (vs. 29). The appearance of His face became other than it had been – it was different; Matthew says that His face shone like the sun. His clothing was white and glistening (flashing with splendor, like lightening); Mark’s account declares that it was white as snow, whiter than any launderer on earth could make it. For this brief instance, the glory of Christ’s deity was unveiled to the inner circle of disciples on the mount, illuminating His clothing so that it seemed to share in the transformation.
I have seen time-lapse video of the transformation of the chrysalis (pupal stage of a butterfly larva) into the emergence of an adult butterfly in all its beauty, displaying openly that which was always there - metamorphosis. So with Christ,
the glory was always there in the depths of His being but now rose to the surface, providing a glance back into His pre-human glory and a look forward to His future glory (Jn. 17:4, 5). There had been glimpses of it in certain manifestations (Jn. 2:11; 11:40) – manifestations of the glory of God (Isa. 60:1-3; 35:2; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 21:23). At this time, the veil of His humanity was lifted, and His true essence was allowed to shine through. There were difficult days coming, and these disciples would need a reason for hope in the darkness of His crucifixion. They would find it here (Jn. 1:14; 1 Jn. 1:1, 2; 2 Pet. 1:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:4-7).
I have seen time-lapse video of the transformation of the chrysalis (pupal stage of a butterfly larva) into the emergence of an adult butterfly in all its beauty, displaying openly that which was always there - metamorphosis. So with Christ,
the glory was always there in the depths of His being but now rose to the surface, providing a glance back into His pre-human glory and a look forward to His future glory (Jn. 17:4, 5). There had been glimpses of it in certain manifestations (Jn. 2:11; 11:40) – manifestations of the glory of God (Isa. 60:1-3; 35:2; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 21:23). At this time, the veil of His humanity was lifted, and His true essence was allowed to shine through. There were difficult days coming, and these disciples would need a reason for hope in the darkness of His crucifixion. They would find it here (Jn. 1:14; 1 Jn. 1:1, 2; 2 Pet. 1:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:4-7).