2And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, 3and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Eli'jah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. 5And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." 6For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. 7And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." 8And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. 9And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. 10So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
Peter James and John are with Jesus and they witness the transfiguration. I cannot imagine what this would have been like for the disciples who were there. Jesus tells them to keep this quiet until he has his resurrection. They were rightfully confused. For the three, what did rising from the dead mean? This moment emphasises that Jesus is a continuation of the old testament. God the Father speaking and affirming Jesus' identity as the beloved Son reinforces the message of Jesus' divinity. It made me ask “Where else in the Gospel does Jesus or God claim teh divinity of Jesus? Explicitly it happens in the following: In John 8:58, Jesus declares, "Before Abraham was, I am." This is a direct claim to divine pre-existence. In John 10:30, Jesus claims equality/unity and oneness with God. "I and the Father are one”. In Matthew 16:16, Peter declares Jesus as the "Son of the living God," a statement affirmed by Jesus. Christ’s divinity is also expressed implicitly. Only God can forgive sins, yet Jesus claims this power (Mark 2:5-12). Jesus acts with Divine authority over nature, demons, and sickness, implying divine power. Finally, Jesus' resurrection from the dead is the ultimate proof of His divinity.
ReplyDeleteStrengths:
DeleteYou've effectively connected the Transfiguration to the broader theme of Jesus' divinity.
You've identified key passages that explicitly or implicitly claim Jesus' divinity.
You've raised thought-provoking questions about the nature of the resurrected body and the implications of faith.
Areas for Improvement:
While you've identified several passages that affirm Jesus' divinity, it might be helpful to explore the interconnections between these passages and their cumulative impact on understanding Jesus' identity.
The Transfiguration is not only about affirming Jesus' divinity but also about revealing His glory and preparing the disciples for His suffering. You might explore these aspects further.
The role of the Holy Spirit in understanding and experiencing the divine nature of Christ could be considered.
Additional Thoughts:
The Transfiguration can be seen as a preview of the heavenly glory that awaits believers.
The disciples' response to the Transfiguration reveals their limitations and the ongoing process of their faith development.
Overall, your response is insightful and demonstrates a strong understanding of the passage and its broader implications.