1227. From Incarnation to Transfiguration

From Incarnation to Transfiguration

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

"And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light" (Mat_17:1-2).

1. Christ in His ascension put off the body of His incarnation and put on the body of His glorification. Leon Tucker delights in speaking of it as "The Humiliation of the Incarnation," and "The Glorification of the Transfiguration."

(1) The incarnation of Christ was marked by humiliation. Christ humbled Himself because He took upon Him a body. He became like unto us yet without sin.

His incarnation was marked by humiliation in His subjection to His parents.

His incarnation was marked by humiliation because He was born in Bethlehem and reared in Nazareth.

His incarnation was marked by humiliation because He was the recognized son of a carpenter, and He Himself followed the carpenter's trade.

His incarnation was marked by humiliation because Christ made Himself servant of all. He girded Himself and washed the disciples' feet.

His incarnation was marked by humiliation because the Lord died outside the camp, being obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.

(2) The ascension was marked by transfiguration. In the transfiguration on the mount Christ appeared in glory with Moses and Elias. He was transfigured; His raiment became white and glistening; His face shone with the light of the sun.

The transfiguration on the mount, presents a picture of the transcendent glory, which became Christ's in His ascension.

When Christ walked among men, His Deity was veiled. Only twice does it seem that He let His inherent glory shine forth. Once at the transfiguration, and once when He was met in the Garden by the maddened mob who sought His arrest. The Lord Jesus is now transfigured–glorified, and when He comes again He will come in the full radiance of the glory of the Father.

2. The believer in union with Christ in His ascension is commanded to put off the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts, and to put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. As we present our bodies a living sacrifice, as we are not conformed to this world, we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The word "transformed" is our word, "transfigured;" it aligns us with the transfiguration of our Lord.

As we, with open face, beholding the glory of our risen, ascended and seated Lord, we are transfigured into the same image, from glory unto glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Lord Jesus Christ calls His children to a new walk. They are to become separate from the world.

In regeneration the believer is clothed with a new life; therefore he is invoked to walk in newness of life. In regeneration the believer is robed with the garments of Christ's righteousness, therefore he is invoked to keep his garments white.

Illustration: A little waif, in praying, was heard to say; "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray Thee, Lord, my clothes to keep." Some one had given the little fellow some grand, new clothes and he wanted to keep them white. Those of us who are saved should remember the admonition of the Lord: "Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments" (Rev_16:15).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR