SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 17
THE TRANSFIGURATION (vs. 1-13)
After six days, Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to high mountain. There he was transfigured with face shone like the sun, his clothes became as white as the light. Then Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Jesus. Peter told Jesus that he will put three shelters – one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Then a bright cloud enveloped them and a voice form the cloud said,: “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (v. 5). When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus comforted them and told them not to be afraid. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed not to tell anyone what they saw until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.
THE HEALING OF A BOY WITH A DEMON (vs. 14-23)
A man has a son who was demon possessed. He had seizure and was suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. He was brought to Jesus disciples, but they could not heal him. Jesus told him to bring the boy. When he rebuked the demon, it came out of the boy and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked: “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Jesus replied: “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (v. 20-21). When they came together in Galilee, he told his disciples that He is going to be betrayed into the hands of men and be killed but on the third day, he will be raised to life. The disciples were filled with grief.
THE TEMPLE TAX (vs. 24-27)
After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two drachma tax came to Peter to collect taxes of Peter and Jesus. Jesus told Peter to go to the lake and throw out the net. The first fish being caught had 4 drachma coin in its mouth. Peter took it and gave it to the tax collector as their tax.
THOUGHTS:
The transfiguration was a vision to reveal Jesus’ divinity and to show the glory of the king to the three disciples – Peter, James and John.. Moses and Elijah were the two greatest prophets in the Old Testament. Moses represents the Old covenant and predicted the coming of a great prophet. Elijah represent the prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah. The presence of Moses and Elijah with Jesus confirmed Jesus’ mission to fulfill God’s law. God’s voice in the Transfiguration gave authority to Jesus’ words.
The disciples were given the power to cast out demons. But they weren’t able to do it. When they asked Jesus, He said their faith was too little. Perhaps the disciples had tried to cast out the demon with their own ability rather than God’s power to act. If we feel weak or powerless, we should examine our faith, making sure that we are trusting God’s power not on our own ability to produce results.
The disciples could not understand why Jesus had to die because they expected him to set up a political kingdom. The thought of his death discouraged them and made them hopeless. They did not know that Jesus’ death and resurrection was the key to make His kingdom possible.
All Jewish males had to pay a Temple tax for the upkeeping of the temple. When the tax collector came to them, Jesus supplied the tax payment for Peter and himself rather than to offend those who did not understand his kingship. Jesus taught us to be a responsible citizen and to abide by the law.