[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 17
“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” (Matthew 17: 20-21)
“This is my Son, whom I love, with Him, I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5)
THE TRANSFIGURATION (vs. 1-13)
Peter, James and John were with Jesus in the high mountain. Jesus was transfigured with His face shone like sun and His clothes became as white as the light. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus. Then a voice from the cloud said: “This is my Son, whom I love, with Him, I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (v. 5)
Upon hearing this, the disciples were terrified and they fell face down to the ground. But Jesus touched them, told them to get up and not to be afraid. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone what they have seen until He has been raised from the dead” (v. 9)
THE HEALING OF A BOY WITH A DEMON (vs. 14-23)
A man had a son with seizures who would fall into the fire or into the water. He was brought to the disciples but they could not heal him. Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of the boy and he was healed. The disciples asked Jesus why they were not able to drive out the demon. Jesus replied: “It is because you have so little faith. 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” (vs. 20-21). Jesus told them that He will be betrayed and killed by men, but on the third day, He will be raised to life. (v. 22)
THE TEMPLE TAX (vs. 24-27)
The collectors of two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked: “Doesn’t your teacher pay temple tax?” (v. 24). Jesus as a “Child of the King” need not pay the tax. But in order not to offend them, He told Peter to catch a fish and take the coin from its mouth to pay their taxes.
SUMMARY:
“Transfigure” is the English word of “metamorphosis” which means “an inner change”. The transfiguration is one of the key events of Christ’s ministry. It reveals the universal glory of Christ. There were 7 people involved during the transfiguration — Jesus, Peter, James, John, Moses, Elijah, and God the Father. The transfiguration allowed the disciples to see the scene of the promised Kingdom. Moses represents saints who have died in Christ. Elijah represents saints who were raptured. The multitudes at the foot of the mountain represents other nations, and Jesus being glorified.
The nine disciples left at the foot of the mountain were not able to drive out the demon from a boy. When Jesus came, He rebuked their lack of faith and drove out the demon. We need real faith to make everything possible.
Every Jewish male is required to pay temple tax. Since Jesus is the child of the king, He is exempted from payment. However, Jesus wanted to prove his kingship, so He told Peter to catch a fish and get the coin from its mouth. Jesus paid the tax in compliance to the earthly requirement. Therefore, we must also pay our taxes to the government.
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