Learning the Jesus Way of LifeSample

When God Speaks

Pray: Jesus, give me the faith to go where you go, do what you do, trust what you say, and love how you love. Today, I commit to following you. Amen.

It’s not every day that God speaks in an audible voice—which makes it all the more important for us to pay attention when He does. In today’s reading, we are going to look at an event in the life of Jesus known as the “Transfiguration,” a word that means to change figure or form. It’s during this event that God speaks a message to Jesus that is also for us.

For context, this event falls just after we are told this in the previous chapter:

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:21 NIV

After hearing this, Peter challenges Jesus, is quickly put in his place, and then Jesus tells His disciples that anyone who wants to be His disciple, “must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Following this conversation, we read:

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Matthew 17:1–2 NIV

Jesus and His three closest companions head up a mountain. While there, Jesus is transfigured. His face glows with the radiance of the sun. His clothes become pure white as if a light is shining through them. These faithful followers are seeing the holiness and glory of Jesus in a whole new way. Then, something even more unexpected happens.

Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Matthew 17:3 NIV

Moses was the chosen servant of God who delivered the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in all of Jewish history who performed incredible miracles to bring the people of Israel back to God. And these two significant figures are now standing on this mountain, talking to Jesus.

The Jewish Scriptures are often referred to as the Law and the Prophets. The Law, which consists of the first five books of the Bible, was written down and compiled by Moses. The Prophets represent the writings of the people chosen by God to be His messengers. Elijah is considered by many to be the greatest of these individuals. This context is important because of what comes next.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased …” Matthew 17:4–5 NIV

This is the second instance in Scripture of God the Father speaking out loud to God the Son. His statement begins with a declaration of love and relationship. The Father is reminding Jesus, and those listening, that He loves His Son and He’s proud of Him.

Do you know that when God the Father sees you, He looks at you the same way He looks at Jesus?

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:26–27 NIV

When we choose to trust in His Jesus and devote ourselves to Him, we become one with Him. Spiritually speaking, God gives us a new name, a new life, and a new pair of clothes that all point to the reality that once we were separated from God, but now we are united with Christ. He is alive in us and He has wrapped us in His love. This process is so thorough and complete that God refuses to see us as we used to be or call us by our old name. Instead, He chooses to see us the same way He sees Jesus, as someone He loves dearly and is immensely proud of.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 NIV

But, God’s message on the mountain doesn’t end with His repeat declaration of love. He adds one more sentence this time—words specifically for followers of Jesus, then and now, to take to heart.

… a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:5 NIV

In the presence of Moses and Elijah, two of the greatest figures in Jewish history, God tells us to listen to Jesus. Because Jesus is the ultimate authority. He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Everything written by Moses and spoken by the prophets was pointing to Him.

The entire Bible, from beginning to end, is a unified story that leads to Jesus and teaches us to become more like Him. He is the main character. He’s the hero who shows up to rescue all who are suffering by overcoming the villain working in the shadows.

With Jesus, the character of God is revealed more fully. God’s plans are unveiled more clearly. All who have been wondering how God will do what He’s promised, and all who have been waiting for God to show up and finish what He’s started, are given the answers to their questions in Jesus.

How do the disciples respond to seeing the transfigured Jesus and hearing God speaking?

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Matthew 17:6–8 NIV

In this moment, more than ever before, they are shown a glimpse of Jesus’ authority. They’ve known He was more than just a man. They believed He was the Messiah. But here, on this mountain, they see firsthand just how great He really is. So they fell to the ground, overwhelmed by the weight of this revelation. And when they finally looked up, “they saw no one except Jesus.”

Application: Whose example are you looking to? Whose voice are you listening to? Listening to podcasts, reading books, learning from mentors, taking online courses, etc.—all of those things can be good and helpful supplements, but they can never be a replacement for our personal relationship with Jesus. He is our teacher and we are His students. Over and above anyone or anything else, we are meant to listen to Him and learn from Him. Only then will we start to become more like Him. Take inventory of what you spend your time watching, reading, and listening to. How does your time studying the words of Jesus and sitting in His presence compare to the amount of time you consume other forms of content? What shift can you make in your daily routine to help you give more of your focus to what Jesus wants to tell you?