Page 86 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook w videos

was a glimpse of that glory. Therefore, the transfiguration of Jesus Christ displayed the Shekinah glory of
God incarnate in the Son. The voice of God attesting to the truth of Jesus' Sonship was the second time
God's voice was heard. The first time was at Jesus' baptism into His public ministry by John the Baptist
(Matthew 3:7; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22).

Therefore, the transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a unique display of His divine character and a glimpse
of the glory, which Jesus had before He came to earth in human form. This truth is emphasized for us in
a passage in the Apostle Paul's letter to Philippi. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form (morphe) of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself
of no reputation, and took upon Him the form (morphe) of a servant, and was made in the likeness of
men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is
above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11).

The Son of God came to earth in the form of a man to be the true servant of God and to gift mankind
with the greatest gift ever given, eternal life. The transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a visible sign in the
presence of reliable witnesses of the reality of the power of God and the glory, which is Christ Jesus
(https://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/transfiguration-of-jesus-christ-faq.htm).

Last Efforts in Galilee (Matthew 17:24-27; Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-37; and Luke 9:46-
48; Matthew 18:6-14; Mark 9:38-50; and Luke 9:49-50; Matthew 18:15-35)

We are not sure how many years have passed in Jesus’ ministry at this point in the Gospels, but we do
know it was about 4 years. Jesus had informed his disciples that soon He would be going to Jerusalem
and there He was to be arrested, tried, and crucified, but would rise again on the third day. The
disciples had resisted this teaching when Jesus set it before them.

Events in these passages of the Gospels reveal that Jesus’ disciples have still a long way to go to fully
understand the purpose of Christ’s visit to earth. In Matthew 18 the disciples asked the question about
being great in the Kingdom, but in Mark we discover that they had been arguing about which of them
would be greatest in the Kingdom. They were expecting Jesus to set up an earthly Kingdom and each
wanted a prominent position. Jesus had to remind them that to be first, they must assume the last
position.

Word came to the disciples that there were disciples not of the twelve that were casting out demons in
Jesus’ name. John asked Jesus to command them to stop. In a sense, John demonstrated jealousy in
that others were doing what only his disciples should be doing. John revealed the heart of the disciples
– that they had refused to accept Jesus’ words concerning His own death, as well as His insistence that
they too must be ready to take up a cross and prepare for death.

It is at this point that Jesus concluded His ministry in Galilee and directed His journey toward Jerusalem.
He was planning to attend the Feast of Tabernacles which would put this trip in October of the year
before he died.

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