Today, we are looking at Mount Tabor, which is around 1886ft in height with a distinctive shape that can be seen for miles. This mountain is located in the Lower Galilee part of Israel and is most known for the battle between the Israelites and the Canaanites, but this is also where Jesus’ Transfiguration took place!
The Transfiguration is where I will concentrate this morning because this moment in time is documented within all of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17:1-9 | Mark 9:2-8 | Luke 9:28-36) but it not only gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is, as the true glory of the King, but also, what Jesus was about to do, and lastly, what is to come
It is important to note that with Moses and Elijah appearing before Jesus’ inner circle of Peter, James, and John, it represented the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). This is significant because Moses predicted the coming of the great Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) and Elijah foretold the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5,6) – which confirmed Jesus’ Messianic mission to fulfil not only the Law but the words of the Prophets
Also, just as God’s voice over Mount Sinai showed authority to His Law (Exodus 19:9), God speaking at Jesus’ Transfiguration then gave weight to the words Jesus spoke. In other words, God was saying that the Law and Prophets needed to give way to Jesus
Therefore, for us today, let us remember that although the Law was good, Jesus was the fulfilment of it. The old has been replaced by the new…by the One who saves our souls. He is the One who prepares us for what is to come. He is the One who’s Words are for us. He is the One who shows us that this world is not our final destination
This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Matthew 17:5
Categories: Mountains in Scripture
