An Eternal Actual Kingdom When the Lord promised his disciples that some of them would see the son of man coming in his kingdom he took three of his disciples and went with them into his eternal kingdom, where he was transfigured on Mount Tabor. He then went down with them, so we live this kingdom through our actual life on earth, heading towards the cross. 1. The Transfiguration 1 – 8 2. The Need of Elijah 9 – 13 3. The Destruction of Satan’s Kingdom 14 – 21 4. The Need of the Cross 22 – 23 5. Paying the Taxes 24 – 27 + + + 1. The Transfiguration: The transfiguration means making the soul taste the eternal life, so it would be able to see its groom coming in his kingdom. He would then manifest his godly glory as much as the soul could bear when it is still in the physical body. This work of God that has been fulfilled in a tangible way on Mount Tabor has been shown to three of the disciples, and two of the Old Testament prophets. This divine work is fulfilled one way or the other inside the heart from time to time, so the should would be able to withdraw towards the eternal wedding, eager to be liberated towards the eternal life. It therefore carries a spiritual powerful push that supports man in his carrying of the cross and becoming a witness to the Lord Jesus. The transfiguration is the manifestation of the ‘heavenly kingdom’, which extends above all time limits. It is offered to the human soul that has accepted to be positive in him by carrying the cross of the groom, the king, and going with him to death everyday so as to be blessed joyfully with the power of his resurrection. It represents a strong push granted by the Messiah, the king to his spiritual soldiers for continuous struggle against Satan and his deeds. This is to strengthen them passionately towards the eternal reward, and be blessed with sharing the heavenly gloried. Therefore, this transfiguration which has occurred once in the life of three of the disciples, has become a credit offered by the Lord for the account of the entire church; the more you withdraw from it everyday, the more it increases. When you ask for it, you find it a daily experience that give strength the believer lives by a God’s sacred mountains, which are his commandments. This be done through the church, whether it be in group, or family or personal worshiping. He also tastes of it during his work time and even in his night timer as well as in his dealings with both the righteous and the evildoers. It is a continuous encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ forever, and he https://coptic-treasures.com/ discovers the new glories every moment in our lives till we encounter him face to face in his final coming. The Link between the Transfiguration and the Crucifixion Events: The transfiguration has been linked to the events of the crucifixion and resurrection. It is impossible for the believer to ascend to the transfiguration mount to see the brightness of God, unless he accepts his cross, and goes with the Lord in his sufferings and experience his power of the resurrection in him, and at this point the Lord declares his glory in him. On the other hand it was impossible for the disciples to accept his sufferings and realize the mystery of his resurrection if he had not prepared them through those three disciples for his transfiguration. + The Lord spoke a good deal about the risks awaiting him, his suffering and his death, as well as the disciples’ death and the cruel hardships they would encounter in their life. He moreover spoke of the many good things they hope for and aspire, which for its sake they will lose their life so they would find it. He also told them of his coming in the glory of his father, and grants us the reward. For this reason he wished to reveal to them how his glory would be like in his manifestation. They will then see with their own eyes, and understand as much as they can. This is why he showed them this in the present life, by means of his transfiguration. St. John Chrysostom. + The people about whom he said they would not taste of death until they see his coming and his symbols, are these three disciples whom he took to the mount. There he declared to them how he would come in the last day in his godly glory and in the humility of the body. He took them up to a high mountain to manifest to them the glory of his godliness, so they would not stumble when they see his sufferance that he accepted so willingly, and which he tolerated physically for our sake. He took them up a high mountain to manifest and show them his kingdom before they see his suffering and his death. They would see his glory before seeing his shame, so that when they would see him imprisoned and condemned by the Jews, they would them understand he was not crucified by them for his inability, but it was for his being happy, in all his righteousness, to suffer for the sake of the world salvation. He took them up to the mountain to show them that before his resurrection, his overwhelming godly glory, so that when he rises from the dead, they would realize he did not accept this glory as a reward for his deeds, as if this glory was not his. He rather had all this glory from the very beginning of the time together with the father and the Holy Spirit. He had previously said when he willingly went to all the suffering (John 17:5) “And now, O Father, glorify me with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was.” St. Aoraan the Syrian https://coptic-treasures.com/ The Six Days; Our teacher St. Mathew records saying the event of the transfiguration was after six days of the Lord’s promise to his disciples that some of them would not taste death, until they see the son of man coming in his kingdom (Matt 16:28), whereas St. Luke records it as on the eight day after this promise. This is not any contradiction, but rather an agreement and an amazing spiritual mystery. Our teacher St. Luke the evangelist counted the day on which the Lord declared his promise and the day of his transfiguration. As for our teacher St. Mathew he herald revealed a fact St. Luke the herald completed. The transfiguration therefore is the declaration of the Messiah the Savior’s eternal kingdom. This will be fulfilled after the times, that is, it will be fulfilled on the eighth day, which refers to eternity, since it is the day which follows the end of the week, #7. In many previous situations we referred to #8 as a symbol of the resurrected eternal life. As for #6, mentioned her by our teacher St. Mathew, this implies a number of meanings: Firstly: We know that #6 refers to incompletion. This is why the name of the beast has the numbers 666, that means, incomplete till the end. At the same time it refers to the completion of man’s work on earth, since he works for six days, and is still incomplete till he rests on the seventh day, the Sabbath. This human perfection or completion, however much it may be, is still regarded as incomplete, for if we do all righteousness we say we are idle slaves. It is as if those glimpses of over joyful transfiguration are only granted to the struggling soul in the Lord. This is soul carries the cross all the sic days, it is considered perfect and complete in its struggle, yet lacking in its own eyes. When man begins the life of lawful struggle by the Holy Spirit, man admits his drawbacks; but as for God, he can see him as righteous, and coming to him brightly, in secret transfiguration of the heart, as a godly gift that supports him and kindles him to a greater struggle. He is eager to obtain transfiguration not on mount Tabor, but in the heavens on God’s Throne. Secondly: The scholar Oreganus thinks the believer is not able to be uplifted with the Lord on mount Tabor to enjoy and be blessed with the transfiguration unless he passes through the six days for work, and the creation of the apparent world is left behind. That is, he overcomes the visible things and flees away from the love of the world. For, he says, “The world was created in six days, that is, the complete number for work. This is why I think that he who over comes the world’s entire matters, without looking at all what is visible, for it is all temporary, and he looks ahead at the invisible alone since it is eternal, in him the words are fulfilled “After six days, the Lord took…” Certain people. He who wishes to be taken by Jesus and ascends with him a high mount, and be ready to witness his transfiguration all by himself, he has to pass through the six days. He would not see what is visible, nuiter would he love the world or the things in it (1 John 2:15). He would not wish for its passions, which are that of the body, and neither would he ask for the body’s riches and glory. These matters divert the mind in confusion, and draws it away from the righteous matters of God, and slips him down to the very bottom. He is deceived by the issues in life such as riches, glory and relaxation in the passions which are all alien to the truth. He, who crosses the six days as we have said, keeps https://coptic-treasures.com/ preserved a new Sabbath. He is happy up on the high mount when he witnesses Jesus transfigured before him, for the word has variable forms and shapes. He appears to each one as much as he could stand. He does not declare himself more than the ability of the viewer could be able to bear.” Thirdly: St. Ambrosios sees this as a reference to the end of ages, for he says, “We can say that after six thousand years, because a thousand years with the Lord are as one day (Ps. 89:4) for he has created the world in six days. By so doing, he reveals to us the resurrection that will occur at the end of the world age. In other words, he who rises above the world, above the time age, and is firm in the heavenliest, he aspires the eternal fruits that are of the ascertained resurrection. Therefore, let us disregard the deeds of life so we could be able to see God face to face.” The Three Disciples: The Lord Jesus chose three of his disciples to witness the transfiguration these were Peter, James and John. Peter, who means ‘the rock’, refers to the faith. James was well know for his struggle and his righteous life. John was known as John ‘the beloved.’ It is as if the soul would not be high on Mount Tabor to be blessed by witnessing its Groom in is eternal kingdom unless it embodies inside the faith working in love. St Hillary, Bishop of Poitier, thinks the three men refer to the entire humanity, all nations that have come forth as descents to Sam, Ham and Japheth. These have the right to go up with Christ to be blessed with his transfiguration. The High Mount: What is this high mount that we climb, which declares to us the word of God himself other than the word of God himself and his godly commandment? The scholar Oreganus says the Lord declared his godliness to those who mounted this high mount. But as for those at the bottom, he appeared to them in the form of a slave. He asks him who is eager to know the reality of the Lord, and be transfigured before him, to go up to Jesus through the Holy Gospel on the mount of wisdom by means of works and words. The same meaning is said by St. Ambrosios, “Let us go up the mount and entreat the word of God to reveal himself to us in his glory and beauty.” Man cannot go to the kingdom to see the godly glory through the written word of God, and the incarnate word of God. The Lord Jesus Christ incarnate carries us through the written word, and takes us in him and with him to rise up with us to the high peaks all by ourselves. At this point the world is so belittled in our eyes, and we get rid of every confusion and worries. Moreover, the world loses its enticing powerful pleasures, and our hearts are absolutely withdrawn towards heaven. Then we see the Lord’s kingdom manifested before us and in us. The Change of his Form: (Matt 17:2) “And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light.” https://coptic-treasures.com/ This change actually is a revelation of a hidden reality and glories that have been covered by God behind the physical body, so he would come close to our weak nature, and we likewise, could come close to him without getting burnt! He is declaring his godliness as much as we could bear. He would support us till at the last day in which we could be able to obtain his absolute glory. This transfiguration, moreover, in some way or other was for our own account. Just as his unique godly childhood was declared in the baptism water, we too have come to possess the birth right in him to the Father. By means of the transfiguration we have come to obtain joyfully the right of the glorious new nature based on his sacred image. By taking off the corrupted old man, and by embodying the new one which is renewed daily in Christ Jesus through his Holy Spirit; it is then that we rise from one glory to the other, and we are uplifted from one mount to the next. He has granted us the wings of a dove flying to its groom, to nestle in his embrace, and there to remain with him in the everlasting heavens between his hands. The Lord’s face shines like the sun, and hence our life is in reflection enlightened by him as the moon does. We shall stay in his eternal light, and the darkness of age cannot come close to us. There will be no place for its ruler in us, neither in the spirit nor in the body. We shall shine and twinkle like real believers on the transfiguration mount with the light of Christ our Lord, as bright shares full of splendor. Our souls shall be enlightened by the fruits of the Holy Spirit and of fire. Our bodies will be sanctified in all its members, its feelings, its gifts and emotions. Man at this point is transformed to a bright angel, attracted towards the light unhesitatingly and incessantly. + He appeared to his disciple just as he would in the final judgment. But no one is to think that he took off his earthy form and outer appearance, or that he has got rid of his physical reality. The evangelist described how his appearance has got to be changed, saying, “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light,” (or as snow). When the evangelist speaks of the shining of his face and the whitening of his clothes, the Lord did not hide his appearance, but it has been changed by his glory. Undoubtedly it has changed according to his glory which is his in his kingdom. He has dyed his appearance is loftiness and sublimity, yet he has not taken off his outer appearance. St. Jerome. + His face shone not as the face of Moses did, only outwardly. But his godly glory shone from his face, and despite this his glories remained in him. Out of himself his light shone, and his light remained in him. This light did not come from outside so as to adorn him! He does not accept it to be used for only a while! He did not reveal to them the depths of his godliness which is inconceivable, but he rather uncovered to them as much as their eyes could accept and discern. St. Avram the Syrian https://coptic-treasures.com/ + his face shines as the sun so as to declare himself to the children of the light, these are they who have got rid of the deeds of darkness, and have put on the armor of light (Rom 13:12). They are no longer children of the darkness or sons of the night; for they have become sons of daylight, acting in integrity just as in the daylight (Rom 13:13; Thes. 5:5). By revealing himself, he shines on them not by little sunlight, but because he is the sun of righteousness. The scholar Oreganus. As for the white clothes this refers to Christ’s church attached to him as if he is wrapped with it. It has become as white as light because its Groom is dwelling in it. This is the sun of righteousness that shines in it, and therefore it has become as white as the light, embodying the nature of light. We have previously seen that this robe refers to the eternal wedding where the bride also comes forward in a robe down to her feet (Rev 19:8). She would be in procession to her groom in the presence of the twenty four priests. + If you see someone not only having a deep knowledge of Christ’s godliness, but he can also interpret every evangelical expression, then do not hesitate to say that the Lord’s clothes have become as white as snow. The scholar Oreganus. + His clothes are the church, because he who wears them unless he holds them, they fall. In these clothes St. Paul was like only their edge, for he said about himself (1 Cor 15:9) “I am the least of all the apostles.” The edge or the hem of the robe is the last and least of it all. This is why the woman who was suffering from blood infirmity, once she touched the hem of Christ’s robe, she was healed. Similarly, the church that came from all the Gentiles became whole through the teachings of St. Paul the apostle. It is not surprising that the church is referred to as the white clothes, for Isaiah the prophet has said, (Is 1:18) “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” St. Augustine. The scholar Oreganus comments on the evangelist’s words, “And he was transfigured before them;” he stressed on the words ‘before them.’ For, the Lord Jesus is the same, and does not ever change. But he who looks upon him through the holy gospel without going up the mountain of holy wisdom, this person can never be able to see his glory, or realize his mysteries. But he, who climbs up this mountain, will be blessed with the transfiguration. The Appearance of Moses and Elijah: (Matt 17:3) “And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him.” https://coptic-treasures.com/ It is no surprise that God who has declared at this point his kingdom through his people, amidst his church in which he was hidden, it is no surprise that he declares to us his eternal beauty, not in isolation from us. His saints were surrounding him, being blessed in talking to him as a Father, an elder Brother, a Groom and a Friend. He is happy with mankind, and deals with them not on a temporary basis, but in eternal endless dealings. The choosing of Moses and Elijah was not aimless, but it could be interpreted as follows: Firstly: Moses was the man spoken of by God himself that he was the most affable man on earth. He has led those ‘stiff necked’ people for forty days amidst incessant grumbling and complaints. He interceded for them to God. The Lord showed his wrath and said, (Ex 32:10) “Now therefore, let me above, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.” But as for Moses, he interceded and entreated the Lord for them, separating the people from himself, saying, (Ex 32:32)”Yet now, if you will forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of your book which have written.” Elijah was a fiery man kindled in zeal, who stood before Ahab the king and Jezebel, and killed the bull’s priests, asking for fire to burn the king’s messengers. It was as if the kingdom of Christ was that of meekness but not without zeal. It is the kingdom of love, but not by begging; it is the wide kingdom for the forgiveness of sins, and the forgiveness of drawbacks, in being worthy of the blood, but not in negligence or recklessness. For, the Lord Jesus, by being transfigured, he reveals his kingdom which is his church. This carries the spirit of love and patience, and has compassion on the sinners through the scared cross. But this should not be in carelessness of what is righteous, or have any compromise with sin. The Lord may have brought up Moses and Elijah as two examples to the disciples, so as to have a good change and impact on them. He wanted them to have the humility of Moses, and the zeal of Elijah, all for God’s glory. Secondly: Moses the prophet came to the presence of the Messiah, the king, representing the members sleeping in the Lord. These are the souls reposed, those who departed from us physically, but yet linked to us, all around the one Christ who reigns over everyone. As for Elijah the prophet, he came to represent the struggling members, since Elijah did not die. It is as if all have come together, alive in the Lord. St. John Chrysostom says, “In this way he is informing them he has authority over death and life. He is the one to provide for above and for below. This is why he created him who has died, and him who has not dies.” Thirdly: If Moses has been handed the old law, and Elijah represents the prophets, then the Lord’s transfiguration between than refers to the fact he is the aim of the old law and the focus of the prophecies. + The fact that Moses and Elijah alone of all the other saints were present, this means that Christ in his kingdom stands between Moses and the prophets. St. Hillary, Bishop of Poitier. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + He who sees the glory of Moses, and is aware spiritually of the law, and how it is in harmony with Jesus, and could see the hidden wisdom of the prophets in a secretive way (1 Cor 2:7) he can only see Moses and Elijah when they are with Jesus. The scholar Oreganus. + Of what use are Moses and Elijah, that is, the law and the prophecy, other than the speaking with the Lord? This is made evident by those who read the law and the prophecy about the Lord. Notice how the apostle expresses this briefly (Rom 3:20,21) “… for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.” He looks upon the sun which was witnessed by the law and the prophets. St. Augustine. Fourthly: Moses and Elijah represent the men of the Old Testament, whereas Peter, James and John represent the men of the New Testament. It is as if the Lord Jesus is the center of the Holy Book in its two testaments. It is the mystery of salvation to all, and the aspiration of all. St. Avram the Syrian believes that Moses and Elijah came in representation of the men of the Old Testament, sharing the men of the New Testament their joy in being blessed with the Messiah, the Savior. He has been for so long awaited for by all mankind, for he says, “Thus was their conversation with him. They offered him their thanks, for he has fulfilled what they and all the other prophets have said. The prophets as well as the disciples were overjoyed by going up the mountain. The prophets rejoiced for they saw his incarnation. They disciples were overwhelmed fort they saw his godly glory which they had not known before.” Fifthly: St. John Chrysostom thinks the multitudes have previously said about he Lord he is Elijah or one of the prophets (Matt 16:14). This is why he came with the heads of the prophets to manifest to his disciples the difference between the slaves and the Lord, and that Peter was right in confessing he is the son of the living God. Sixthly: The Lord Jesus, on his way to being judged, was accused of being an evil doer, that is, acting against the law, and also a blasphemer for attributing to himself the Father’s glory. Therefore the Lord presented a previous testimony of a very high level of Moses, as the one handed the law. He testified that the Lord is the preserver of the law and not contradicting it. Also Elijah the zealous one for the Lord’s glory, he declared the glory of Jesus. It is as if Moses came to testify for Christ, that he is not an evildoer, and Elijah came to testify he was not a blasphemer. Seventhly: Moses and Elijah proclaimed the real triumph of the Lord Jesus over Satan. Moses has faced Pharaoh and he won and overcame him. Moreover Elijah faced Ahab and he overcame him as well. But as for Jesus, he faces Satan to overcome him for the sake of all humanity, and in its name. Eighthly: when Moses went up mount Sinai, he received the holy covenant amidst thick clouds. As for Elijah, when he was on top of the mountain, he asked of God to send fire https://coptic-treasures.com/ to burn the commanders of the fifty and their soldiers. All this has been perfectly fulfilled in our Lord Jesus who is the word of God, offered to us through his incarnation. He was hidden as in a cloud, and no one could all by himself see him. He is the burning fire who burned the hypocrisy of the Jews, and the atheisou of the Gentiles, so as to sanctify all of humanity. Ninthly: St. Jerome presents to us a justification for the appearance of Moses and Elijah by saying, “We notice that the Lord has refused presenting a miracle from heaven to the scribes and the Pharisees who asked this of him. But now he is giving a sign from heaven so the disciples’ faith would increase. Elijah descended from where he climbed, and Moses would rise from among the dead.” Tenthly: In the transfiguration Moses and Elijah appeared in the presence of Peter, James and John. So the Lord was on the mount among five of the two testament men. It is as if the Lord wants us to be uplifted with his Holy Spirit to mount Tabor, and then he would be transfigured by means of the five sanctified senses. Indeed, whenever the senses are sanctified, the Lord declares his glory in us, and his splendor is manifested beautifully in our lives. Eleventh: Moses and Elijah, the men of the Old Testament, were concerned about the sanctification of the body. But Peter, James and John, they men of the New Testament were concerned about the sanctification of the spirit. It is as if the Lord Jesus’ transfiguration is fulfilled by the sanctification of both the body and the sprit together. Lord, it is good for us to be her: (Matt 17:4) “Then Peter answered and said to Jesus ‘Lord, it is good for us to be her; if you wish, let us make here three tabernacles one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’” For sure, when the Lord is transfigured before the human soul, and inside it, you cannot ask for anything except to be with him forever. Man forgets all his needs, even the necessary ones, as well as all his relations, so as to stay joyfully with the groom, the eternal one, transfigured before him. But the Lord, who has denied himself for the sake of our salvation, after he has presented to us the mystery of his transfiguration in us, he asks us to come down to our brethren, and testify to them what we have seen and been blesses with, all the whole carrying the cross of the service joyfully. The scholar Oreganus thinks what St. Peter the apostle said, out of his eagerness to stay in this site, only meant the Lord would stay there and not come down. He was only afraid for the Lord, for he had heard he bad to go up to Jerusalem. He dared not repeat to him the words ‘Have mercy on yourself and do not go up.’ He therefore used another means to carry out what he had in mind; he saw in that secluded and peaceful place a suitable site to stay in. If he wished to stay in it permanently, as a place to dwell in, St. Peter asked to build three tabernacles. By so suggesting, he thought the Lord would not go up to Jerusalem, and consequently he would not be endangered to death. Because St. Peter knew the scribes were observing him, he thought Elijah was with them, https://coptic-treasures.com/ and it was he who brought down fire on the mountain (2 Kings 1). Moreover, it was Moses who went in to the cloud and spoke with God (Ex 24:33). Therefore, this mountain was a suitable place for hiding, where no persecutors’ could come and reach him.” The Three Tabernacles: God commanded Moses the prophet to build an assembly tent, or a tabernacle to dwell in it as a sign of his presence amidst his people and his care of them. But our teacher St. Peter the apostle was not yet aware of the mystery of unity between the old law, the prophets and the gospel …he did not ask for one tabernacles including the three of them as a sign of God’s presence, he rather asked for three of them. We do not have to overlook the attitude of St. Peter that was so full of love. He did not ask for a tabernacle to be built for himself, because ‘Love does not ask what is for itself.’ The Lord also answered in love, and he did not accept a tabernacle to be built for himself, so he would not settle on the mount, away from the suffering path. He therefore sent a bright cloud overshadowing g him, so that when he fulfils his declaration, he would go down to the cross … for he did not ask what is for himself. By his descending the mount, there went with the saints Peter, James and John, so they would carry with him the cross for preaching, and to walk with him the way of sufferance. They were asking what is for others, and not what is for themselves. St. Peter was eager to remain on the mount, but the Lord obliged him to come down to practice the active love. + St. Peter and the sons of Zebedee were taken on the mountain of the doctrine of righteousness, and there they saw the transfiguration of Jesus, as well as the appearance of Moses and Elijah with him in glory. They desired to build in themselves tabernacles for the word of God, who was claimed to dwell inside them, and for his law which they saw in glory (Luke 9:31) “Who appeared in glory and spoke of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” Peter was a man who loved a life of meditation, and preferred to enjoy it rather than a life among multitudes with all its noise. Peter spoke on behalf of those who love meditation ‘it is good for us to be her.’ Since ‘love does not ask what is for itself’ (1 Cor 13:5) Jesus did not carry out what St. Peter thought to be a good thing. Jesus rather came down the mount, to those unable to ascend it, and to be blessed with his transfiguration, to see him as much as they cold take in. It is appropriate for a righteous man, who has the love that does not ask what is for itself (1 Cor 9:19) “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.” The scholar Oreganus. + St. Peter was a wearied of the multitudes, and he was found alone on the mount with Jesus, the bread of the Spirit. But he found it appropriate to return once more to work, tolerating the pain, and winning the sanctified love for the sake of God. St. Augustine. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + You wish to stay up on the mount, St. Peter! But come down, (2 Tim 4:2) “Preach the word1 be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, and exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.” Be tolerant, and struggle, till you obtain what is meant by the white clothes of Jesus, for they are so beautiful and glorious through the correct work of love. Whenever the apostle is read, we hear him praising ‘love’, saying, (1 Cor 13:5) “Does not seek its own.” At another place he asks the members of Christ, that is to say, the believers for this foundation of love (1 Cor 10:24) “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” He speaks about himself (1 Cor 10:33) “Not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” This is what was not understood by St. Peter when he wished for life with Christ on the mountain. This was preserved for you St. Peter to be your after death, and being blessed with the splendor of Christ. But as for now you have to go to work on the ground so you could serve on it. Jesus, ‘the life, ’ has come down to earth so he would be rejected, crucified and slaughtered. The bread has come down so he would hunger; he went down the road so he would weary, the spring has come down so he would thirst. So, do you reused this job? Do not seek your own, but let love by yours. Preach in truth; at this point you will be released to eternity to bring forth the fruits of peace and security. St. Augustine. The Bright Cloud: (Matt 17:5) “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him!”” The cloud refers to God’s presence. This was it that filled the mount of Sinai when the Lord gave Moses the law (Ex 24:15). It filled the assembly tent when God was talking to Moses. The Lord Jesus will come in his final coming riding a cloud. The cloud here is ‘bright’ to declare the work of transfiguration in the life of believers. The soul, when it encounters the Lord, and comes to know his mysteries as much as if could take in, it is brightened more and more through inward heavenly signs. The soul would hear the Father’s voice. “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased; hear him!” This is the most awesome declaration man receives from God in the depths of his heart. Man realizes Christ’s natural offspring to God, and how he is the pleasure of his father. Man’s soul melts inside him in their unity with the only begotten son, and he feels the warmth of God’s love. The soul also entreats the pleasure of God the father to it in the son, and his joy in that. The soul would hear the father’s voice, and yields to Christ’s work in it, for he is the heard! The Christian does not ask for touchable signs to be proud of. But this is the essence of the father’s declaration to him; the real touch of the father with the only begotten son, to be the focus of the father’s pleasure through his obedience in total absolute love and humility. St. May was blessed with the bright cloud at its very best. It was a unique experience when the Holy Spirit came upon her to overshadow her with tremendous godly power ‘the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow you.’ This bright cloud, or the fiery Holy Spirit grants believers an inward enlightment of vision to see the splendor or God to his only begotten son. The Holy https://coptic-treasures.com/ Spirit opens the earns to hear the father’s voice, and it is he who uncovers to us ‘Christ’s mystery’ that has become in us through the baptism. We have to be careful, by means of the Spirit, to remain in a constant state of repentance and obedience so as to be blessed with the father’s pleasure, and to hear his fatherly voice. + God made the cloud as a godly tent. It was bright since it is the symbol of the confirmed resurrection. This cloud overshadows the righteous who found shelter in it, and were enlightened by it. But what is this bright cloud that overshadows the righteous? Is it the Fatherly power from which the Father’s voice comes witnessing to the Song he is the beloved one is whom God is well pleased? Does the cloud urge those under its shadow to listen to him and to no other? Just as he spoke in the old days he continues to speak voluntarily. The bright cloud only means the Holy Spirit that overshadows the righteous ones, and also presents the prophecies concerning God’s issues. I shall be bold enough to say the bright cloud is furthermore the Savior. The bright cloud belongs to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It overshadows the real disciples of Jesus. It also overshadows the Gospel, the law and the prophets for it shines to those who are able to see its light in the Holy Book. The scholar Oreganus. + The source of this shadow or shade is God’s Spirit that never dines people’s hearts, for he rather reveals to them what is hidden. We find this at another instance where the angel says, “The power of the highest will overshadow you.” The cloud was not there due to the humidity of the smoky mountains (Ps 103:32). It was not due to the thick vapor either. It did not overcast the sky in fearful darkness; but it was rather a bright cloud that does not damper us with rainfall or floods that overcome us. It was called upon by the word of God that overflows the human hearts in faith. St. Ambrosios. + When the Lord threatens to put to discipline, he comes in the dark cloud as in Sinai (Ex 19). But as for her, he wished to edify and teach, not to put to discipline, and therefore it was a bright cloud. St. John Chrysotom. One Cloud! St. Peter the apostle asked to build three tabernacles, and he did not realize the need was for one cloud only, because Moses (the law) and Elijah (the prophets) are hidden in the Holy Bible. This is also because when the Father spoke he said, “This is my beloved Son” and he did not say, “These are my beloved children.” The covenant https://coptic-treasures.com/ spoke loud in God’s voice so it could take us to the only begotten Son. The voice of prophecy declared to us God’s mysteries so as to take us to the Lord Jesus in whom there lied all the mysteries. As St. Jerome says, “The voice of the Father in heaven was heard in advance as a witness of the Son, and correcting St. Peter’s error, showing him the truth. This is why he continued to say; This is My beloved Son. For his sake build a tabernacle! Hear ye Him! He is My Son and these are My slaves! With you, they likewise have to prepare for the Lord a home in the bottom of their hearts!” The Disciples’ Fear: (Matt 17:7) “And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’” The transfiguration is linked to the crucifixion and the resurrection. Our teacher St. Luke the herold made it clear that the Lord Jesus ultimately to take place, which are his sufferings. As for St. Mathew the herold, he declared the disciples falling on their faces in great fear. Then the Lord stretched out his hand and touched them; he who is risen from the dead, and thus they rise from their fall, and he take s away their fear. The falling of the disciples on their faces speaks of the fall of all humanity and their absolute inability to rise and encounter God. Their faces have fallen to the dust unable to look upon the heavenly glories. Their great fear refers to the loss of real peace. Therefore Jesus came, referring to his coming to us, and he stretched out his hand to confirm his incarnation. His touching them is the sign for his dwelling among us, as one of us, able to stretch it out to us and we thus accept it. Finally, in this authority he raised them and took away their fear. For real, the story was revealed of man’s downfall and his rise through god’s work of salvation on the transfiguration mount. It is as if the mystery of the transfiguration is only the mystery of God’s constant manifestation in us, since he is God’s incarnate Son, the crucified and the resurrected from the dead. For our sake he came down to raise us and we be overjoyed for his work in us. + When they were fallen on the ground, unable to rise, he spoke to them in modesty and he touched them. By his touch their fear departed, and their scared trembling joints grew strong. Just as he healed them with the touch of his hand, he also cured them with his promise and command “Rise and do not be afraid.” He took away the fear in the first place, so he could offer his teachings. St. Jerome. Jesus Alone: (Matt 17:8,9) “When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead!’” https://coptic-treasures.com/ The believer, when he experiences the power of the Lord’s resurrection, he raises his eye by the Holy Spirit, and he sees no one in his heart other than the Lord Jesus alone filling all his life. By means of the resurrection he entered their soul so that he alone is the mystery of their real peace and their joy, for he satisfies all their needs. As for his commanding them to remain silent, this was because he wanted them to spend some in contemplation as to what has happened, so they might see the transfiguration events in their hearts, and no tin outer events. They followed the example of St. Mary who kept all these things in her heart, and pondered over them (St. Luke 2:19). Maybe he wanted them to be silent so they themselves may experience the resurrection, and the loud world be transfigured in their inner life, and at this point they would preach and manifest the transfiguration. As St. Hillary, Bishop of Poitier says, “He commanded them to keep silent about what they had seen, so they might be filled with the Holy Spirit, and they might preach the spiritualities.” 2. The Need of Elijah: (Matt 17:10-12) “And his disciples asked him, saying, ‘why then do the scribes say Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Indeed Elijah coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.’” The scribes had a theoretical piece of knowledge: they understood from the prophecies that Elijah preceded the Messiah’s coming. He came but they did not know him, neither did they accept him. They did whatever they wanted with him. Who is Elijah other John the Baptist; for (Matt 17:13) “Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.” John came in the spirit of Elijah. This does not mean he embodied his spirit, but he just had his fiery thoughts and kindled zeal for God’s glory. Also his life of solitude in the wilderness, for he was paving the way for repentance in the preparation for the Messiah, the Savior. Even if the Lord has come in tenderness and excessive gentleness, eager for our salvation, yet Elijah the zealous has to come into our life, to prepare our heats for the Savior by calling for repentance. If the transfiguration is the declaration of God’s heavenly kingdom in us, then there is no way for this transfiguration in us without Elijah, that is, repentance. 3. The Destruction of Satan’s Kingdom: As much as the Messiah’s kingdom is declared in us by his transfiguration in our life, as much as Satan’s kingdom is destroyed, and there would be no place for him in our https://coptic-treasures.com/ life. This is why the evangelist mentioned after the transfiguration – that is, by declaring Christ’s kingdom – casting out Satan from a man; for the evangelist says, (Matt 17:14,15) “And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him and say, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.’” These are the signs of being enslaved to Satan, and the admission into his kingdom. Man loses his stability and inward peace. He is in a state of epilepsy, and he loses all real peace. He thus lives in violent inward suffering. Satan throws him in controversial conflict, at times he is burnt by the fire of anger, in violence he burns all what is around him, and he even burns himself in unquenchable fire. At other times he throws himself in the waters of physical passions and love of the world. He cares about nothing else, other than temporary pleasures. In bitterness we say that man, in his submission to sin, and his bound to the dark kingdom, he loses his peace of mind, his body and his soul. He is thus unable to think correctly, and he loses his spiritual life, and even his body, this likewise suffers in pain. The man complained saying, (Matt 17:16,17) “‘so I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.’ Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to me.’” The ‘lack of faith’ is the obstacle that has deprived even the disciples from the ability of casting out the devil. As St. Augustine says, “The Lord rebuked the unbelievers, even his own disciples as mentioned in the gospel just read. Because, when they said to him, ‘why couldn’t we cast him out?’” He answered them saying, ‘For you lack of faith.’ If the disciples are unbelievers, then who is? What could we, the lambs do, if the bulls are shaken? But God, in his mercy, did not scorn them for their unbelief, he rather rebuked them and supported them; he made them perfect. They felt their own weakness, for they said on another occasion (Luke 17:5) “Increase our faith.” To know and realize their own weakness was a great blessing, for they knew who to ask. They headed forward wholeheartedly to the source and knocked so the door would be opened and thus they would be filled. The Lord wished mankind would come and knock on him. St. Augustine moreover says, “Let us pray, and rely on God, and so live. Let us call on him as the disciples did, saying to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”” The disciples were unable to cast out the devil due to their lack of faith (Matt 17:20). This is why the Lord advised them to fast and pray to support them in casting the devil out, through their faith. He says, (Matt 17:20,21) “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” In this way the Lord Jesus binds faith to fasting and prayers. If we hide, through faith, in Jesus Christ our Lord who swells in us, to cast away the enemy from us who is never able to face God, then this our faith would never be active without the struggle through fasting and prayer. https://coptic-treasures.com/ What is this mountain that the disciples were unable to move from its place at this time, other than what Jeremiah the prophet wrote about (Jer 13:16) “Give glory to the Lord your God before he cusses darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains.” It is the dark mountain of sin that Satan pushes all creation to it, so they lose their birthright to God, and hence Satan would conquer then as children of the dark. This is the mountain we move in our faith through the fasting and prayer as our Lord has taught us. As St. Augustine says, “He was urging them to pray, and he ended his words by saying that this kind does not go out except by fasting and prayer. If it is appropriate for man to pray so as to cast out Satan from someone else, how much more is it appropriate for him to pray to cast out his greed, his drunkenness, his pleasures and his defilement.” How many things are so deeply voted in man, if they remain in him, he will not be accepted in the heavenly kingdom?” 4. The Need of the Cross: (Matt 17:22,23) “Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said them, ‘the son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. And they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up. And they were exceedingly sorrowful. The height of the transfiguration mount filled the disciples with overwhelming joy; but it is appropriate for them to come down to the life of struggle to listen to the Lord from time to time. The Lord confirmed the necessity of yielding himself to people’s hands to be killed, and then he will rise. The transfiguration was only a road to support the disciples in a stage of thin life with the Lord Jesus, the crucified, and hence they would be blessed by his resurrection, and begin the thrill and joy of constant transfiguration. 5. Fulfillment of the Taxes: The Lord Jesus submitted with his disciples in fulfilling the custom dues, or the taxes. He wished to assure us of an important principle in our life of faith: our heavenly binding grants us obedience and submission to the kings of this world, or to the leaders. We are therefore committed to offering our national duties. The Christian, when carrying the Lord Jesus as a heavenly king inside his heart, is only carrying the spirit of modesty and that of submission in love to the country, and obedience to those in authority. St. Peter the apostle was called to absolute consecration, and to full service for the sake of the heavenly kingdom, yet without disregarding the actual life. This is why he went to the sea, just as to the world. He found that God had prepared the money in the mouth of the fish, so as to pay the dues for the Lord and for himself as well. God has sanctified work; yet man should not be disturbed by it, or begin to become covetous in spirit; it is only for the basic necessities. https://coptic-treasures.com/ What St. Peter did may have represented the believers’ commitment as the church in its entirety. But after the coming down of the Holy Spirit, the apostles were committed to the absolute service, and disregarding the normal daily labour, so as not to be preoccupied by it. St. Cyril the great speaks of the Lord Jesus’ action here, saying, “The only begotten Son, the word of God, has become like any of us, and therefore he carried the standards of human nature; yet he yielded to the yoke of slavery. He willingly paid to the Jewish tax collector the titles according to the Law of Moses. But this did not obstruct the glorious nature in him.” It is as if our submission for every regime, in a sprit of contentment and joy, only means sharing the Lord Jesus his modesty and submission, so as to be blessed in sharing his inward glory.
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