Sequence in Chronology: 15 of 26
Topics Covered: Jesus and the disciples travel to Caesarea Philippi where Peter confesses Jesus is the Christ, the Lord reveals his church will be built upon himself (not Peter) and his teachings, Peter then chastises the Lord and is rebuked, true believers are taught they must deny themselves.
Jesus' transfiguration takes place, the Lord is asked why Elijah must come before the Messiah, the disciples lack the authority to cast out a demon.
Bible References: Matthew 16:13 - 28, 17:1 - 21, Mark 8:27 - 38, 9:1 - 29, Luke 9:18 - 42.
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Built Upon a Rock
Jesus and the followers travel from Bethsaida to an area near Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13, Mark 8:27). After quizzing his disciples regarding who do people think he is, Peter confesses he is the Christ.
Now it came to pass as He was praying alone, and the twelve disciples were with Him, that He questioned them, saying, "Who do the multitudes declare Me to be?"
And they answered and said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and others, that some prophet from ancient times has risen from the dead."
Then He said to them, "But Who do you declare Me to be?" And Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." And He charged them, strictly forbidding them to tell this to anyone . . . (Luke 9:18 - 21, see also Matthew 16:13 - 18 and Mark 8:27 - 30).
Jesus acknowledges that Peter received his insight from God, then reveals that the New Testament church of God will be built on him (Jesus) and that it will never die off.
And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father, Who is in heaven.
"And I say also to you, that you are Peter (Peter's name means a stone); but upon this Rock (massive cliff) I will build My church, and the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:17 - 18).
The Lord then delegates to the apostles (and by extension the church of God) the authority to bind and loose certain decisions that agree with God's law and His will (Matthew 16:19 - 20). He then reveals he will soon suffer, die and be resurrected after three days (Matthew 16:21, Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22).
Satan Speaks
Peter, after admitting Jesus is God's Son, then takes him aside and chastises him for stating he will soon suffer and die in Jerusalem. He is immediately rebuked for his Satanic attitude.
But after taking Him aside, Peter personally began to rebuke Him, saying, "God will be favorable to you, Lord. In no way shall this happen to You." Then He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, because your thoughts are not in accord with the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:22 - 23, HBFV, see also Mark 8:32 - 33).
The Lord then reveals that all those who desire to become true Christians must deny themselves and bear their burdens daily. He also teaches that he will reward believers based on their works in this life.
And Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall render to everyone according to his doings. (Matthew 16:24 - 27, see also Mark 8:34 - 38, Luke 9:23 - 26).
Late September 29 A.D.
The Transfiguration
Jesus and his disciples are in Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13, Mark 8:27). After staying six days in the city he takes Peter, James and John on a journey (likely) to Mt. Hermon (Matthew 16:28 - 17:1, Mark 9:1 - 2, Luke 9:27 - 28). What the three men will soon experience in a vision (Matthew 17:9) is unparalleled in the Bible!
The spectacular manifestation the three apostles will see is commonly called the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2 - 9, Mark 9:2 - 10, Luke 9:29 - 36).
Jesus leads the three apostles to an elevated location at or near Mount Hermon. The three men then witness the Lord in his glorified form along with glorified representations of Moses and Elijah. A cloud, representing the presence of God the Father, then overshadows all those on the mount and says the following.
This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I delight. Listen to Him! (Matthew 17:5).
When Did It Happen?
How can we roughly determine when the Transfiguration took place? Peter, terrified when he saw Jesus, Moses and Elijah in their glorified forms, impulsively blurted out the following.
"Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You desire, let us make three tabernacles here: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Matthew 17:4, see also Mark 9:5 and Luke 9:33).
The temporary tabernacles (booths) being referenced by Peter are those God commanded to be constructed to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day.
"And you shall take the boughs of beautiful trees for yourselves on the first day, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook. And you shall rejoice before the Lord . . . You shall dwell in booths seven days. All that are born Israelites shall dwell in booths." (Leviticus 23:40, 42).
Jewish tradition, in the first century, dictated that the tabernacles (booths) made to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles could not be built until the day after the Feast of Trumpets (Harmony of the Gospels, pg. 159).
Trumpets, in 29 A.D., fell on September 27 (it began at sunset the previous day). Atonement (Yom Kippur) was observed October 6 and Tabernacles began at sunset on October 11. In modern times, the tradition of some Jews is to wait until after the Day of Atonement before constructing their booths (Feasts of the Lord, pg. 143).
Therefore, based on Peter's statement, it is highly likely the Transfiguration took place on or very shortly after September 27.
Must Elijah Come First?
James, Peter and John, after the transfiguration, ask Jesus a question about Elijah.
Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
And Jesus answered and said to them, "Elijah shall indeed come first and restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him; but they did to him whatever they desired. In like manner also, the Son of man is about to suffer from them."
Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10 - 13, see also Mark 9:11 - 13).
Disciples Lack the Power
Jesus and his three disciples then return to Caesarea Philippi. A crowd soon gathers with one man pleading that a demon be cast out of his son since the disciples were unable to do so. Christ then casts the demon out of the boy.
Now it came to pass that on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met Him. And a man in the crowd immediately cried out, saying, "Master, I beseech You, look upon my son, because he is my only child;
"And a spirit takes him, and he suddenly cries out; and it throws him into convulsions with foaming, and then departs from him with difficulty, leaving him bruised. And I besought Your disciples, that they might cast it out; but they were not able." . . .
. . . But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God . . . (Luke 9:37 - 40, 42 - 43, see also Matthew 17:14 - 21 and Mark 9:14 - 29).
It is Mark's and Matthew's gospels that reveals that certain evil spirits cannot be cast out unless a person has faith in God and is close to him through fasting and prayer.
And when He came into a house, His disciples asked Him apart, "Why were we not able to cast it out?" Then He said to them, "This kind cannot be made to go out by anything except prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:28 - 29, see also Matthew 17:19 - 21).
Returning to Capernaum
Jesus and the disciples return to Capernaum.