PASSOVER MIND
By Steven Greene
Website: https://sabbathreflections.org
“And after six days, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shined as the sun, and His garments became white as the light. Then behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, “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.” While he was speaking, a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I delight. Listen to Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces in extreme terror. But Jesus came and touched them, and said, “Arise, and do not be terrified.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus alone.” (Matthew 17:1-8).
Although the time of the year is not specific, the setting of the transfiguration recalls the scene in Exodus when Moses and the seventy elders were at Mount Sinai. While the others remained at the base, Moses went up the mountain and a cloud covered it. For six days, the cloud remained and on the seventh day God spoke, just as in the transfiguration. For Moses, this happened following the day of Pentecost:
EXODUS 24:9-17 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: 10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. 11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. 12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. 13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. 14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them. 15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. 16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
But notice what Jesus says after His transfiguration: “Now as they were descending from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of man has risen from the dead.” (Matthew 17:9). The three principle disciples saw a vision of the Kingdom of God that is yet to come. It is a time that portrays the Feast of Tabernacles (Matthew 16:27) but this verse tells us what was foremost on the mind of Jesus Christ—His suffering and death at the Passover.
Now back up a few verses:
MATTHEW 16:21, 24-28 From that time Jesus began to explain to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised the third day. … 24 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. 25 For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. 26 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? 27 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. 28 Truly I say to you, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste of death until they have seen the Son of man coming in His kingdom.”
Preceding the transfiguration, Jesus explained to the disciples that He would be betrayed, tortured, and murdered on the cross. There is no doubt that they understood, at least partly, the terrible end He was describing (Matthew 17:23b). Jesus then told them that they would likewise have to deny their own life and suffer willingly if they wanted to follow Him and receive that eternal reward when Jesus comes in His Kingdom.
The Passover sacrifice was on the mind of Jesus all the time even when He was talking about God’s Kingdom to come. Why would this be the backdrop to all of His thoughts, even when He was speaking of the times of His glory to come? More importantly, why did Jesus discuss His death while showing the disciples the glory of the Kingdom of God in the transfiguration?
The answer is that the salvation of all mankind rested on a single man living a perfect life without sin. Jesus Christ had to consider the Passover sacrifice every minute of every single day of His life upon this earth if He was to triumph over Satan. Consider also that Jesus not only had to battle Satan but also the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes who were constantly tempting Him and seeking to kill Him. The enormity of His responsibility is beyond our capability to grasp. How long can we remain without sin? Though we ourselves are constantly tempted, consider what was at stake for Christ when He was tempted by Satan.
Paul spoke of his war against temptation and fully comprehended the incredible victory of Jesus Christ:
ROMANS 7:23-25 But I see another law within my own members, warring against the law of my mind, and leading me captive to the law of sin that is within my own members. 24 O what a wretched man I am! Who shall save me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God for His salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, on the one hand, I myself serve the law of God with my mind; but on the other hand, with the flesh, I serve the law of sin.
Too often, we do not think of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as a victory but it cannot be described in a better way because Jesus won a war for us that we would have lost. Paul understood that unless we, too, have the same mind toward Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we will fall short and end up in the lake of fire and brimstone.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; 6 Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 But emptied Himself, and was made in the likeness of men, and took the form of a servant; 8 And being found in the manner of man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore, God has also highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him a name which is above every name; 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of beings in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
The Passover mind of Jesus Christ ought to be foremost in our thoughts regardless of the season or holyday because none of them matter if our sins overcome us. Keeping our minds focused in the same manner as Jesus Christ is the only sure way to attaining the glory of God.