29 As he was praying, And just like that, it was over. Luke 9:28-36 Have you noticed how closely tied sleep and death are in the New Testament? The Great Prophet. Out of the group of 12 disciples, these three were ones Jesus focused even more on. Then Jesus told the disciples what Peters answer implied. daystar in my heart appear., Visit, then, this soul of mine; The disciples will also have a problem with sleep at the Mount of Olives (22:45). It goes without saying they had no way to recognize them physically. They will stand at a distance while Jesus was crucified (23:49). scatter all my unbelief; This feature, which is also present in Matthews account (Matthew 17:2), is missing in Marks account, in which it is said only that Jesus was transfigured (Mark 9:2). 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling (v. 29). This moment gave great assurance to all that the apostles spoke and lived for. That word, TRANSFIGURED, is obviously why we call this the Transfiguration. The parents, in their old age, will need the childs support. They cannot encourage Jesus to stick with what they dont understand (and would resist if they did understand it). This moment on the mountain with Jesus, Moses and Elijah tells us that yes, there truly is life beyond the grave. We do not want to face him without having our sins paid for by him. The father is desperate, but has not given up. but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him (v. 32b). The glory of the Lord was revealed at his birth (Luke 2:9). Childrens Sermons Nothing has worked. Prayer is a Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; Commentary on Luke 9:28-36 [37-43] Lukes disciples need a revelatory experience in order to appreciate Jesus true identity and vocation. Have you ever seen such radiance as this in the faces of people youve known over the years? This has been a mountaintop experience but not the kind about which persons write glowingly of sunrises, soft breezes, warm friends, music, and quiet time. There was no reason, therefore, that He should Luke 9:28 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible As He sent His apostles out, He gave them power and authority. We are told that the appearance of Jesus was as bright as lightning. Now lightning is pretty bright. Representing the Israel of old, they disappear, leaving Jesus alone (Fitzmyer, 795). And the people should listen to him. Being exposed to the glory of God is an awesome and even terrifying experience. God the Fathers words point us back to an OT prophecy of the coming Messiah. Lazarus is described as having fallen asleep. What were Peter, John, and James thinking about this stunning scene before them? When we see God in all his glory, we will be shaken to the core. Many prayers and much supplication. That is a natural reaction. Luke 9:28-36 Transfiguration of the Lord You can tell when someone is really listening to you, writes Amanda Ripley in High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out.. As a journalist, Amanda listens to people for a living. Each of the Synoptic Gospels contains an account of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9//Mark 9:2-10 //Luke 9:28-36). Luke wrote this Gospel with this purpose in mind. And we must be resurrected, for 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. It builds faith, that all weve been taught is absolutely true. No, not exactly on a par with what happened to Jesus but still . It is also referred to in 2 Peter 1:18. While he was praying, Jesus was transformed before the disciples eyes. The voice from the cloud speaks only of Jesusnot of Moses or Elijahand does so only after Moses and Elijah depart. Where others failed, Jesus prevails. The longer text tends to diminish the significance of the Transfiguration. Peter will also link the Moses prophecy with Jesus in a sermon shortly after Pentecost (Acts 3:22). But then we all often miss seeing this in each other as often as not. So it is possible that this little detail on the timing of the Transfiguration could be a hint pointing toward Easter and the glory that awaited Jesus also then. But as Buechner says, there are moments of transfiguration in all our lives. There is a sermon in these few words. Maybe the sleepiness of the disciples is emblematic for how often they had missed the glory of Jesus when it shined right in front of them day in and day out throughout Jesus ministry. . Lets make three tents: Perhaps an analogy to explain this is that to see a bolt of lightning strike the earth a mile away and to hear the rumbling thunder is one experience. He is glorious in power and light and majesty and holiness. This event was not some simple stunt someone videos and posts on YouTube. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John his brother, and leadeth them to a high mountain apart; 2. 7-9. His glory shinedfor those with eyes to seejust as brightly when he talked to lonely prostitutes and outcast lepers, when he saved wayward tax collectors and offered forgiveness to people who had never heard a forgiving syllable their whole lives long up to that point. Moses came to set the people of Israel free from slavery in Egypt. When you get a moment, take a close look in the mirror. As the "sayings" so definitely connected with the transfiguration scene are those announcing His deathat which Peter and all the Twelve were so startled and scandalizedso this scene was designed to show to the eyes as well as the heart how glorious that death was in the view of Heaven. The family lineage depends on this child. Talk to someone you trust about this. They know the mind and will of God. Or as Buechner put it, Even with us something like this happens once in a while. Yet we are told that for a time during this epiphany of glory, the disciples were sleepy! Mark 9:2-8. There are many people who regret not listening to Jesus. Sometimes he says something beautiful, like earlier in Chapter 9 when he confesses that Jesus is the Christ. I love Peter. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exo. What is some significance for us today from these words here in Luke 9?? It lit up like a blazing light. Along its mighty forest-avenues, until the grass grew fair with the mountain lilies, his feet dashed in the dew of Hermon, he must have gone to pray his first recorded prayer about death, and from the steep of it, before he knelt, could see to the south all the dwelling-place of the people that had sat in darkness, and seen the great light - the land of Zabulon and of Naphtali, Galilee of the nations; could see, even with his human sight, the gleam of that lake by Capernaum and Chorazin, and many a place loved by him and vainly ministered to, whose house was now left unto them desolate; and, chief of all, far in the utmost blue, the hills above Nazareth, sloping down to his old home: hills on which the stones yet lay loose that had been taken up to cast at him, when he left them forever" (Ruskin, "Modern Painters," iv., 374). In the Bible, when a story takes us up to a mountaintop, its a fair bet that something dramatic is going to happenindeed, its a fair bet that something deeply revelatory is going to happen. This was a moment they would never forget. At the base of the mountain, they find themselves confronted by a great crowd and a distraught father who pleads for his son, who is possessed by a demon. His brilliance and majesty is so beyond us that we wont know what to do when confronted with him, and we will fall apart. Jesus asked the disciples, Who do the multitudes say that I am? They answered, John the Baptizer, but others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again. Jesus asked, But who do you say that I am? Peter answered, The Christ of God (vv. As we listen for Gods word in the sermon this morning, Id like for us to take a closer look at this second story the transfiguration of Jesus and, in particular, Id like for us to think about the radiance of God: What was it about being in the presence of God that was so apparent to the others the Israelites out in wilderness, the disciples up on Mount Herman? What he has said about himself and what is to happen is Gods will. Jesus has told them that he will suffer and die (vv. The story ends with the self-imposed silence (9:36), whereas in the parallels it is Jesus who commands the three disciples to be silent (Mark 9:9//Matthew 17:9). The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. Know this: The closer you walk with God, the brighter your path will be. In that instance, they will actually fall asleep. That Jesus did indeed go on to suffer and die is testament to his true divinity. that he took with him Peter, John, and James (v. 28b). And we get a lot of positive reinforcement for being responsible, predictable and easy to get a hold of. The Exodus from Egypt led Gods people to the Promised Land. They promise us health, wealth, and happiness, but seldom live up to their promises and often lead people toward ruin. They still exist. Mark 9:6 says, he did not know what to say, for they were terrified., We might say he was out of his mind. Some of us might relate to this. You fall to the ground trembling, your hair standing straight up. You wouldve been too. Even to see an angel in his glory would be terrifying. In the Gospels, he is bold and outspoken. Like in Star Wars when Yoda appears as a ghost before Luke Skywalker. A few verses later, at 9:51, Luke writes that Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem, where all that has been spoken of will take place for him. As such, it brings to an end the first major portion of the church year. Probably, he just wants to do something. The Gospel of John in particular speaks of the cross as Christs glorification (John 12:23; 13:31-32). Powerful. He was the second Teri McDowell Otts lectionary reflections are sent to the Outlooks email list every Monday. 35A voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son. Listen to him! There is a sermon in these words. I am Yahweh your God (Leviticus 23:43). to prayfor the period He had now reached was a critical and anxious one. You and I in these bodies.we have an expiration date. That date is not stamped on us like on the can of beans, but its there. WebJesus Heals a Centurions Servant. The voice from the cloud interrupts so that Jesus never responds directly to Peters suggestion to build booths. Jesus was glorified, changed from a mere mortal into a glorified, heavenly state. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. It happened, as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. Well, Peter as usual is the first one to speak up. One creature is nothing like the other. Scared out of their minds. There are many speculations why these two men appeared. A SUBSCRIBER SAYS: Dear Dick, I would just like to say how much I appreciate your ministry. Dont disobey him. David Oliver-Holder; Luke; Only stories or art can articulate what is beyond measure or experiment or explanation. The reading was from the Gospel according to Luke: The Transfiguration. See Gill on Matthew 17:1. As noted above, these words form another connection with Moses, who told the people, Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, like me. And that brings us to our fourth possible reason for the Transfiguration: To me its hard to imagine seeing these two ancient biblical heroes from centuries past. Hebrews 10:31 ESV It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. At the conclusion of his splendid chapter on the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of our bodies, Paul magnificently concludes: 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Psalm 99. Listen, and not Look? And, lo, there appeared to them [473] Moses and Elijah talking with him.4. It is not in vain. They want to camp out with him on the mountain. They will fail to understand Jesus warning about his betrayal (9:43-45). A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. 9:29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. Matthew says they were terrified when the Voice spoke to them (Matt 17:6). If weve taken any biology class, weve heard of this word. Luke 9:28-36. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!. The disciples were bewildered. (See on [1610]Mt 16:13). 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. This is more a theological than a geographical statement. Dont ignore him. Jesus went up the mountain to pray (9:29), perhaps to commune with God concerning his destiny. The other gospels suggest that this took place six days later. Used by permission. And his resurrected guarantees our resurrection. The word glory is used in the Bible to speak of various wonderful thingsbut it is used especially to speak of Gods gloryan aura associated with Gods appearance that reveals Gods majesty to humans. A third possible reason for the Transfiguration: Just a week earlier, Jesus spoke hard words about his own suffering on the Cross, and the disciples suffering for his sake. Really carefully. Second, Moses and Elijah are present. Peter will refer to it as the holy mountain (2 Peter 1:18). 41Jesus answered, Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? WebLuke 9:28 Context Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (28-36) And it came to pass.--See Notes on Matthew 17:1-13, and Mark 9:2-13. On one side of the bookshelf weve got Moses going up on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Go on and at least try to establish an earthly kingdom. When I was out in Odessa, we decided to call an associate pastor. 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