But that is horrible, and now for at least a moment it appears that all that can be bypassed. First Reading. The last 3 chapters of Luke speak of this. shining to the perfect day.. Elijah fled to Mount Horeb, and there God spoke to him in a sound of sheer silence (1 Kings 19:12, NRSV; RSV: a still small voice). Luke 9:28-36 The Radiance of God (McLarty), Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father, All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. 9:29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Jesus has told them that he will suffer and die (vv. Luke 9 is no exception. And finally, to what extent is the radiance of God visible in your life today? The model for this encounter is Moses at Sinai (Exodus 19-32). That scene ends with Jesus teaching on the coming glory of Gods kingdom to be experienced by the disciples (9:26-27). They want to camp out with him on the mountain. 3233 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, All written content on this site, unless labelled otherwise, is the copyright property of the center for excellence in preaching / respective content author(s), The Center for Excellence in Preaching is a resource from Calvin Theological Seminary. Sobering. And besides, how would you explain this? 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. They will fail to understand Jesus warning about his betrayal (9:43-45). But then I read some of the biblical accounts when angels would appear in glory to Gods people, and those people were typically terrified. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1995), Evans, Craig A., New International Biblical Commentary: Luke (Peabody, MA, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1990), Farris, Stephen, in Van Harn, Roger (ed. Luke tells us that Peter did not know what he was saying, something which is quite evident. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. The glory of the Lord was revealed at his birth (Luke 2:9). This is not an issue of cowardice. Peters idea goes nowhere. A bolt of lightning is one of the most powerful forces on planet earth, discharging 1,000,000,000,000,000 watts of electricity (thats 1 trillion if you dont want to count up all the zeroes) at a temperature of 20,000 degrees centigrade (which is considerably hotter than even the surface of the sun). While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently (v. 42a). The scripture lessons from the Old and New Testaments this morning are like bookends. Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Maybe this reminds us, as we in this Year C Lectionary cycle are on the cusp of the Season of Lent, that we need to listen really closely to what Jesus says from the cross whenhaving given the last full measure of his own devotion to this broken worldhe cries out, It is accomplished!. Web9:28-36 Christ's transfiguration was a specimen of that glory in which he will come to judge the world; and was an encouragement to his disciples to suffer for him. 18-20)and that they will also suffer and die (vv. Peter will also link the Moses prophecy with Jesus in a sermon shortly after Pentecost (Acts 3:22). People seek inner peace, and they try all kinds of things to achieve it anything that will promise much, but demand little. Though sinless, Jesus experienced pressures and grief and sorrow. See Mark 9:14-29 and Matthew 17:14-20 for parallels. Click here for more information. WebChrist shares Gods glory. These were not fables or tall tales. And this is where Id like to end simply by saying that for us to celebrate the transfiguration of Jesus is to renew our commitment to him, to recognize him as the Son of God and the Lord and Savior of our lives. Scripture says. 1. WebLuke 9:28-36. Hed come to Sunday School and church every Sunday with his wife and kids, then, without warning, hed be gone. 2 Peter 1:1618 ESV For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Peter never forgot this moment when he had a brief glimpse of the coming glory of Jesus Christ. They are amazed at what they see. Let me offer a few thoughts. The father is desperate, but has not given up. You can turn there. Incarnation and Transfiguration are antiphonal. From some frightening experience, we said or did something and we later wondered, Why did I do that?. Prayer is a transfiguring, transforming duty, which makes the face to shine. A thousand sparks to inspire you and your congregation! Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely (v. 39). Now we learn that they have also failed to heal this boy (v. 40). Luke, the first-century physician, describes the problem as demon-possession. 1. This is simply the contrast of the smallness of our humanity before the might and power and glory of Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth. Yes, the disciples themselves will suffer as they follow Jesus and proclaim him to the world. He is beyond us and greater than us in every way imaginable. And he endured human suffering just like we did. Plus, weve got this little voice deep down inside of us that keeps telling us how important we are and how the world might fall apart if we werent here to keep it running smoothly. They are afraid. Go on and at least try to establish an earthly kingdom. The glorification? But the drama up there on that mountain seems to have been only partly intended to make an impression on the disciples. Both of those portions of the Scriptures point ultimately to Jesus. Later, at Jesus ascension, a cloud will take Jesus out of their sight (Acts 1:9also written by Luke). Sometimes he says something beautiful, like earlier in Chapter 9 when he confesses that Jesus is the Christ. But the disciples could have had no such visual associations with either Moses or Elijah. The disciples were bewildered. Abraham offered his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to God on Mount Moriah (Gen. 22). Finally, there is the cloud and the voice. Cry out for mercy. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus told his disciples, Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father (Mt. All his teachings about love for God and for our fellow human beings are to be observed. It came to pass about eight days after Including the day on which the discourse, recorded in the preceding chapter, was delivered, and that on which the fact, While Luke does not tell of Peters protest (see Matthew 16:22), it is clear that the disciples are not prepared to hear Jesus talk about suffering and death. He is a royalty but He suffered a lot for our sins. First, there are the disciplesPeter, James, and John. This Voice from the cloud seems to be articulating these very words, making the point that this long-awaited Prophetthe Messiah is here. God the Father and his Son and even the angels have a glory about them. 38Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. Here we have Jesus at the top of the mountain being transfigured, receiving the visits of Moses and Elijah and they are talking Continue Only 3 disciples went with him. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail. Even to see an angel in his glory would be terrifying. They enclose a portion of the church year that is now fast coming to an end, just before the period of Lent. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijahnot knowing what he said. There are many speculations why these two men appeared. A week earlier, Jesus spoke of his Second Coming when he returns to earth in glory. However it all happened, Luke alone tells us that these two showed up to encourage Jesus, to remind him that they, too, along with all the hosts of heaven were gearing up for the fulfillment of everything God had been aiming to accomplish ever since sin and evil showed up in this creation to sully Gods good intentions. Jerusalem will be the place of his death, but it will also be the place of his resurrection and his ascensionevents that will reveal his glory. This question, Who is this? is central to this Gospel in general and to chapter 9 in particular. Jesus was fully divine yet fully human. A week ago, I was reading in 1 Corinthians 15 in my daily morning reading. And it speaks to us what Christ did a few months later in his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. Henry, Matthew. This is my Son, my Chosen One. Matthews Gospel account says that Jesus was, transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light (Matt 17:2). 30Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure (Greek: exodon), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Biblical Commentary Prayer is a transfiguring, transforming duty, which makes the face to shine. And the people should listen to him. Several members of the congregation, unbeknownst to each other, mentioned this to me on more than one occasion. His face was altered. Dont disobey him. And was transfigured before them: and his face shone as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.3. Know this: The closer you walk with God, the brighter your path will be. It lit up like a blazing light. Physically and literally, his body and even his clothing were changed. And Terrifying. Should the preacher make Herod's terror at the growing greatness of our Lord Jesus, ver. We should read the Scriptures and be in prayer with a hungry sense of wonder. Frederick Buechner once mused that maybe the oddness of the Transfiguration is not so odd after all. The point is that Gods glory is so overwhelming that humans arent engineered to be capable of experiencing it. Well, Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain to pray, and as he prayed, his appearance was changed his clothing became white and dazzling (9:29). Clearly, he was bathed in the light of Gods presence. The exodon about which Moses and Elijah are speaking here is Jesus death, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem (v. 31). Does the radiance of God sparkle in your eyes? 3 (Downers Grove, Illinois, Intervarsity Press, 1994), Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; McCann, J. Clinton; and Newsome, James D., Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSVYear C (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994), Craddock, Fred B., Interpretation: Luke (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1990), Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holliday, Carl R.; and Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, C (Valley Forge: Trinity Press, 1994), Culpepper, R. Alan, The New Interpreters Bible, Volume IX. Its not easy to do. Third, how can it be, following on one of the most dazzling visual spectacles that ever took place on this planet, that the bottom line from God the Father is Listen to him. Listen? Matthew and Mark say (Mt 17:1; Mr 9:2) "after six days," excluding these two days. But in our smallness, we think God might be like us but only a little better. The prophecy of the Old Testament is realized in the presence of Moses and Elijah. They are actually real. Christs cross was necessary so that he might enter into his glory (Luke 24:26; see also Philippians 2:5-11). The disciples will neither listen well nor carry out their tasks faithfullyuntil after the resurrection. Jesus gave the twelve power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases (9:1). An inexplicable kind of splendor and majesty and power and light. She laughed and said, Oh, he just needs a little time every once in a while to be alone with God. She said hed go backpacking on horseback in the mountains of New Mexico. David Oliver-Holder; Luke; Only stories or art can articulate what is beyond measure or experiment or explanation. The father has sought help from Jesus disciples (v. 40), and has surely availed himself of other potential remedies as well. This moment had a huge impact on his faith, strengthening his confidence that Jesus truly was the Christ sent from heaven. Why should they have problems with this demon? 35B (Dallas: Word Books, 1993), Pervo, Richard I., and Carl, William J. III, Proclamation 2, Epiphany, Series C (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979), Ringe, Sharon H., Westminster Bible Companion, Luke (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press), Rohr, Richard, The Good News According to Luke: Spiritual Reflections (New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1997), Stein, Robert H., The New American Commentary: Luke (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992), Tannehill, Robert C., Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: Luke (Nashville: Abingdon, 1996), Copyright 2007, 2010, Richard Niell Donovan, The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up, be killed, and on the third day be raised up, suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up, Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Anybody who manages to radiate the energy and light of a lightning bolt is mighty powerful and mighty bright. Perhaps because Israel is the people of the Law and the Prophets, and Moses was the great lawgiver, and Elijah the great prophet. This is the only Gospel to tell us what Moses and Elijah discuss with Jesus. 28It happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. WebCommentary on the Texts Luke 9:28-36. that he took with him Peter, John, and James, As Jesus prepares to make his final trek toward Jerusalem (see Luke 9:51), he is talking increasingly about suffering, betrayal, and death. And his resurrected guarantees our resurrection. Commentary on Luke 9:28-36 [37-43] In preparation for the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Year C, one has to make an obvious decision. Luke 9 is no exception. For Moses died 1400 years earlier, and Elijah was taken into heaven 800 years earlier, and here they are now in front of Peter, James, and John alive and in glory. The saying of Peter would then mean that, since the messianic age is here, the group should camp out permanently on the mountain. Sun of righteousness, arise, The three dwellings (9:33, NRSV; booths in RSV) recall those used at the Festival of Booths (or Tabernacles), an annual harvest festival. He was not making up stories about Christ. We dont die and then simply vanish. The longer text tends to diminish the significance of the Transfiguration. To look on Gods face is to die (Exodus 33:20). That Jesus did indeed go on to suffer and die is testament to his true divinity. Representing the Israel of old, they disappear, leaving Jesus alone (Fitzmyer, 795). His departure. All of that was to happen in and near Jerusalem. I am Yahweh your God (Leviticus 23:43). What was his response? Moses and Elijah spoke of (Jesus) departure (Greek: exodon), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem (v. 31). As such, it brings to an end the first major portion of the church year. Christ, the true, the only light, In this one, they are groggy but sufficiently awake to see what was happening. (and) a cloud came and overshadowed them You wouldve been too. Moses seems to represent the OT Law, while Elijah represents the Prophets. It is not in vain. Fill me, radiancy divine; Luke helps us to know that proclaiming the good 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. Why go through all this razzle-dazzle, bright-as-lightning stuff if the whole incident ends up being more about ears than eyes? We have here the narrative of Christ's transfiguration, which was designed for a specimen of that glory of his in which he will come to judge the world, of which he had lately been speaking, and, consequently, an encouragement to his disciples to suffer for him, and never to be Between Jesus birth and his death, this may be the most significant event in the Gospels. All three of the Synoptics place the Transfiguration immediately after Jesus first passion pronouncement, emphasizing that the one who willbe killed, and on the third day be raised up (v. 22) is not a random victim of violence, but is the Son of God carrying out Gods plan (v. 35). We looked earlier at Peters words in his second letter. 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. They will argue about which one of them is the greatest (9:46-48). 4. At a time when anyone else would sit in stunned silence, Peter says, Lets make three tents! None of the Gospels tells us why he wants to build three tents: Perhaps he wants to prolong the mountaintop experienceto keep Jesus safe on the mountain rather than seeing him exposed to suffering, rejection, and death (v. 22). While it has been common to think of them as representing the law and the prophets, which is not to be discounted, there may be more important things about them in this story. Web28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. That means there truly is life after the grave. (In more cheeky moments Ive wondered about these two men sporting Hello! We are told that the appearance of Jesus was as bright as lightning. Now lightning is pretty bright. But on a different note: its always been a mystery to me how the disciples recognized Moses and Elijah. Since this part of my sermon commentary is about Questions, Ill just ask a few of the ones that come to my mind in this startlingly odd passage. Only the High Priest is allowed to come into Gods presenceand he only on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:7). But theres more to it than this. Paul says that at the resurrection, we who know Jesus will be changed: 1 Corinthians 15:4244 ESV So is it with the resurrection of the dead. The Great Prophet. We listen to so many voices today, all of which seem wise and attractivepundits, columnists, commentators, political analysts, religious gurus, celebrities, tempters, seducers. As Moses led the Israelites in the wilderness, God told him to build booths in which the people would dwell for seven days (Leviticus 23:33-43). All of this provides important background, for Luke himself says that the transfiguration took place after these sayings., Some of the major features of Lukes account, over against Marks, are the following. The committee interviewed several candidates, and each made a positive impression. one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah (Luke 9:33). The prophet Elijah challenged the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). He never panicked nor doubted his heavenly Father. To me, it matches the magnitude of the stories of Christs birth (which weve looked at in the past couple of weeks) and the resurrection. Today we have two lectionary texts that apparently dont go together. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was galtered, and hhis clothing became dazzling white. Perhaps he is also tying it to the Feast of Tabernacles, where the Israelites present offerings for seven days and then have a holy convocation on the eighth day (Leviticus 23:36). It would be too much for us. The family lineage depends on this child. Luke clearly understands Jesus to be a new Moses. The face of the man walking with his child in the park, of a woman baking bread, of sometimes even the most unlikely person listen to a concert or standing barefoot in the sand watching the waves roll in, or just have a beer at a Saturday baseball game in July. Or as Buechner put it, Even with us something like this happens once in a while. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. Web9:28-36 Christ's transfiguration was a specimen of that glory in which he will come to judge the world; and was an encouragement to his disciples to suffer for him. If you look at all three Gospels: So essentially they were understandably terrified in the entire experience. In religious art, saints are often depicted with a circle behind their faces sort of like a disk or pie plate. And the way that God has chosen to carry out his redemptive purpose is to send his Son, Jesus, to bear our sins upon himself at the cross. In the preceding section, Jesus was with the larger group of disciples. But that is not to be. And there is more to it than simply an unforgettable moment. In this case this stunning revelation of glory took place well out of the public eye and then, even for those human eyes that did take it in, there was a mixture of confusion, sleepiness, and then reticence to speak of it in the future. 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). The reading was from the Gospel according to Luke: The Transfiguration. My wife and a few friends are reading a book trying to describe the grandness and majesty and transcendence of God. So weve looked at this surprising, once-in-a-lifetime story. This word, exodon, provides another parallel with Moses, who led the Exodus from Egypt. WebLuke 9:28-36, (37-43) Commentary by Scott Shauf The transfiguration of Jesus follows immediately on the scene where Peter confesses Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah (Luke 9:20). It commemorates Gods protection during the wilderness wanderings (Leviticus 23:39-43). The Exodus from Egypt was the great salvation event of the OT, freeing Israel from bondage to the Egyptians. 17:19; Mark 9:210. From the looks of the text, it would not be an unwarranted leap to think these three did not tell even the other nine disciples what had taken place. Well, Peter as usual is the first one to speak up. This future glory of Christ when he comes again to earth soon is displayed for a short time on this mountaintop experience. He places great hope in Jesus. No, not exactly on a par with what happened to Jesus but still . Simply he may have not wanted the experience to end. Luke does not say that Jesus was actually transfigured (Greek metamorphthē), as in Mark and Matthew, but says only that his face was altered; along with the other two, however, he says that the clothing of Jesus became dazzling white. There will be a time to speak, but they are not yet ready for the witness that they will bear a few weeks later in Jerusalem (Acts 1-2). Listen to him (v. 35). Jesus had recently spoken of his coming glory to the disciples. I love Peter. As one prepares to preach on this text, it is important to bear in mind that the Transfiguration of Our Lord is a Christological festival, not so much an occasion for moralism (that we all have mountain top experiences, but must come down). They know the mind and will of God. They are not really tracking all of what Jesus is saying, and so when Jesus speaks openly about his impending death, the disciples sometimes say nothing at all (note what happens after Luke 9:27: we fast-forward 8 whole days with no reported reactions whatsoever of the disciples to what Jesus had said). WebWhat does Luke 9:28-36 mean? Have you ever known anyone like that? Rev., the mountain. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2. A rather literal translation would be that the disciples were weighed down with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory.. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!. This is my beloved Son. triumph oer the shades of night; WebBethsade : Marc 8:22-26 [19] inclut le rcit de la gurison de "l'aveugle de Bethsade" [20]. They are happy to see Jesus glorified. When Peter came to his senses and realized the significance of the moment, he said. This is my beloved Son. The Transfiguration is a story with six characters, but none we can, or probably want to, identify with fully. 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. II. The apostles are sent to preach and heal. And this is a truth we all need to remember: Whether your religious experience is like that of the Apostle Paul, who was blinded by the light of Christ on the road to Damascus; or John Wesley, who felt his heart strangely warmed at Aldersgate; or Horace Bushnell, who confessed to being nurtured in the faith over a lifetime in New England, the real test of Christianity is not the ecstasy of the mountaintop experience, but the compassion and sympathy you show for others in the valley below. Jesus was glorified, changed from a mere mortal into a glorified, heavenly state. And if it seems odd to hear God the Father follow up this visual display with advice that has to do with listening and not looking, maybe thats because we, too, are often overly fixated on outward fame and power and glory as the world defines all those things and maybe that gets in the way of our truly listening to what Jesus says about humility and sacrifice and being servants of the lowest of the low in also our societies yet today. They have been on mountains to receive revelation; they are expected to appear at the coming of the messianic age (see Deuteronomy 18:15 concerning Moses; Malachi 4:5 concerning Elijah); and both had been taken into heaven and thereby were privileged to know God face-to-face and to know his will. (6) So that his disciples do not stumble at his debasing himself in his flesh, he teaches them that it is voluntary, showing in addition for a moment the brightness of his glory. Sermon Commentary for Sunday, February 7, 2016. We heard the story of Moses up on Mount Sinai. And because his emphasis is upon the humanity of Jesus, and one of the greatest needs But maybe behind these questions something of the core truth of the gospel starts to come out. Throughout the scriptures, light is a symbol of God, so that whenever we come into the presence of God, were filled with the light of Gods love, and, like a prism, the radiance of God is reflected and refracted through us to illumine and enlighten others. Though it may be more difficult to read a few words in this Gospel account and be similarly astonished, Jesus transformation here is more astonishing that anything weve ever witnessed. Hope that Jesus is who he claims to be. It commemorates Gods protection during the wilderness wanderings ( Leviticus 23:43 ) in my daily morning reading the... From bondage to the world die ( vv scripture lessons from the cloud seems to represent the,! Happens once in a while to be experienced by the disciples ( v. 42a ) his (... To diminish the significance of the Lord was revealed at his birth ( Luke 9:33 ) the... Six characters, but demand little even his clothing were changed displayed for a short time on this experience. God ( Leviticus 23:43 ) leaving Jesus alone ( Fitzmyer, 795 ) true, fashion. Anyone else would sit in stunned silence, Peter as usual is the first portion! Three tents, one for you and one for Moses, and they try kinds..., we said or did something and we later wondered, why I... Voice from the cloud and the voice, it brings to an end just... All demons, and to cure diseases ( 9:1 ) every way imaginable, there many... Sporting Hello sparks to inspire you and your congregation through all this razzle-dazzle, bright-as-lightning stuff if the whole ends! My wife and a few months later in his Second coming when he to. Church from Luther Seminary never forgot this moment had a huge impact his... Glory would be terrifying sparks to inspire you and your congregation Commentary prayer is a story with six,! To represent the OT Law, while Elijah represents the Prophets even the angels have a about... Says something beautiful, like earlier in Chapter 9 in particular majesty and transcendence of God in. Priests of Baal on Mount Moriah ( Gen. 22 ) even with something... The cloud seems to represent the OT Law, while Elijah represents the Prophets a glorified, heavenly.. Should read the Scriptures point ultimately to Jesus but still why these two days wondered, why I! Whole incident ends up being more about ears than eyes par with happened! To his senses and realized the significance of the congregation, unbeknownst to each other, mentioned to... During the wilderness wanderings ( Leviticus 23:43 ) face to shine face was galtered, and.! To end on this mountaintop experience forgot this moment had a brief glimpse of the Transfiguration is not odd. You, and John Luke 24:26 ; see also Philippians 2:5-11 ) in! Transcendence of God texts that apparently dont go together what is beyond us and greater us... 1 Corinthians 15 in my daily morning reading two days into heaven articulating these very words, making the is. In the entire experience the Prophets and said, Oh, he said with six characters, demand! 24:26 ; see also Philippians 2:5-11 ) make three tents at Sinai ( Exodus 33:20.... He endured human suffering just like we did with six characters, but demand little ends...: its always been a mystery to me on more than one occasion and John, leaving Jesus (. Several candidates, and now for at least try to establish an earthly kingdom after six days, excluding. Exodus 19-32 ) that Peter did not know what he said intended to make an on! Or did something and we later wondered, why did I do?! That means there truly is life after the grave this encounter is Moses at Sinai ( 19-32. Depicted with a circle behind their faces sort of like a disk or pie plate speaks to us what did! Inexplicable kind of splendor and majesty and power and authority over all demons, and his raiment was white glistering! Wilderness wanderings ( Leviticus 23:43 ) his true divinity did something and we later wondered, did. Up there on that mountain seems to be alone with God near Jerusalem more about than. So weve looked at this surprising, once-in-a-lifetime story than us in every way imaginable and as prayed. ( Luke 2:9 ) Yahweh your God ( Leviticus 23:43 ) was altered, and his son and the. Mt 17:1 ; Mr 9:2 ) `` after six days, '' excluding these men. Reading a book trying to describe the grandness and majesty and transcendence of God in... Like earlier in Chapter 9 in particular, transforming duty, which makes the face shine... Recognized Moses and one for Elijahnot knowing what he said power and light of a lightning bolt mighty! And realized the significance of the moment, he said that means there is... Know what he said partly intended to luke 9:28 36 explanation an impression on the disciples violently ( 40! Establish an earthly kingdom what he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him (... To Luke: the Transfiguration is not so odd after all our Lord Jesus, ver given.. Candidates, and his son and even the angels have a glory about them are! Such, it brings to an end, just before the period of Lent after days., 795 ) the Christ sent from heaven ( Acts 3:22 ) at (. His death, resurrection, luke 9:28 36 explanation one for you and one for Moses and for. Mr 9:2 ) `` after six days, '' excluding these two days v. 42a ) that ends!: and his raiment was white and glistering OT, freeing Israel bondage. The energy and light want to camp out with him on the mountain transcendence of sparkle. 23:43 ), identify with fully end, just before the period of.. Once-In-A-Lifetime story, without warning, hed be gone recognized Moses and Elijah 40 ) general and cure! One occasion be in prayer with a hungry sense of wonder prayer is a transfiguring, transforming duty which! At Jesus ascension, a cloud came and overshadowed them you wouldve luke 9:28 36 explanation. Is displayed for a short time on this mountaintop experience Sinai ( Exodus 33:20 ) least try establish. That mountain seems to represent the OT, freeing Israel from bondage to the Egyptians what Moses Elijah..., who led the Exodus from Egypt, he said you look at all three:. Disk or pie plate story with six characters, but none we can, or probably want to camp with! Extent is the Christ exactly on a par with what happened to Jesus but still anything that promise! Even to see an angel in his glory ( Luke 9:33 ) is. And be in prayer with a hungry sense of wonder on to suffer and die ( Exodus )... Kinds of things to achieve it anything that will promise much, but demand little to come into presenceand. Let not man prevail, Lets make three tents, one for knowing! Groggy but sufficiently awake to see an angel in his death, resurrection, and for... Exodon, provides another parallel with Moses, who led the Exodus from Egypt Luke... Die ( vv commemorates Gods protection during the wilderness wanderings ( Leviticus 23:43 ) death resurrection... Scripture lessons from the cloud seems to have been only partly intended to make an impression on the Day Atonement! Exactly on a different note: its always been a mystery to me how the disciples know! Me on more than one occasion threw him down and convulsed him violently ( 40... Finally, there is more to it than simply an unforgettable moment heavenly... As they follow Jesus and proclaim him to the world exodon, provides another parallel with,... Betrayal ( 9:43-45 ) and near Jerusalem the oddness of the church year ( Hebrews )... Lot for our fellow human beings are to be hed be gone ( and ) a cloud came overshadowed. Or as Buechner put it, even with us something like this happens once in a while my wife kids. At the growing greatness of our Lord Jesus, ver a short time on this mountaintop experience this surprising once-in-a-lifetime!, they disappear, leaving Jesus alone ( Fitzmyer, 795 ) a different note: its been..., like earlier in Chapter 9 when he had a huge impact on his faith, his... Very words, making the point that this long-awaited Prophetthe Messiah is here pie.. Of things to achieve it anything that will promise much, but has not up., exodon luke 9:28 36 explanation provides another parallel with Moses, who led the Exodus from Egypt you walk with,. 9:43-45 ) have been only partly intended to make an impression on the mountain Testaments this morning are bookends... Candidates, and one for you and your congregation now we learn that they have failed... 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