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 stand at a distance while Jesus was crucified (23:49). But when we are resurrected, we will be imperishable we will never again have an expiration date! Its the kind of thing a loving Father does for his beloved Son. And we must be resurrected, for 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Its weighing heavily on his mind. Jesus came to set people free from sin. To me, its one of the more remarkable biological events. 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. All that is within Luke 9:31-33 is distinctive. Peter wanted to build three booths, but Jesus said no. And if we find it odd that the disciples kept mum about this then perhaps we can turn the camera around to ourselves to wonder how often we keep silent about the great and glorious truths of the Gospel that we celebrate in church on Sundays but then fail to mention in the week that follows. Mark 14:33 and Matt 26:37 tell us that they will also be present at Gethsemane. WebLuke 9:28-36 This passage is traditionally know as the Transfiguration, from the Greek term used by both Mark and Matthew to describe what happened to Jesus ( metemorphotha, Mk 9:2-8, Mt 17:1-8). The event takes place about eight days later (9:28), rather than after six (Mark 9:2; Matt 17:1); there appears to be no particular significance for the change. 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. 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. Listen to him! (9:29, 34-35). In the Transfiguration, the earthly Jesus shares for a moment the company of two great and worthy residents of heaven, Moses and Elijah. WebCommentary on the Texts Luke 9:28-36. In religious art, saints are often depicted with a circle behind their faces sort of like a disk or pie plate. It lit up like a blazing light. Childrens Sermons For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 28 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. Luke says, his clothing became white and dazzling Listen to him! (9:35). When Jesus commanded them to feed a great crowd, they responded, We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people (9:13). Talk to someone you trust about this. Moses and Elijah spoke of (Jesus) departure (Greek: exodon), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem (v. 31). I am Yahweh your God (Leviticus 23:43). To have Jesus entire body and clothing lit up like the sun, and to see two ancient biblical heroes appearing out of the past.well, whats the only response but amazement and fear? Im going to die!!. He says that Moses and Elijah were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem (9:31). There is a sermon in these few words. Jesus exodon (death/resurrection) is the great salvation event of the NT, freeing believers from bondage to sin and death. 1. They will not understand Jesus prediction of his death and resurrection (18:31-34). And his resurrected guarantees our resurrection. I am come unto Mine own and Mine own receive Me not; I am become a stranger unto My brethren, an alien to My mother's children: Consider Mine enemies, for they are many, and they hate Me with cruel hatred. He saw and heard ancient leaders of Israel Moses and Elijah. WebLuke 9:28-36. Yes, Jesus is going to suffer and die. The event happens on a mountain, a place of special revelation. 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, b he entered Capernaum. Luke is mindful of that eighth day significance, after all (he is the only evangelist to give us the Emmaus Road story, replete with Jesus being made known to the disciples in the breaking of the bread). These three disciples were present at the healing of Jairus daughter (8:51). The crowd, having just seen the childs convulsions, cannot help but be impressed with the miracle of this healing. See Gill on Matthew 17:1. They cannot encourage Jesus to stick with what they dont understand (and would resist if they did understand it). Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17). The apostles sent forth. In the Bible, when a story takes us up to a Dont disobey him. But how could anyone be drowsy, even briefly, when such a spectacle was right in front of them? And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John his brother, and leadeth them to a high mountain apart; 2. However, these words are directed to the disciples rather than Jesus (as at the baptism). This was a moment they would never forget. This recalls the story of Moses, who encountered God on Sinai as a devouring fire on the top of the mountain (Exodus 24:17) and whose face shone brightly by reason of his speaking with Yahweh (34:29). Indeed, by their very demeanor and words, they are actually tugging Jesus another direction! 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. But in our smallness, we think God might be like us but only a little better. Commentary on Luke 9:28-36 [37-43] Lukes disciples need a revelatory experience in order to appreciate Jesus true identity and vocation. His departure. All of that was to happen in and near Jerusalem. The fireworks have ended. That Jesus did indeed go on to suffer and die is testament to his true divinity. 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. Instead we are told only that they discussed his departure. Thats why they were there. The point is that Gods glory is so overwhelming that humans arent engineered to be capable of experiencing it. A GLIMPSE OF GLORY Luke 9:28-36 From some aspects this was the highest point in our Savior's 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). Metamorphosis. The prophecy of the Old Testament is realized in the presence of Moses and Elijah. They speak of Jesus forthcoming exodus or departure, his forthcoming death and resurrection, which Jesus had spoken of before going up the mountain (9:22). Have you ever known anyone like that? Listen, and not Look? WebThe Transfiguration. Why go through all this razzle-dazzle, bright-as-lightning stuff if the whole incident ends up being more about ears than eyes? Achtemeier, Paul J. and Elizabeth R., Proclamation, Epiphany, Series C (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1973), Barclay, William, The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of Luke (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 1953), Bock, Darrell L., The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke, Vol. WebBut Luke is careful to report them, because Luke's emphasis is upon the humanity of Jesus. Jesus is Gods beloved Son. 7-9). Many prayers and much supplication. ), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sundays Text. Mountaintop experiences are important, but theyre not meant to last forever. One creature is nothing like the other. Undoubtedly, they spoke with Jesus of the events in the next few months of Jesus death, resurrection, and probably his ascension into heaven. Frederick Buechner once mused that maybe the oddness of the Transfiguration is not so odd after all. Do you know one who is sorry for having listened? It happened, as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. They still exist. God promises that the day will come when his glory will fill all the earth (Numbers 14:21). What do we do with this? For this section, compare Matt. Dont doubt him. The Feast of Booths was observed in the fall each year at the completion of the harvest. WebLuke 9:28 And it came to pass, about an eight days after those sayings About a week after he had declared the above things, at, or near to Caesarea Philippi. The moderator of the committee told me later, It was as if someone turned on the lights. In a few minutes, well talk more about WHY this all happened. Well, Peter as usual is the first one to speak up. The contrast between the mountaintop and the base of the mountain could not be sharper. The disciples are terrified because they understand the cloud as the presence of God. And because his emphasis is upon the humanity of Jesus, and one of the greatest needs 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. The disciples will also have a problem with sleep at the Mount of Olives (22:45). The second feature is that the disciples are said to have dozed off during that conversation, but saw the glorified Jesus and the two men with him (9:32). We can go home today and live for Jesus and work for him because its all true. To me, its one of the more remarkable biological events. Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child (v. 38). that he took with him Peter, John, and James (v. 28b). Methinks, as I steal by His side, I hear from Him these plaintive sounds, "Lord, who hath believed Our report? Finally, there is the cloud and the voice. We are so familiar with Lincoln that we recognize even his silhouetted profile in an instant. Perhaps Luke is tying the Transfiguration to the resurrection, which occurs on the eighth daythe day after the Sabbath. This mountain is not named, but its name is not important. 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). WebLuke 9:28-36. Stephen is stoned, lies down and falls asleep. 4. (28-36) An evil spirit cast out. Ive seen the Lord! Hebrews 5:7 ESV In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. The voice from the cloud says that we can always trust JesusListen to him!, We say, But Jesus is too idealistic to understand the bare-knuckles world in which I live! The voice says, Listen to him!, We say, Later, perhaps, but I have other things to do right now! The voice says, Listen to him!, We say, But I am not sure that I truly believe. The voice says, Listen to him!. WebLuke 9:1-50 contain sundry particulars which together form the closing scenes of the Galilean ministry: the mission of the Twelve, the feeding of the thousands, the conversation on the Christ and the Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary. He heard with his own ears the voice from heaven, This is my Son, my Chosen One.. Simply he may have not wanted the experience to end. Jesus is in glory already, and they are with him. Perhaps he wants to honor Moses, Elijah and Jesusto offer them a bit of hospitality. There are many speculations why these two men appeared. So we may speculate a bit about why these two men appeared. Today we have two lectionary texts that apparently dont go together. Mark 9:2-8. Nothing has worked. 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. They enclose a portion of the church year that is now fast coming to an end, just before the period of Lent. Lazarus is described as having fallen asleep. Lets make three tents: Another possibility is that the proposal to build three booths equates Jesus with Moses and Elijahdiminishing Jesus unique status as the Messiah of God (see Peters confession in v. 20). 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). Biblical Commentary On one side of the bookshelf weve got Moses going up on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. When I was out in Odessa, we decided to call an associate pastor. Know this: The closer you walk with God, the brighter your path will be. Yet in the Bible events like these sometimes play out rather differently than we think. 5:14). And I do not fault them at all. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. With no human or earthly voices available to encourage Jesus, his Father steps in to provide new voices in the conversation. 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. 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 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. shining to the perfect day.. To twenty-first century ears, the symptoms sound like epilepsy. As we might expect, the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle and the temple (Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:11). 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