Today we take a look at the passage, Luke 9:28-36.
Let me review in summary last week’s message. Follow up from last week: Making Sense of Jesus – Requires Change!
Jesus because they longed for more.
Many settled for just bread and fish while others wanted to go deeper.
A. Benefits versus Bearing
Responsibility. (Luke 9:9-17)
Jesus requires an act of faith.
The disciples learn very quickly that they had to take responsibility. Jesus said that "you" feed them.
B. Icon versus Identity. (Luke 9:18-20)
Jesus clarified his identity.
C. Fan versus Follower. (Luke 9:23-27)
Jesus requires the cross.
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Have you ever experienced a moment when you wished you could just stay in the picture-perfect place and never leave? A vacation, a spiritual victory, a sporting event, a beautiful moment with your child (ren), or a good feeling you never want to lead?
Today’s passage takes us to one of those moments for the disciples and it could be for us as well. It is a “mountain top experience” for three in the inner circle of the disciples who walked with Jesus.
Jesus takes his disciples to a prayer meeting. Peter, John, James… And Jesus.
In those moments together the opportunity was nearly missed, when the disciples fell asleep. Pretty typical for them at this time in their lives with Jesus.
For God’s Glory, the night became day! It was like an early morning wake up call! The light blinds you!
The Transfiguration (a mountaintop experiences) was shared by Jesus’ closes inner circle. Why? We will soon see for ourselves as we delve into this message. “Making Sense of Jesus: Requires A Covenant.
These disciples walk with Jesus to the very edge of the cosmos, at the pinnacle of a mountain top experience. It is there that they see who Jesus really is! The teaching of Jesus in his third and final year is the toughest. It becomes the reality of what following Jesus truly means.
We find the reason that this is revealed to the disciples is a sign and testament on the greatness of Jesus! Is Jesus mere human? A rabbi? A prophet? Or…Is He God?
Parallel this mountaintop experience with a couple of Old Testament examples. We cannot pass this up without noticing the parallel in that Moses and Elijah were both transformed. They took on a news look.
The Law-giver, Moses and the chief Prophet, Elijah were BEDAZZLED! Transformed! Transfigured!
Bedazzled! That’s the word we see in verse 29 at the Transfiguration. Jesus became “dazzling white!”
Notice another parallel. Moses, who received the commandments of God for the people. Who did he take to the mountain? Aaron (a priest) and two (sons) brothers. (Nadab and Abihu). **Who did Jesus take to this mountain? Peter (a priestly figure) and John and James (brothers).
Notice again, the parallel with Elijah. We see that he gives his double blessing to his apprentice, Elisha. He was “caught up” in glory! In a chariot of fire Elijah was taken! He did not taste death! Notice the words used to describe this event. Listen to the reading of 2 Kings 2:11-14.
11As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.
13Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.
- 2 Kings 2:11-14
Let me dig more deeply into the theology of the Covenant. Let’s look into Hebrews.
—The prophets (Hebrews 1:1. Prophets represented God’s Word of Grace (often a message of warning and a Call to turn back to God).
—Moses at Mount Sinai: Moses & 10 Commandments (The Law). See Hebrews 3
Hebrews 3:3-5-
“For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.
Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later.”
Elijah : The chief Prophet (did not die)
Hebrews 1:1
(Jesus Christ Is God’s Son)
“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.”
Hebrews 1:1 (making sense of the Old Testament:
“The central assertion of the Prologue is made here. Though God has variously (polymerōs kai polytropōs, lit., “by various means and in various ways”) revealed Himself in the past, Old Testament prophetic revelation has now received its end-times climax through God’s Son. However highly the readership regarded that former revelation, the writer implied they must now listen most closely to the Son.” - Bible Knowledge Commentary.
What the disciples experienced at the Transfiguration was called a “metamorphosis.” Like a Caterpillar.
Metamorphosis— be changed. Transformed. Jesus was changed!
There are three important Truths that we find in this experience the three disciples witnessed!
1. Covenant of God in Testimony.
We have an agreement that is backed by who Jesus is. Ever sign a legal document? (House, car loan, business deal, or simply a transaction of any kind.) It is binding because of the authority of the bank, business, owner, legal representative….)
I remember buying my first car, do you? The deal was made and authorized by the manager (a third party witness).
We now turn to the deal maker, God. We see that He sent his Son, Jesus to “pay the price” for this covenant agreement.
Consider now the voice of God who says: “Listen to Him.” - Voice of God (3 times God spoke)
A. His Baptism (This is my son, whom I am well-pleased!) – Matthew 3:16
After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” – Matthew 3:16-17.
B. The Transfiguration. (Listen to Him)
Here in Luke 9 which we are studying.
C. Before the crucification. (John 12:28)
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.
Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” – John 12:27-38.
· This brings me to my point. Jesus proves His authority to make the covenant agreement binding!
2. Cloud of Glory –
Anytime we seen that cloud of Glory has descended, we recognize that to be the presence of God! At the tent of meetings, the tabernacle, the fire by night…..
· Tent of meeting (Peter wants to build a building, or a memorial, or the tabernacle.
The experience at this time may have coincided with the Jewish tradition of the Tent of Meetings: Standing for the presence of God, later understood as the Holy Spirit living within each of us as the tent. (Hebrews 10:14)
· Let us stay here in God’s glory. (Human-ness.)
The natural feeling was to stay and dwell with God in this special place. Peter blurts out that we ought to make 3 tents or memorials about what has occurred. He doesn’t want to leave this euphoric experience!
3. Clothed in Righteousness (because of Jesus) –
We can call it, Bedazzled! His clothes were sparkling white.
· We too will become new. (See Colossians.)
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” (Col. 3:10)
· Glorification is the final step in our walk with God!
Colossians 1:15): “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation….”
What happens in us because of Jesus?
· We put on His righteousness. (Glory, pure and white)
What happens when we pray?
· We touch heaven!
“Jesus is God the Son. His ministry on Earth was to display the coming kingdom of God and reveal the pathway to citizenship in that kingdom. In order to do this, he revealed his divine nature to humanity in very real ways. The Transfiguration event was probably the most definitive revelation of Jesus as divine next to the resurrection itself. Here Jesus is shown to be greater than the Law and the Prophets and that he was the beginning of the new covenant of grace that brings humanity to salvation and glory to God.” -Referenced.
Humor isn’t always appropriate.
I remember sitting in a class while in College studying how to be a preacher. I used a joke as an introduction and it failed badly. The Professor pointed out to me and the class that using a joke doesn’t always work. My brother Jim was also in the class and he was to follow me. After my humiliation he commented to me that he too chose that joke and thankfully I said used it first!
Well, here is another humorous assertion.
Provided by @PeterBuschTV. I saw a one-legged man at the ATM. He was checking his balance.
Do you see that your account is balancing?
Closing:
"Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become." -Heraclitus
ILL: Joan Bardsley – A teacher
Butterfly princess:
A few years ago I heard a devotional I call the Metamorphosis.
Joan Bardsley shared a story from her personal experience. Teacher at a private Christian school - kindergarten.
One girl was in class who was physically abuse. Big bright eyes and long blond messy hair. Jessica had deep pain. She seldom smiled. She seldom talked. The kids didn't understand her.
Joan had a moth cocoon in a glass container. The year was nearly passed when one suggested that they wanted to see the cocoon. Joan shook it...sounded like it dried up. Open it! She partially cut into it and discovered that the small creature was still alive...moving slightly. They repaired the cocoon.
Summer passed. At the beginning of the school year she went to her new Kindergarten class, discovering that the moth had hatched. It was a beautifully colored moth. She showed it to her prior class and they want outside to let it go free.
When the moth flew it circled the group of students then landed gently on Jessica's shoulder.
Jessica smiled! The children laughed.
They began to call Jessica the Butterfly princes.
God can change our weeping to joy!
