They promise us health, wealth, and happiness, but seldom live up to their promises and often lead people toward ruin. In a few minutes, well talk more about WHY this all happened. Moses face shone so brightly that he found it necessary to wear a veil to shield people from the glare (Exodus 34:29-35). Perishable means it has an expiration date. The can of beans in our kitchen cabinet has an expiration date on it. For though he is glorious and transcendent, he is tender and merciful, and he longs to save our souls through his Son, Jesus. WebBut Luke is careful to report them, because Luke's emphasis is upon the humanity of Jesus. 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. This moment gave great assurance to all that the apostles spoke and lived for. To be amazed, even to tremble. 34While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. WebMatthew Henry Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - . Yet he suffered without ever sinning. Moses and Elijah spoke of (Jesus) departure (Greek: exodon), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem (v. 31). Mark says they were afraid when Jesus was first glorified (Mark 9:6). 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and Used by permission. But as Buechner says, there are moments of transfiguration in all our lives. The voice from the cloud interrupts so that Jesus never responds directly to Peters suggestion to build booths. As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling (v. 29). Hed come back a different man revived and ready to go back to work. In the Incarnation, the divine partakes of the human condition. 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. Everything was easy for him. But as Matt talked about last week, theres a bit of mystery here. The Third Readings: The Gospels (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001), Fitzmyer, Joseph A., S.J., The Anchor Bible: The Gospel According to Luke I-IX (New York: Doubleday, 1970), Gilmour, S. MacLean & Knox, John, The Interpreters Bible, Volume 8. At this point in Lukes story, Jesus and the disciples are on the way into the abyss of Jesus passion. The disciples will also have a problem with sleep at the Mount of Olives (22:45). He says something that seems to make no sense: Let us set up tents for you, Moses and Elijah., Why did he say this? 29 As he was praying, How so? Yes, the disciples themselves will suffer as they follow Jesus and proclaim him to the world. The first step to such a prayer is stillness and silence, or what should have been Peters response on the mountain. Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! They told no one of this astonishing moment. Only 3 disciples went with him. The voice from the clouds echoes the voice from heaven at Jesus baptismYou are my beloved Son. Undoubtedly, they spoke with Jesus of the events in the next few months of Jesus death, resurrection, and probably his ascension into heaven. Its not what I expected to hear the Father say! Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!. Jesus glorified like the sun. If weve taken any biology class, weve heard of this word. 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). Later, however, they succeeded in healing everywhere (9:6). Should the preacher make It happened about eight days after these sayings (v. 28a). 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. And finally, to what extent is the radiance of God visible in your life today? 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. 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? This is more a theological than a geographical statement. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment . On this mountain the subject (has been) death (Craddock, Interpretation, 135). 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). 19-20). 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good that we are here. Luke 9 is no exception. WebCommentary, explanation and study verse by verse of Luke 9:28-36 by Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary. A second possible reason for the Transfiguration: We know from the Scriptures that Jesus never sinned. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. Both incidents: (1) occur on a mountain (2) involve Moses (3) have God speaking from a cloud (4) speak of the glory of the Lord and (5) inspire fear. Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17). Mark, the shortest Gospel, gives the most complete account of this exorcism. There is a sermon in these few words. Fill me, radiancy divine; And heres a warning: If any of us have not believed in Jesus Christ, we should tremble. Listen, and not Look? But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah. We are told that the appearance of Jesus was as bright as lightning. Now lightning is pretty bright. 28. an eight days after these sayingsincluding the day on which this was spoken and that of the Transfiguration. But there is something glorious, something heavenly that awaits them. People seek inner peace, and they try all kinds of things to achieve it anything that will promise much, but demand little. In the Bible, when a story takes us up to a Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail. Jesus understands our suffering because he suffered greatly in his days on the earth. While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them (v. 34a). Now, were tempted simply to think of this as a Kodak moment, one youd like to hold on to, that Peter was simply trying to concretize the experience and preserve it for all time. Luke 9:28-36 - Center for Excellence in Preaching Not for nothing are they called Mountaintop Experiences! It Moreover, the disciples of Jesus are to listen to him. Our Associate Pastor Nominating Committee went to Dallas for a Face to Face conference, where churches looking for ministers and ministers looking for churches get a chance to meet each other. Anybody who manages to radiate the energy and light of a lightning bolt is mighty powerful and mighty bright. Its real. Peter will deny Jesus (22:54-62). Have you ever known anyone like that? 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. They were to do this that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. It would be too much for us. When he returns down the mountain, his face literally shined for a time since he had been in Gods presence. Listen to him! (v. 35). 35A voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son. Several times over the years, Ive prayed that I could see an angel. The scripture lessons from the Old and New Testaments this morning are like bookends. The Transfiguration gives these three privileged disciples a preview of that glory. Ancient leaders of Israel appearing before their very eyes. 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!. Luke says, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem. (9:51). The way Luke frames it, the whole dazzling event ends up being kind of sweet in its own way, as though the Fathersensing the apprehension of the Sonsent down some reinforcements to buck him up and help him make it across the finish line. In this one, they are groggy but sufficiently awake to see what was happening. Certainly, their faith has waned more often than it has waxed. They enclose a portion of the church year that is now fast coming to an end, just before the period of Lent. But other times he swings at the pitch, completely whiffs, and strikes out. We do not want to meet him still in our sinful state. 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. However, these words are directed to the disciples rather than Jesus (as at the baptism). The Transfiguration is a story with six characters, but none we can, or probably want to, identify with fully. (1-9) The multitude miraculously fed. 2. Scripture says they were heavy with sleep butwere fully awake.(9:32) Another way of saying it is that they were in a stupor. Luke 9:28-36 Commentary. WebLuke 9:28-36 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary HomeCommentaries ReaderRelatedVerse Bible CommentsHomeCommentaries The Transfiguration. WebMatthew 17:1-8. On the other side of the bookshelf weve got Jesus going up on Mount Herman. They expect him to conquernot to die. Many prayers and much supplication. What were Peter, John, and James thinking about this stunning scene before them? This observance, known as the Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Booths, started as a harvest festival, but evolved into a reminder of their wanderings in the wildernessand their escape from slavery in Egyptand Gods continuing faithfulness to them. 1-6. Were not told, but it seems that maybe the true image of God, the image of the Son, the spittin image of the Son who was his Father all over againmaybe this is what shone through in a way the disciples managed to miss seeing most days. All that Peter taught and wrote about for more than 3 decades was founded upon eyewitness experiences he and the other apostles had. When you get a moment, take a close look in the mirror. Why Moses and Elijah? They will fail to understand Jesus warning about his betrayal (9:43-45). If they were not there to encourage Jesus in the direction he had to go, I cannot think of what else they would have had to say about that departure. WebThe transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36) Jesus transfiguration took place on a high mountain, possibly Mount Hermon, which was not far from Caesarea Philippi. So often we read incidents like this one in the Bible and we rarify them, put them up on a pedestal, and assume that if such a thing were to happen today and to us, it would change the world and shake up everything. After hearing such hard, perhaps even shocking, words a week earlier, now on the mountain the three disciples would have found great strength by seeing a glimpse of the coming glory in the resurrection, ascension, and second coming of Christ. Every second reading for Transfiguration from 2 Corinthians comes after the next. We cant deal with it. They will fail to heal a boy with a demon (9:37-43). 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. "It never entered thy thoughts to pay me the homageand yet I had helped thee, too, a littleof pouring oil on my head"; "but she hath anointed, not my head, she shrank, poor soul! The crowd, having just seen the childs convulsions, cannot help but be impressed with the miracle of this healing. They said it was as if a ring of light encircled her face. Like in Star Wars when Yoda appears as a ghost before Luke Skywalker. Dont disobey him. and went up onto the mountain to pray (9:28). This event was not some simple stunt someone videos and posts on YouTube. 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. These were not fables or tall tales. Luke 9 is no exception. Christ has transformed more lives than we can count. All that is within Luke 9:31-33 is distinctive. The wonder of it. His clothing became dazzling white. This scene challenges our comprehension, but something heavenly was happening here. Metamorphosis. Yet as Matt spoke of last week, he not only was 100% divine, he was 100% human with the frailties of humanity. and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud (v. 34b). Jesus answers that in the next verse. It goes without saying they had no way to recognize them physically. Jesus went up the mountain to pray (9:29), perhaps to commune with God concerning his destiny. 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. From some frightening experience, we said or did something and we later wondered, Why did I do that?. Incarnation and Transfiguration are antiphonal. May we meditate on the reality of this passage. They went up onto the mountain to pray (v. 28c). Jesus has just announced to the disciples that he must (Greek: deiimplying the will of God) suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up (v. 22). 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. To glimpse his majesty and power. All his teachings about love for God and for our fellow human beings are to be observed. Lets make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah, not knowing what he said. 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. In any case, its clear from the Gospel accounts by Matthew, Mark, and Luke that the disciples were terrified at what was happening. We see that yet today. 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. A cool one. WebThe Pulpit Commentary - Luke 7:46. The first is that Luke alone provides the content of the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah (on which comment is made below). 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and Follow Jesus and proclaim him to the disciples themselves will suffer as they entered into cloud! 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