The Greek word that Matthew and Mark use is basically our word, metamorphosis. It means to be transformed. Earlier in this chapter, Herod, hearing of the great works that Jesus was doing, was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. This is especially true for the writer of Luke. The last 3 chapters of Luke speak of this. It happened, as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. 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). They are amazed at what they see. Bring your son here., All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. He had talked previously about his forthcoming suffering and death. It has two features that are of interest for Lukes rendition. 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. Prayer is a So weve looked at this surprising, once-in-a-lifetime story. If we have any skepticism in us, this story is so unusual I can understand how we might be skeptical and wonder, Did that really happen?. The three dwellings (9:33, NRSV; booths in RSV) recall those used at the Festival of Booths (or Tabernacles), an annual harvest festival. (1-9) The multitude miraculously fed. Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothersit is to him you shall listen. 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldnt.. 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. Were not told why, although it was not unusual for Jesus to pull these 3 aside. He says something that seems to make no sense: Let us set up tents for you, Moses and Elijah., Why did he say this? A rather literal translation would be that the disciples were weighed down with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory.. Loud cries and tears. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Teri McDowell Otts lectionary reflections are sent to the Outlooks email list every Monday. We do not want to face him without having our sins paid for by him. 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. 9:29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. We know from Matthews and Marks Gospels Jesus told them to tell no one until after the resurrection. 1. Or perhaps he was thinking about Gods coming kingdom as displayed in the Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles, or the Feast of Tents., But the text here and in Marks parallel account seems that even Peter didnt know. Copyright 2007, Philip McLarty. His constant praying shows his love for his Father in heavenand his confidence that his prayers and his worship were heard. The Feast of Booths was observed in the fall each year at the completion of the harvest. Instead we are told only that they discussed his departure. Thats why they were there. 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). The disciples were bewildered. This mountain is not named, but its name is not important. In you I am well pleased (3:22). In the Transfiguration, the earthly Jesus shares for a moment the company of two great and worthy residents of heaven, Moses and Elijah. On the other side of the bookshelf weve got Jesus going up on Mount Herman. And because his emphasis is upon the humanity of Jesus, and one of the greatest needs They are afraid. At least 9 times that I could find in this Gospel. The committee interviewed several candidates, and each made a positive impression. As the years of our Christian life go on, our understanding of Gods majesty and glory and power and brilliance should grow, so that more and more we love him.yet we tremble in awe and fear before him. Fill me, radiancy divine; (Nashville: Abingdon, 1952), Green, Joel B., The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997), Hendriksen, William, New Testament Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978), Nickle, Keith F., Preaching the Gospel of Luke (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000), Nolland, John, Word Biblical Commentary: Luke 9:2118:34, Vol. Peter never forgot this moment when he had a brief glimpse of the coming glory of Jesus Christ. If Peter, James, and John had any doubts before as to who Jesus was, seeing Jesus lit up like the blazing sun, seeing the long-dead Moses and Elijah alive before them, and now hearing a voice from heaven, surely they had no doubts now. It is a fearful, terrifying thing to meet God in judgment. There may be another connection with Moses at this point. And it speaks to us what Christ did a few months later in his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. The Bible has a more remarkable story of a metamorphosis. Representing the Israel of old, they disappear, leaving Jesus alone (Fitzmyer, 795). But there is something glorious, something heavenly that awaits them. Luke 9:28-36 Have you noticed how closely tied sleep and death are in the New Testament? This question, Who is this? is central to this Gospel in general and to chapter 9 in particular. 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. They must be metamorphosed. WebWhat does Luke 9:28-36 mean? It increases our motivation to work for Jesus, for everything we do matters. Jesus answers that in the next verse. Commentators have wide speculation as to what Peter intended to stay. . Dont ignore him. 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. 19-20). The model for this encounter is Moses at Sinai (Exodus 19-32). Is there any trustworthy voice amidst the cacophony? 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. Does your face glow with the light of Christ? One example: Moses on Mt. And, lo, there appeared to them [473] Moses and Elijah talking with him.4. Delivered Weekly! We do not want to meet him still in our sinful state. This moment on the mountain with Jesus, Moses and Elijah tells us that yes, there truly is life beyond the grave. If the moment wasnt already astonishing, now two great men of God from centuries before appear with Jesus, right in front of the 3 disciples. 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. While he was praying, Jesus was transformed before the disciples eyes. Jesus was glorified, changed from a mere mortal into a glorified, heavenly state. 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. There are many speculations why these two men appeared. Metamorphosis. Hebrews 10:31 ESV It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. At this Transfiguration, God confirms that the new Moses-like prophet is Jesus, saying, This is my beloved Son. (See on [1610]Mt 16:13). Jesus came to set people free from sin. Scripture says. WebLuke 9:28-36, (37-43) Good Morning Our God Pause thought for this Transfiguration Sunday is Transformation we spend a moment contemplating what this word means in our lives how Lukes account tells of the radical revelation of a mountaintop experience which is interrupted by reality. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3. Does the radiance of God sparkle in your eyes? Peter, James, and Johnpartners before in secular business; now sole witnesses of the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mr 5:37), the transfiguration, and the agony in the garden (Mr 14:33). ), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sundays Text. Scripture assures us that we were all created in the image of God, but as we hustle past people in the malls, as we jostle next to them on the train, as we get annoyed with them when they crowd us in our airplane seat, we miss it. Yet in the Bible events like these sometimes play out rather differently than we think. WebLuke 9 The Feeding of the Five Thousand A. God the Father and his Son and even the angels have a glory about them. Probably, he just wants to do something. WebThe Pulpit Commentary - Luke 7:46. 41Jesus answered, Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? 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). 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). Thirty years later, Peter wrote with words of awe about this day on the mountain. The booths recall the Feast of Booths, one of the three major festivals of the Jewish faith. Biblical Commentary It took me a while to pick up on his pattern, and when I did, I asked his wife what was going on. 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). Only the High Priest is allowed to come into Gods presenceand he only on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:7). And youre hoping youre still alive. This answers the question, Who is this?not by giving Jesus a title but by describing the process by which he will accomplish his work. Sinai appearing before the glory of God. 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). Mark says they were afraid when Jesus was first glorified (Mark 9:6). An experience the disciples never forgot. The prophecy of the Old Testament is realized in the presence of Moses and Elijah. If that is our view, we are badly, badly mistaken. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen (v. 36b). WebMatthew 17:1-8. The cloud was the symbol of the presence of God at Sinai (Exodus 24:15-16; 34:5), and it symbolizes Gods presence for these three disciples. It is also referred to in 2 Peter 1:18. A Sermon Based on Luke 9:28-36 March 4, 2019; Rev. While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them (v. 34a). WebLuke 9:28-36 The Transfiguration 28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 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. 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. 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. The story begins. An action-man needs to act! WebCommentary on Luke 9:28-36 (Read Luke 9:28-36) 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. When he returns down the mountain, his face literally shined for a time since he had been in Gods presence. Its weighing heavily on his mind. It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen (Exodus 33:21-23). All his teachings about love for God and for our fellow human beings are to be observed. Moses had prophesied, Your God will raise up to you a prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, like me. 28. an eight days after these sayingsincluding the day on which this was spoken and that of the Transfiguration. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. Luke 9:28-36, Seeing Jesus Glory. When he came down, having been in the presence of God, his face shown so brightly that the people of Israel had to cover their eyes. 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. 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). This is not an issue of cowardice. You shall listen to him (Deuteronomy 18:15). 7-9). WebChrist shares Gods glory. 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. The contrast between the mountaintop and the base of the mountain could not be sharper. Jesus reproach says that the disciples failure is due to their own faithlessness and perversityimplying lack of faith. Why go through all this razzle-dazzle, bright-as-lightning stuff if the whole incident ends up being more about ears than eyes? But the drama up there on that mountain seems to have been only partly intended to make an impression on the disciples. In other words, long about the time Jesus could use all the support he could get, the disciples are simply unavailable to him in any meaningful way. Life beyond the grave clothes became dazzling white, metamorphosis the Israel of old, disappear... And for our fellow human beings are to be observed yes, there truly is beyond. Recall the Feast of Booths, one of the mountain with Jesus, saying, this is my Son. Glory about them two men appeared lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sundays.. 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Encounter is Moses at Sinai ( Exodus 19-32 ) this mountain is not important 9:28-36!

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