The Transfiguration of Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Would you meet me in your copy of God’s Word today in Luke 9:28-36.
Lets read it together:
Explain why others say 6 and Luke says 8. The others count only the intervening days while Luke counts the day Jesus made the promise and the day of the transfiguration.
Today marks our second time examining this text together as a congregation. The last time we were together we looked at this text in a very applicational way, sort of at a surface level for all that it teaches us about Christ’s coming Kingdom which this text gives us such a glimpse into.
But, there is a ton of meat to unpack here. This text is a smorgasbord full of Old Testament symbolism, Christological implications, and glimpses into the heavenly kingdom that one sermon just doesn't due it justice. So, for today we will endeavor to unpack it more deeply then we did last time.
Our text opens with the Lord Jesus taking Peter, James and John up onto a mountain to pray. Jesus placed a high value on prayer and often took time both with and without his apostles to withdraw to a quiet place to pray. He put a high priority on prayer throughout his entire ministry. Especially the closer he got to the cross.
God will always meet the needs of the person who prays and seeks his help and guidance.
This is now the second time that Jesus has taken these three with him apart from the others; the other time is in Luke 8:51 when he raised Jairus daughter from the dead.
Why these three men?
Of the 12, these men sort of formed an inner circle around Jesus and were closer to him relationally than the others. But there is another reason as well, in taking these three with him he was keeping with Old Testament law.
Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV)
…Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
Jesus, being God, knew what was going to take place and knew that these would be the three men to share the story. All three of these men would play a vital role in the establishment of the early church as well.
Peter as the de-facto spokesperson and leader.
James as one of the first martyrs (Acts 12:2).
John as the last living and great revelator.
Jesus apostles were devastated when He told them of his death (v.22) and the possibility that they two would face death for following Jesus (v.23-24). Both Matthew and Mark in their accounts of this event tell us that Peter went as far to even rebuke Jesus for for predicting his death.
These men needed to be eyewitness to this event. It was designed to reinforce their faith in Jesus glory and promises of a future kingdom by giving them a small glimpse here on earth.
These men became eyewitnesses to:
A glorious transformation. (v.29)
A supernatural visitation. (v.30-31)
A foolish proposition (v.32-33)
A Heavenly admonition. (v.34-36)
Let’s dive off into the deep end of the pool together shall we.
1.) A glorious transformation. (v.29, 32)
1.) A glorious transformation. (v.29, 32)
29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.
Luke 9:32 (ESV)
32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory…
v.32 gives us and important detail that helps us grasp this event and that is as Jesus was praying, his three apostles were sleeping.
As Peter, James and John are sleeping and Jesus was praying he took on a different appearance.
Luke’s account tells us that his appearance was “altered” using a greek word that means it became “another of a different kind.” Matthew and Mark use the word “transfigured” which is the greek word for Metamorphosis. Jesus changed from the inside out.
Along with his face changing his clothing became “dazzling white.” Dazzling means to flash like lightening, to gleam, or to radiate.
Matthew 17:2 (ESV)
…his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.
Apparently Jesus was praying so intensely and was so concentrated on his father that his Godly nature began to shine through him. (v.32 says they saw his “glory”).
The divine nature of christ began radiating from the inside out and it was so bright that it woke the apostles from their sleep.
In the Old Testament, God would often manifest himself as light. The glory of God, in the form of light appears several times in the Old Testament. More than once on Mt.Sinai when Moses asked God to show him His glory (it changed his appearance), later it would descend from Heaven and fill the tabernacle coming to rest over the Holy of Holies when it was dedicated for use. Later when the temple was finished in 1 Kings 8 this same light filled it as it once did the Tabernacle.
This is the same blazing glory that will be seen in all of its brilliance when Christ returns at his second coming.
27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
The same glory that John would later see in Revelation 1:13-15
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
This radiant light shining through Jesus was just a taste of his future glory. This was the very glory of God once again touching earth.
His transfiguration did not altogether enable his disciples to see Christ, as he now is in heaven, but gave them a taste of his boundless glory, such as they were able to comprehend. Then his face shone as the sun; but now he is far beyond the sun in brightness. In his raiment an unusual and dazzling whiteness appeared; but now without raiment a divine majesty shines in his whole body. Thus in ancient times God appeared to the holy fathers, not as He was in Himself, but so far as they could endure the rays of His infinite brightness; …for this was not a complete exhibition of the heavenly glory of Christ,… he enabled them to taste in part what could not be fully comprehended.
John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 310.
2.) A supernatural visitation. (v.30-31)
2.) A supernatural visitation. (v.30-31)
When the apostles awoke from their slumber, Jesus in all of his radiant glory wasn’t the only one present on the mountain with them, but there were two supernatural visitors from the coming kingdom present as well.
30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
These two men, appeared alongside Jesus in their glorified forms. Somehow Peter, James and John knew who these men were Moses and Elijah.
A.) What was so special about Moses and Elijah?
Moses- The great law giver. He stands at the forefront of Israel’s history. A man whose death is shrouded in mystery as the scriptures tell us that he was buried by God himself. ( Deuteronomy 34:5-6) and their was an angelic/satanic argument over his body (Jude 9).
Elijah- The great prophet. Elijah came on the scene at a time when most of the nation was not following God and only 7,000 remained that had not bowed their knee to Baal. He lived in a day not all to dissimilar to Jesus when the rulers of the nation had gone away from the Lord. He did not die but was taken to heaven in a chariot and whirlwind of fire.
These two men stand as the representatives of “the law and the prophets” and would be implicitly trusted by the people.
B.) The topic of discussion.
Departure- literally “exodus”. Referring not just to Jesus death but also his resurrection and glorification.
This shows us that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem was all a part of the Fathers plan.
It was something that the law and the prophets had foretold and an event that all those saints gone on before were looking forward too.
We don’t know all they said, but we know they spoke of the plan of redemption as if they knew it in full detail. Because they did!
Speak of Jesus accomplishing a new kind of Exodus.
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
3. A foolish proposition. (v.32-33)
3. A foolish proposition. (v.32-33)
32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
As we already mentioned, apparently this event happened late in the day, maybe even at night and Peter, James and John were sleeping when they were awoken but the radiant glory of Christ.
Here they sit seeing Jesus in all of his heavenly glory they could stand, talking to two of the greatest Jews to ever live, also in their glorified forms, half asleep and impetuous Peter says something without thinking it all the way through apparently as Moses and Elijah were getting ready to leave as an attempt to get them to stay longer.
Notice what he says:
A.) “It is good that we are here.”- This is positive.
These men were in complete awe of what they were seeing and were literally in the presence of Heaven, no wonder they didn't want it to end. One writer even suggest that perhaps they thought that this was the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom. That he was at this moment setting up his kingdom on earth.
B.) “Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.”
Peter offered to build three shelters (tents/booths) for Jesus and the two prophets. By this act he hoped to extend the stay of the heavenly guests and the glorious experience. The shelters offered were the booths made of branches and grass which could be quickly built, the kind often built by travelers on their stops along the road night by night.
“not knowing what he said”- simply means Peter didn't think before he spoke. He was speaking foolishly, just babbling on. Peter just had to say something, he couldn't possibly keep quiet.
His foolishness here is in thinking that people come from the heavenly kingdom in their glorified form would remain on this unglorified earth and need shelters to lodge in like ordinary men. Mark’s account tells us these men were terrified, so Peter was speaking irrationally out of fear.
More than just speaking out of turn, there is a real since that Peter and perhaps is other two companions had a real desire to make this present glory they were experiencing permanent. Jesus had just been talking about dying on a cross, that Peter was in a since saying “this is better, why a cross when you can just expose your glory to the world instead and set up your kingdom.” But that wasn’t the fathers plan!
The father’s plan was the cross!
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?
3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),
9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The cross must precede the crown in order for man to be saved!
4. A heavenly admonition.(v.34-35)
4. A heavenly admonition.(v.34-35)
34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
As Peter is speaking, suddenly a large bright cloud and a loud voice overshadowed them and they were instantly terrified.
A.) Shekinah “glory” cloud.
Shekinah- Transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “the one who dwells” or “that which dwells.” It is not a word that appears in the Bible but originates in other places. This was the cloud of God’s presence.
It was the cloud that guided Israel out of Egypt and through their 40 years of wondering.
The same cloud came to rest over the mercy seat in Ex 40.
16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
This “bright cloud” stands in sharp contrast to the dark and threatening cloud that enveloped Mt. Sinai when Moses was given the law (Ex 19:18; 20:21).
This symbolizes something for us. The law (old covenant) was dark and threatening, it brought nothing but a curse.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
But the new covenant, brought by Christ’s atoning work on the cross is bright, it saves and brings blessing, it does not threaten and condemn, but provides grace and peace with God and life eternal.
B.) The voice of God
35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
The voice of God thundering from this glory cloud proclaimed that Jesus was His son, and the “chosen one” and then commanded them to listen to Him. That Jesus words carried the same weight and authority as HIs!
God warns every living man to listen to Christ for the same reasons.
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
v.36 tells us that when the voice of God had spoken and the cloud left there stood Peter, James and John alone with Jesus back in his normal everyday earthly form.
No one said a word. In fact, no one spoke of this event until well after the resurrection.
They simply stood there in awe of the glory of Christ and the plan of God.
You know there is a time for silence, for being still and meditating upon the Lord.
When is the last time you marvelled over Christ glory?
When is the last time you stood in awe of his presence?
When is the last time you truly contemplated his plan of redemption.
Give a gospel invitation to receive Christ.