A Glimpse of His Glory
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Luke 9:28-36
Real life is often lived in the valley, where trials, doubts, and disappointments weigh heavily on us.
But every so often, God gives His people a mountaintop experience—a moment that reminds us of His greatness and strengthens us for what lies ahead.
That’s what happened on the mount of transfiguration.
Peter, James, and John caught a glimpse of the glory of Christ.
It was not to entertain them, but to encourage them, anchor them, and prepare them for the suffering that was coming.
Years ago, a missionary in Africa was discouraged by sickness, isolation, and lack of visible results.
One morning, he walked outside and saw the sun breaking over the mountains, filling the sky with brilliant color.
He later wrote in his journal, “That sunrise reminded me that my Savior reigns in glory, and no darkness can overcome Him.”
That sight carried him through another season of ministry.
Like that missionary, the disciples needed to be reminded that Jesus is not just a teacher headed to die, but the Son of God in glory.
We too need that reminder—because if we see Christ clearly, we can endure faithfully.
I. The Glory of His Person
I. The Glory of His Person
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.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
As the disciples looked upon Jesus in this moment, they were given a glimpse of who He truly is.
The glory of His person was revealed on that mountain.
Let’s look closer at how that glory shone forth.
Three things stood out to me about the Glory of His Person: It was
A. Revealed in Prayer
A. Revealed in Prayer
Notice that His glory was revealed while He prayed.
The Son of God, who had power over sickness, demons, and even the stormy sea, still made prayer His priority.
If Jesus Christ—the sinless Son of God—needed prayer, how much more do we?
Luke highlights that Jesus prayed at the most critical moments of His ministry: at His baptism, before choosing His disciples, before Peter’s confession, here at the transfiguration, and later in Gethsemane.
It was while He prayed that His countenance was altered and His glory was unveiled.
2 Corinthians 3:18 reminds us, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image.”
Jesus’ glory was normally veiled by His humanity so that He could walk among men without overwhelming them with His divine majesty.
But on the mount of transfiguration, for a brief moment, that veil was pulled back, and the disciples saw the radiance of His true identity as the eternal Son of God.
Here after some time of prayer, His true glory is shown…at least a view of it.
Remember that prayer is not simply asking God for things—it is fellowship with Him.
When we kneel before God in prayer, we rise reflecting more of Christ’s likeness.
A weak prayer life will always mean a weak Christian life.
Years ago, a coal miner finished his long shift deep beneath the earth.
His face and clothes were covered in soot, blackened by hours in the mine.
Yet as he stepped into the light of day, there was a small bright circle on his forehead where his lamp had rested.
The light he carried with him had protected that spot from the darkness.
Just as the lamp left its mark on him, time in God’s presence leaves its mark on us, where we have been in the presence of the glory of God.
When we pray, the glory of Christ rubs off on us in ways others can see.
“The secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer.” – A. C. Dixon
Having seen that Christ’s glory was revealed through prayer, Luke also shows us that His glory was radiant in purity.
B. Radiant in Purity
B. Radiant in Purity
His raiment was white and glistering, shining with a purity beyond earthly explanation.
This was not borrowed light—it was His own divine purity breaking through the veil of His humanity.
Psalm 104:2 says God is He…
2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
The disciples saw Jesus not just as a man, but as the Holy One of God, radiant in purity and majesty.
Application: Christ calls us not just to admire His holiness, but to walk in it.
1 John 1:7 declares,
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Walking in His light means allowing His purity to expose and cleanse our sin.
A jeweler once placed a flawless diamond on a piece of black velvet in his shop window.
The contrast was breathtaking.
Against the darkness, the stone’s brilliance was unmistakable.
People stopped to admire it, not because of the velvet, but because the blackness made the diamond’s light impossible to ignore.
That’s what the disciples saw on the mountain.
In the darkness of this sinful world, the purity of Christ shines brighter than anything else.
His light exposes our sin but also shows us the beauty of His holiness.
Any goodness in us is just God’s glory shining through.
“Holiness in the believer is nothing less than the reflection of the character of Christ.” – Charles Spurgeon
If His purity was shining on the mountain, it was also pointing forward—to remind the disciples that the One they followed had power greater than they could imagine.
So then we see…
C. Reassurance of His Power
C. Reassurance of His Power
The disciples would soon see their Master beaten, bloodied, and crucified.
They needed this vision of His glory to remind them that He was more than a man—that He was the eternal Son of God with power to conquer death.
Later, John would see Him again in Revelation 1:16
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
When you feel like life is out of control, remember this—your Savior is not weak.
He is glorious, powerful, and reigning.
He has not lost His strength, and He has not lost control.
In 1969, when the Apollo 11 astronauts orbited the moon, they looked back and saw earth hanging in space like a blue marble.
From that vantage point, every problem on earth seemed small compared to the vastness of creation.
One astronaut said later, “Seeing earth like that changes the way you see everything else.”
That’s what the disciples experienced on the mountain.
They saw Christ’s glory, and suddenly everything else was put into perspective.
No trial, no fear, no cross could erase the reality that Jesus is Lord of glory.
The disciples saw the glory of His person. Next, Luke shows us the greatness of His plan.
II. The Greatness of His Plan
II. The Greatness of His Plan
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
As the disciples beheld Christ’s glory, suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared, speaking with Him.
What were they talking about?
Not about the miracles He had done.
Not about His teaching ministry.
But about His coming death at Jerusalem.
Even in the moment of glory, the cross was still at the center of God’s plan.
A. Witnessed by the Law and the Prophets
A. Witnessed by the Law and the Prophets
Moses represented the Law, and Elijah represented the Prophets.
Together they summed up the entire Old Testament witness, and both stood in agreement that Jesus’ death was the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Luke 24:27 tells us that later Jesus would open the Scriptures to His disciples, showing them what all this was about.
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
This means that every sacrifice, every prophecy, and every promise pointed to Him.
His plan of redemption was written from the very beginning.
Your salvation is not a mistake or an afterthought.
God never had to think, “Oh great, Now what am I going to do?”
From the first page of Genesis, God’s Word was pointing to Christ.
You can trust Him with every detail of your life because His plan is eternal and certain.
A man once bought a thousand-piece puzzle at a yard sale, only to find the picture on the box was missing.
He tried for hours to piece it together, but nothing seemed to fit.
Finally, he realized pieces from another puzzle had been mixed in, and the picture was impossible to see without the right guide.
That’s how many people read the Old Testament.
Without Christ as the picture on the box, it makes little sense.
But when you place Christ in the center, every piece—Law, Prophets, sacrifices, promises—it all fits perfectly.
Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus shows us that God’s plan was never random.
It always pointed to Christ.
“The Scriptures are not about us, but about Him. Every page whispers His name.” – Alistair Begg
If Moses and Elijah confirm that His death was God’s plan, but Luke also tells us that plan would be…
B. Worked Out at Calvary
B. Worked Out at Calvary
Luke uses a striking word—“decease”—literally “exodus.”
Just as God brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt, Jesus would bring His people out of slavery to sin through His death and resurrection.
This was not a tragedy to be avoided but a triumph to be accomplished.
It was something Jesus would “accomplish” at Jerusalem, showing that the cross was His mission all along, not an accident.
Hebrews 9:12 declares,
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
When doubts arise, or when Satan tempts you to think you’re not forgiven, remember that your salvation was finished at Calvary.
The cross was God’s D-Day—the decisive battle that won eternal redemption.
In June 1944, the Allied forces launched D-Day, the largest invasion in history.
For years, it had been carefully planned.
It was costly, requiring the sacrifice of thousands, but it turned the tide of the war.
The victory was certain, though the battle still had to be fought.
That is what the cross was.
God planned it before the foundation of the world.
It was costly—the very blood of His Son.
But it was decisive.
The cross turned the tide against sin and death forever.
The disciples saw His glory.
They heard the testimony of Moses and Elijah.
And they learned that the cross was always God’s plan.
But soon they would also hear a greater voice—the voice of the Father Himself—reminding them of the grace of Christ’s preeminence.
III. The Grace of His Preeminence
III. The Grace of His Preeminence
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
The disciples were overwhelmed by what they saw on the mountain.
They had never seen such glory.
Peter, as usual, spoke up quickly, but he missed the point.
He wanted to honor Jesus, Moses, and Elijah equally.
But God the Father spoke from heaven to set the record straight.
Jesus Christ alone must have the preeminence.
He is…
A. Superior to the Prophets
A. Superior to the Prophets
Peter’s suggestion of three tabernacles made it sound like Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were equals.
But before Peter could finish speaking, God Himself interrupted, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.”
Hebrews 1:1–2 reminds us,
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Moses was a great lawgiver.
Elijah was a mighty prophet.
But Jesus is greater still.
Many voices clamor for our attention today—teachers, leaders, philosophies, and influencers—but none compare to the voice of Christ.
To put anyone on equal ground with Him is to miss His glory.
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
Newspapers reported his success alongside other world events of the day.
But one paper buried the story halfway down the page, as if it were of no more importance than local news.
Today, we look back and shake our heads, because we know that event changed history.
How so much greater is the tragedy when people fail to recognize Christ for who He is.
To treat Him as ordinary, or to place Him beside other voices, is to miss His supremacy.
“Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all.” – Augustine
Not only is Christ superior to the prophets, but God the Father declared that He alone carries divine authority.
So we see He is…
B. Singular in Authority
B. Singular in Authority
God said, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.”
These words cut through the confusion and placed the focus exactly where it belonged.
John 6:68 records Peter’s later confession,
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Jesus does not simply offer advice.
He speaks with divine authority.
Who has the loudest voice in your life?
Is it culture?
Is it friends?
Is it your own feelings?
If it is not Jesus Christ, you are following the wrong authority.
God did not say, “Hear them.”
He said, “Hear Him.”
When I was a boy I was even more ADD that I am now.
I would often find myself lost in the store.
My mom had moved on In a world filled with voices, only one voice will lead us to life and safety—the voice of Jesus Christ.
“When God speaks through His Son, He does not give advice. He gives commands that are life itself.” – Adapted from John Piper
After the Father’s voice spoke, the vision ended. Moses and Elijah disappeared, and the disciples were left with one focus.
C. Sole Focus of Worship
C. Sole Focus of Worship
“When the voice was past, Jesus was found alone.”
Moses was gone.
Elijah was gone.
Only Jesus remained.
Colossians 1:18 says that in all things He must have the preeminence.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
That is the lesson of the transfiguration.
True discipleship is not balancing Jesus with everything else—it is centering your life on Him alone.
When Christ is everything to us, everything else falls into its proper place.
In 1505, Michelangelo was given a block of marble that other sculptors had discarded.
It was flawed, misshapen, and considered useless.
But Michelangelo looked at it and said, “I saw the man in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
Out of that block came his masterpiece, the statue of David.
When God calls us to see “Jesus only,” He is calling us to carve away every distraction until Christ alone remains at the center of our vision and worship.
“Jesus Christ will never share the throne of your heart. He must reign alone.” – Unknown
The disciples had seen His glory, heard the testimony of Moses and Elijah, and then the voice of the Father.
But when the cloud lifted, they saw “Jesus only.”
That is where their faith, and ours, must rest.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The disciples were given a glimpse of Christ’s glory on the mountain, but it was only for a moment.
Soon they would come down into the valley where real life waited—confusion, fear, betrayal, and the shadow of the cross.
That mountaintop vision was not given to entertain them but to strengthen them.
It was meant to remind them that no matter how dark the road became, Jesus was still the Son of God in glory.
We live most of our lives in the valley too.
The valley of broken health.
The valley of strained relationships.
The valley of financial pressures and unanswered questions.
And in those moments it is easy to forget the glory of Christ.
But the lesson of the transfiguration is this—He has not lost His power, His plan has not failed, and His voice still calls us to hear Him and follow Him.
So when your life feels dark, lift your eyes to Jesus only.
See Him in His purity.
See Him in His power.
See Him in His preeminence.
He is the same Lord who walked off that mountain toward the cross for you, and He is the same Lord who one day will return in glory for His people.
Until then, keep your eyes on Him, keep your ears open to His voice, and keep your heart centered on His glory.
