The Transfiguration
Notes
Transcript
Intro
One of my favorite movie series is the Ocean’s 11 movies. Don’t condone this lifestyle. Love that you’re trying to figure everything out the entire movie and then they reveal the whole plan at the end. Sense of resolution. Completely understand.
Need: Sometimes following Jesu can feel like watching a movie with no resolution. It’s not complete. I have doubts and gaps in areas. Maybe we act like so many critics do and try and add doubts because we pick it all apart. Look for every hole. Scripture resolves it for us. We just have to look for it.
Main Idea: Jesus’ identity is answered
We had Herod confused. Some said John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others said prophets of old. The disciples had to answer who Jesus was. Finally, Jesus gives no doubt.
Luke 9:28-36
Truth #1: Jesus’ glory is revealed (28-33)
Exp. Eight days after Peter confesses Jesus is the Christ, he took Peter, James, and John to the mountain to pray. Verse 29. Altered = transfigured. Typically = unnatural. Matthew = shone like the sun. Luke didn’t want to confuse pagan myths, so he says altered. Dazzling white = lightning. Words are inadequate to describe what’s happening.
Ill. Like at the mechanic shop. They ask what noise is it making. You just don’t have words for it. You begin to make up noises hoping it lands. Like lightning, like the sun. It was just different.
Exp. That’s the beginning. Verse 30-31. Why Moses and Elijah?
This was the narrative culturally. “Some say Elijah or other prophets.” Clearly distinguished.
Moses and Elijah were spoken to by God on mountains. Mt. Sinai
Moses’ face changed when speaking with God. Exodus 34:34-35
34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Proves Moses’ and Elijah’s roles as preparing for Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of OT Law and Prophets.
Exp. They were speaking about his departure and what he would accomplish in Jerusalem. Moses and Elijah are testifying about Jesus’ fulfillment in Jerusalem. They are testifying of him!
Christ - Jesus is radiating his own glory! Moses radiated God’s glory, but Jesus’ glory is his alone. They are testifying of him. If the OG’s of the OT testify about Jesus, then we should too. What would he accomplish. The Law. The prophets and God’s restoration.
App. What do we do? Acknowledge the deity of Christ.
If you’ve strayed, return to him.
If you’re skeptical, do research.
Truth #2: Jesus’ words are what we follow (32-36)
Exp. Naturally, Peter and the guys were asleep, but they woke up to see what was happening. Verse 32. Affirming Jesus’ glory. They also witnessed Moses and Elijah. Verse 33. Three tents. tent = tabernacle. Eternal dwelling place.
Ill. We think of tents like going camping, little hut to sleep in. No, Moses constructed the tabernacle as the eternal dwelling place for God.
Exp. Why was this wrong? Man-made eternal dwelling place was only for God. He is equating Jesus with Moses and Elijah. They get a tabernacle just like you. Also a misunderstanding of the purpose of a tabernacle. Verse 34. This was the presence of God. Answering Peter’s request by entering into the presence of man. Two places we see this reality:
Wilderness with Moses. Exodus 40:35
35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Incarnation with Mary. Luke 1:35
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
Christ - Jesus is God’s presence to tabernacle among us. He came in flesh. Jesus doesn’t need a tabernacle because he is the tabernacle. His glory has been revealed, and the disciples are finally seeing it.
Christ - Verse 35. God speaks! My son, not JB, my chosen one, not Elijah, the one you should listen to, not Moses. Moses prophesied that there was a prophet who was coming that they should listen to. Jesus is that prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
App. What do we do? We listen to him.
Stop listening to other voices. Not tik tok. Not instagram. Not influencers. Jesus only. If their words don’t align with Jesus, you run.
If you aren’t a believer - Listen to him for the first time. I pray that he is calling you to himself.
Conclusion
We leave the Transfiguration with no doubts who Jesus is. Do you have doubts about who he is?
