Listen To Him!

The Gospel of According to Luke

An inscription was found on a stone in Priene, which is a city in modern day Turkey. The inscription is believed to be dated about 9 B.C. Let me read it to you so as to give you an idea of what the world that Jesus stepped into was actually like.

'It seemed good to the Greeks of Asia, in the opinion of the high priest Apollonius of Menophilus Azanitus: “Since Providence, which has ordered all things and is deeply interested in our life, has set in most perfect order by giving us Augustus, whom she filled with virtue that he might benefit humankind, sending him as a savior, both for us and for our descendants, that he might end war and arrange all things, and since he, Caesar, by his appearance (excelled even our anticipations), surpassing all previous benefactors, and not even leaving to posterity any hope of surpassing what he has done, and since the birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of the good tidings [εὐαγγέλιον] for the world that came by reason of him,” which Asia resolved in Smyrna.'

Priene Calendar Inscription, 9 B.C.

Augustus Caesar was hailed a son of god and the author of the great “Pax Romana.” The Pax Romana was to a time of great salvation, peace and human flourishing under the rule of Caesar.

Now, when Jesus steps onto the scene and begins announcing the arrival of the “Kingdom of God,” during the height of Roman rule, to first century Jews, this meant that Jesus was either crazy, a rebellious insurgent or, he was truly sent from God. This is what a first century person had to grapple with. Today, this is what a follower of Jesus has to grapple with. Do we want to be thought of as crazy or as troublemakers because we have no other king, except Jesus Christ?

I’ll explain more later. But first, allow me to read our passage for this morning and pray for us.

Luke 9:27–36 (ESV)

27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 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. 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. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

The Kingdom of God is the most significant theme in all of Scripture. And yet, in comparison to the rest of the great themes in the Bible, it is the least understood. Some say it is the church, others say it heaven or the afterlife. We simply don’t understand the idea of a Kingdom.

At the heart of this theme is the idea of God’s messianic kingdom. It is a kingdom that will be ruled by God’s appointed Messiah, who will be not just the Redeemer of His people, but their King. ~Dr. R.C. Sproul

One theologian put it this way: The kingdom of God is…

1. The rule of Jesus Christ on earth. 2. The blessing and advantages that flow from living under Christ’s rule. 3. The citizens who joyfully submit to His rule are called the church.

~Author unknown

Calvin said it is the task of the church to make the invisible kingdom visible.

In first Samuel ch 8, Israel asked the prophet Samuel to appoint a human king to rule over them like all the other nations. Samuel saw the evilness of that request and he prayed to God. But in verse 7 God responds.

1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV)

And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

The Kingdom of God has always been God’s plan for creation. Unbelief and disobedience always prefers another kingdom and another way to live. In verse 27, Jesus promised that some of His disciples would not die, would not leave this planet without seeing the Kingdom of God.

The fulfillment of this promises comes, according to Luke, 8 days later. The gospel of Mark records it as happening 6 days later. The difference in time here is likely over the day of arrival to the mountain and when the actual revelation occurred. Otherwise, both authors saw the fulfillment of this promise from Jesus taking place on what is called the “Mount of Transfiguration.”

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 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.

Again, Jesus promised that only some of his disciples would see the Kingdom of God before dying. Up first, is Peter, John and James. And Luke, again, wants to draw attention to Jesus’ commitment to prayer. Last week, we read how his disciples returned to him from there short-term missions trip, only to find him praying. Now, He goes up the mountain specifically, for the purpose of prayer.

If you’re familiar with your Bible, then you’re probably aware of the presence of mountains throughout the story of God’s dealings with people.

Prominent Mountain Experiences in Scripture

Eden is called “The garden of God” on “The mountain of God” (Ezk 28:13-14)

Abraham is tested on a mountain (Genesis 22:14)

Moses met with God on a mountain (Exodus 3:1; 31:18; 34:28)

Elijah met God on a mountain (1 Kings 19:8)

Mt Sinai & Mt Horeb, likely the same mountain, are called “The Mountain of God”

Jesus preached his first public sermon on a mountain side.

In ancient times, mountains were not thought of as places for recreation, but were believed to be the dwelling places of the gods. Mountain peaks touched the heavens and were where one went to receive divine council. The pagans abused this reality, but based on the quantity of Scriptural examples, Yahweh did meet with his human representatives on mountains. The difference between Yahweh and the pagan deities, is that God was not limited to this. Again, a another promise from Jesus is relevant here. His conversation with the Samaritan woman about where to worship God.

John 4:21–24 (ESV)

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Though it is clear from all 3 gospel accounts, that Jesus went up on the mountain for the purpose of showing His disciples the Kingdom of God and receiving divine counsel, we are not expected to climb mountains to draw near to God. We have the Holy Spirit and we worship God in spirit and truth.

Now back to the mountain scene with Jesus and his disciples. While praying, Jesus is transfigured into His glorious state. His face is altered and his clothes are dazzling white. If you’re familiar with the Old Testament, then you know that Moses, after meeting with God, his face would continue to reflect the glory of God long after the meeting ended.

Jesus isn’t reflecting God’s glory, He is revealing His glory. His clothes become dazzling white, which denotes his perfection and holiness. And as this is happening, two men, Moses & Elijah, appear out of no where.

These two men represent so much in the history of Israel. Moses & Elijah

They represent ”The Law & The Prophets.”

God conquered and subdued nations under their leadership.

Moses represents Israel’s deliverance from slavery and formation as a people.

Elijah represents the prophetic fire of God in calling a wayward people back to the Lord.

Both men are without earthly graves.

Three Important Old Testament texts about Elijah & Moses:

Deuteronomy 17:14–15 (ESV)

“When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.

Deuteronomy 18:15 (ESV)

“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—

Malachi 4:5 (ESV)

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

Clearly, the presence of Moses and Elijah meant that Jesus was God’s chosen king and that the time of messiah’s kingdom had begun. Returning to our passage in verse 32, it reads.

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.

Peter and the guys are tired, probably a combination of the journey of the mountain, the time of waiting and the reality of spiritual warfare. Either way, God is kind of enough to wake them from their slumber.

And Peter, again raises his hand and comes to the front of the class. He has a gift for putting his foot in his mouth. To Peter, this is the Mt. Rushmore of Jewish leaders, with only Abraham and David missing. And in his nervousness, Peter forgets that neither of these men were called the Messiah. Reading further in the passage, in verse 34…

34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

The cloud represented the presence of God. And as the cloud surrounded them, the disciples were afraid. They realized they had no way of escape and no place to hide, and they were afraid of dying. But God spoke from the cloud 10 words that challenges everything that they knew about reality and everything that we think we know about reality.

”This is my Son, my chosen One; listen to him!”

Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus, the chosen king of the Kingdom of God. Jesus, the ultimate authority in everything.

The declaration from God the Father is reminiscent of Jesus’s baptism, but it also points us to a warning found in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 3:7–19 (ESV)

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ 11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ” 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Church, in closing, allow me to revisit something I said earlier. “The Kingdom of God has always been God’s plan for creation. However, unbelief and disobedience always prefers another kingdom and another way to live.”

Rome promised peace and human flourishing in exchange for unconditional obedience to Caesar. Devout Christians also wanted peace on earth and human flourishing, which meant they sometimes had to ignore the decrees of Caesar. Devout Christians of the first century saw the Kingdom of God as the only true Kingdom able to make good on the promise of peace and human flourishing.

Today, we have politicians, the elites/professionals and social influencers who promise that their ideas and laws and ways will produce the greatest peace and human flourishing. And today, devout Christians want the same peace and flourishing, but they know that this is only possible through the Lord Jesus Christ.

So the question we all need to consider is:

“What is your plan for peace? What is your hope?”

Does it include submission to Jesus Christ in all things?”

The Heidelberg Catechism addresses a similar question and answers it with a bold declaration of faith.

Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?

A. That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such in a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.