The Transfiguration

If you have your Bibles, please turn to Luke chapter 9. Today is Transfiguration Sunday. Luke 9 is on page 590 of the Bibles provided. Today is the Lord’s Day where we remember and celebrate the glimpse of Jesus’ glory Peter, John, and James recieved on the mountain. This glimpse of glory would be the basis their hope on the treacherous and ultimately fatal journey of their discipleship.

And we have the same hope, because we serve the same Jesus. Let me read our passage this morning.

Luke 9:28–36 CSB

28 About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. 33 As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen.

PRAY

Jesus takes his three closest disciples up on the top of a mountain. Now, something to note, in the Scriptures mountain are often where significant things happen. It is where people meet with God.

There is an implication that Eden is on a mountain. Abraham is called to sacrifice Isaac on Mt. Moriah. The covenant with Moses is made on Mt. Sinai. Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. All through Scripture, mountains are important places, and so, Luke’s indication that the three are going to a mountain is important.

He then says he takes them up to pray. Now, this should not surprise us, because the gospel writers repeatedly mention that Jesus had a very robust prayer life, often getting up early to go alone and pray. So then, it is significant that he takes the three disciples with him this time.

The magnificent event that Luke is about to recall for us is meant to be seen by these three. They are there for a reason. And, while this is not really the point of the text, I don’t think it’s out of line to call attention to the fact that the transfiguration occurs while Jesus was praying.

Prayer cannot be overstated for the life of the disciple of Jesus. One pastor put it this way, “If the Scriptures are our daily bread, then prayer is our daily air.” Supernatural things occur as the result of prayer.

This day in Luke’s gospel is no different. He says while Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. The other two synoptic writers use the word transfigured, metamorphosed.

What happened exactly? Well, verse 32 says that when the disciples woke, they saw his glory. They were given the privilege of seeing the Son of God in his full glory. This was not Jesus transformed into something that he was not already. Rather, it was the internal glory of the Son of God shining through the tent of his flesh.

Luke says that the appearance of his face changed. The other gospel writers say explicitly that his face shone like the sun. We ought to have our minds taken back to Moses on Mount Sinai when he comes back from receiving the Ten Commandments. His face also shone from being in the presence of God and he had to put a veil over his face. But this is something greater. Jesus’ face does not shine from being in the presence of God, Jesus’ face shines because He is God. He was transfigured.

Moses reflected God’s glory like the moon reflects the light of the sun. Jesus, rather, is the sun itself.

And then! If that weren’t signal enough, look who arrives on the scene! It’s Moses! And Elijah! Two of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament arrive and they begin to talk to Jesus about his departure.

Departure there, literally, is the word exodus. It’s referring to his death and burial. Moses begins to talk to Jesus about his own upcoming exodus. The greater exodus. An exodus that will not simply lead a nation from physical slavery, but an exodus that will lead the nations from their spiritual slavery.

Jesus and Moses and Elijah.

Then the disciples awake and behold the glory of Jesus. What a sight that must have been.

Luke writes that as Moses and Elijah are about to leave, Peter says we ought to build three tents, one for each of you!

Instead, while he is speaking, a cloud appears and overshadows them. It’s not an accident that Luke writes the word cloud three times and uses the word overshadowed. It’s the same word that was used to describe what happened when the glory cloud of God descended on the tabernacle in Exodus 40 and the temple in 1 Kgs 8.

Luke wants us to recognize very clearly that this is the cloud of God’s glory descending and, when the disciples hear a voice, it is the God’s voice speaking.

The cloud overshadows them and they are rightly afraid. It is a terrifying thing to be overshadowed by the glory of God. Moses could not enter the tabernacle when the cloud overshadowed it. The priests could not enter the temple when the cloud overshadowed it. But, in the presence of Christ, the disciples are thrust into it and they, being sinful men, have the proper response. To be afraid.

And then God speaks from the cloud: This is my Son, the Chosen One, listen to him.

And then, when the voice finishes speaking, the disciples find themselves alone with Jesus again. The cloud is gone. Moses is gone. Elijah is gone. Jesus was found alone. And they go down the mountain.

Three major things I want us to see and understand from today’s text. First:

Jesus is the Christ

In Luke’s account of this miraculous transfiguration, he records the voice of God revealing three key components of Jesus’ identity. Look at verse 35 again:

Luke 9:35 CSB

35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!”

2 of them are pretty obvious: The Son, and the Chosen One. The third may not be so obvious to us, but for Peter, John, and James, the phrase, “listen to him,” paired with the heavenly visitors on the mountain would have been a clear marker of identification with a figure from the Old Testament, whom we will look at shortly.

But, let’s unpack each of those for a moment.

First, God says this is my Son.

We hear a similar declaration at the baptism of Jesus, when the voice of God comes from the heavens and says you are my beloved Son.

What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of God? Have you ever sat and just pondered that question? We say that all the time, don’t we? Jesus is the Son of God. But what do we mean when we say it? What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of God?

Two things, and sadly, I must go through them quickly. There could be — and have been — books upon books expounding the answer to this question.

2 things, first:

Jesus is the True Israel and the true Davidic King. In the Old Testament, God refers to the nation of Israel, collectively, as his beloved son. They were the offspring, so to speak, who would point the way to right relationship with God; the kingdom of priests. But they failed to live up to this ideal. They were sinful, just like everyone else. But, here is Jesus. An Israelite without sin, who was fulfilling the law perfectly, a descendant of King David. He was in communion with God. He was fulfilling the law of God. He was being what Israel was supposed to be. He was the true Son, the True Israel, standing in their place.

But not only this, He is unique Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, who shares the very nature and identity of God, clothed in flesh. He is the exact imprint of the Father, Hebrews says. When Jesus is crucified, he is put to death as the Son of God.

He is God’s Son. His perfect Son, the True Israel and His unique Son, the second person of the Trinity.

Secondly, God says Jesus is the Chosen One.

Here God is calling back to another title that was used in the Old Testament. Look at what Ethan writes about in Psalm 89:

Psalm 89:3–4 CSB

3 The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah

and also in Isaiah 42

Isaiah 42:1 CSB

1 “This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations.

There was one promised who would be the descendant of King David who would rule Israel forever. He would be clothed in majesty and splendor, ruling perfectly with steadfast love and perfect righteousness and justice. This Chosen One would crush his enemies, scatter the rebellious nations, and rule in glory eternal. He was the Chosen One.

Thirdly, he was the great prophet of Israel.

I told you this one might be a little obscure for us, but not if we consider the context and the Old Testament. Moses is here with them. Elijah is here with them. And God says, “listen to him (Jesus).”

This, for the disciples on the mountain would have been a clear call back to Deuteronomy 18, where Moses promises that another prophet will be raised up, better than Moses:

Deuteronomy 18:15 CSB

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

And when God says the words, “Listen to him (Jesus), while Moses is standing right there, their midst would have immediately gone to this Scripture. Listen to Jesus, why? God goes on through Moses in Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 18:18–19 CSB

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 I will hold accountable whoever does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name.

Jesus was the great Prophet of Israel, the one who would speak the very words of God and to whom they were accountable to listen.

Jesus is the Christ, that’s what the voice in the cloud is getting at. Christ and Messiah are the same word in two different languages, it means Anointed One. Christ is not Jesus’ last name, it’s a title. And God’s voice speaks from the cloud and says, this is the One. He is my Son, the True Israel, He is the Servant of whom Isaiah prophesied, and he is the Prophet Moses promised would come. Listen to him.

Jesus is the Anointed One of God, the Christ.

That’s the first thing we must see from this passage.

Now, onto the second truth:

Suffering Precedes Glory

For Jesus, and for his disciples, suffering precedes glory.

Now, this passage is coming right on the heels of Peter’s confession that Jesus is God’s Messiah. Here’s the story, I’ll just sum it up:

Jesus feeds the 5000 in the wilderness and then he goes up to pray. He asks the disciples who people are saying he is. They reply, well, some are saying that you are John the Baptist reincarnated. Others are saying that you are Elijah. Some others that you are Jeremiah come back.

Then Jesus asks this question: But you, who do you say that I am? And Peter replies, you are God’s Messiah. Jesus responds in the affirmative and even says that it was God himself who revealed this to Peter. But then Jesus immediately launches into this discourse where he says that he, the Messiah, is going to suffer and die.

Now, this is exactly opposite of what these twelve, and all of Israel really, would have expected, right? They are looking for the Messiah of Psalm 89 and Isaiah 42! They are thinking that when the Messiah comes, he’s going to ride in, kick out Rome in a bloodbath, then set up the throne of David. And Jesus says, “No, in fact I’m going to die.”

And Peter rebukes Jesus! Don’t say that, that’s not going to happen. Jesus gives him a counter rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan.

Matthew 16:24–25 CSB

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

Suffering is the calling of the Christian. The Christian walk often looks like a limp.

And now, right after this conversation, Luke says about 8 days later, but he includes it right here to link them together, the transfiguration happens.

The disciples get to see a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, but it comes as Jesus and Moses and Elijah are talking about his departure, his exodus, his death. This was a glimpse, the fullness would come after the crucifixion.

It’s not by accident that Luke records God saying to the disciples, “Listen to Jesus!” immediately after he tells the disciples something that they don’t want to hear. That the kingdom of God has arrived, but for now it is a road to pain, heartache, suffering, and bodily death. The glory will come, but only on the heels of dishonor.

Suffering precedes glory.

For too long, many of us have heard a message of, “Come to Jesus and get your problems solved.” “Come to Jesus and have your financial troubles disappear.” “Come to Jesus and your marriage will be fixed.” “Come to Jesus and your kids will turn out alright in the end.”

Jesus is not a miracle drug. He is not a panacea. God is not a great sky-genie or a cosmic candy dispenser. We are not guaranteed an easy life. In fact, the easy life is an anomaly for the disciple of Jesus.

And so, we can persevere in the midst of difficulty, because we know it ought to be coming. When suffering comes, we don’t have to be surprised and wonder if God still loves us or if God is punishing us. God does NOT use suffering in the life of a Christian to punish them. God is not trying to get back at you for something you’ve done.

I wish I had time this morning to go into the why of suffering. Suffice to say that suffering builds our endurance and makes us look more like Jesus, because he is the Great Sufferer.

One the flip side of that, we must not fall into the other ditch and say, “Well, things are going so well, this must be proof of God’s blessing.” God’s blessing is not always ease and prosperity. God’s blessing is Christlikeness, and that often comes through suffering.

It may very well be that the right way to go is the hard one. It might be that the way of difficulty is the path of right action. It might very well be that following Jesus leads through the valley of the shadow of death.

And so, we must not immediately turn away in the face of difficulty, but rather, seek wisdom. Persevere, because it may just be that the narrow way is dark for a moment. Rather than turning away, we can say with Christian at Hill Difficulty:

"The hill, though high, I covet to ascend, The difficulty will not me offend; For I perceive the way to life lies here. Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear; Better, though difficult, the right way to go, Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe."

Suffering precedes glory. And God gave the disciples a glimpse of the future glory to give them hope for the present suffering. Each of these three disciples were met with intense suffering for the rest of their days. Peter was eventually crucified in Rome, crucified upside down, in fact. James was beaten to death with clubs. John was exiled and lived in seclusion until his death. And, most likely none of things will happen to you, but that doesn’t lessen the pain of your own suffering, whatever that may be. So look to Jesus, glimpse his glory to give you hope in the suffering.

Suffering precedes glory.

Lastly,

The Normal Life is the Norm for Life

Frankly, I wish there were more teenagers who just returned from some sort of camp here to hear this. If my own experiences were normal, they need to hear this most of all, because I distinctly remember hearing about the “mountaintop experiences” of camp and that it was really tragic that those feelings went away so quickly. Why couldn’t we keep burning with that passion?!

Here’s why: because we aren’t mean to. Our call is to a normal life.

Look at Peter in this narrative: When he wakes up, Jesus is glowing light a bolt of lightning, Moses and Elijah are there. This is pretty cool.

Then Moses and Elijah get ready to leave, and what does he do? Wait! Let’s build three booths! We can prolong this! We can make this into the ultimate glory, this right now could be the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles! This experience doesn’t have to stop!

Then God himself shows up and speaks directly to them! Like, I’ve got stuff to write in my diary at the end of the day, right? This is big. And Peter doesn’t want it to end.

But, after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

The transfiguration, like all mountaintop experiences, ends in silence and solitude. Peter stops Moses and Elijah, then the cloud comes. And when the cloud disappears, we kind of expect to be put right back in the scene, but it’s wholly changed. Moses and Elijah are gone. The cloud is gone. Jesus’ glory is re-concealed.

They won’t physically go down from the mountain until the next day, verse 37, but experientially they’ve come down. The glory was just an anticipation of things to come. The disciples now go back to their everyday realities and the uncomfortable reality of Jesus’ words, “Take up your cross and follow me.”

Just like the Christian life is not all bubblegum and rainbows, it’s also not always on the mountain. It’s not even always in the valley. Most of the time, it’s just on the road.

There are mountains, times when we feel intimately connected with God. When His Word rings true, when our quiet times are intimate and obviously profitable, when God’s glory burns like a light with a billion lumens.

There are valleys, no doubt. Times when we feel like God has withdrawn. When our prayers hit the ceiling and crash, when we feel alone and abandoned, and cry out My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

But really, most of the time neither of those are true. Most of the time, we’re just walking. Most of the time, we go to work, and prepare meals, and change diapers, and make doctors appointments, and work in the yard, and try to remember to read the Bible, and go to church, and then do it all again next week.

And that is just as much the Christian life as any other day. God’s glory is in the mundane.

These were Paul’s words to the Christians at Thessalonica:

1 Thessalonians 4:10–12 (CSB)

10 But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more,

11 to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders...

You are not wasting your life by living a normal life. That’s mostly what we’re called to: Go to work, come home and love your spouse if you have one, take care of your kids if you have them, if you don’t have a spouse, spend time with your friends and love Jesus together. Find somebody to read the Bible with together and encourage each other. Tell someone about how Jesus delivered you from sin.

That doesn’t excuse us to sit by and do nothing. If you are breathing, God has good works planned for you, Ephesians 2:10. But, we are not meant to freeze the mountain top experiences of the Christian life, though praise God when He lets us have one. The normal life is the norm for life.

And the normal life is to take up your cross and follow him. And the glimpse of Jesus’ glory that we see in the Scriptures give us the hope to persevere with that cross. To persevere until we reach the Great River and we cross with faith, to reach the Celestial City, to see Jesus in all his glory eternal.