When Everything Changes

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 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. 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 he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 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.

A reading from Luke’s Gospel.

Thanks be to God.

When Everything Changes

Now clearly we began sort of mid-story here. Today’s reading begins, “about 8 days after these saying...” and we ask, “What sayings?”

Jesus had just fed the 5,000, Peter had just answered Jesus’ question, “who do you say I am?” with “the Christ of God!”, Jesus had told them he would be killed and resurrected, and last he told them to take up their cross and follow him.

So these aren’t just sayings to be missed, but the reader of Luke knows Jesus has done these since they are reading this in context. So today, we’re going to focus on this part of the passage.

Jesus has taken his inner circle of three disciples up on the mountain. He had the crowd, He had his disciples, he had his 12 guys, and he had his closest 3, Peter, John & James. So he takes his closest guys up onto the mountain to pray. Then it says,

Luke 9:29 ESV

And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.

Imagine what that would have been like. Jesus, the Son of God was changed through prayer. Luke goes on...

Luke 9:30–31 ESV

And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

This is a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus. Moses and Elijah both appear and speak of Jesus departure which is about to be accomplished in Jerusalem!

Surely the disciples are impressed, let’s keep reading:

Luke 9:32 (ESV)

Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, ...

What? Read that again.

Luke 9:32 (ESV)

Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep,

They’re asleep?

Hmmm…that sounds familiar. Let’s fast forward a few weeks. We know in later Gospel accounts that when Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane as he’s nearing the his arrest and crucifixion that he came back to find the disciples sleeping.

Isn’t it interesting that here in the gospel as Jesus is pointing towards Jerusalem at the beginning of the passion we find the disciples sleeping, and again in the garden? This is not an error.

The question I have is did they miss what Moses and Elijah had been saying about what was about to happen in Jerusalem? We know they saw them, but did they hear them?

Luke 9:32 ESV

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.

So they want to make 3 tents, one for Jesus, on for Moses, and one for Elijah, because they don’t know what else to say.

In that moment a cloud envelopes them and they’re afraid. Lk 9:35

Luke 9:35 ESV

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Luke 9:36 ESV

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.

They kept silent. They told no one.

Hmmm…I wonder.

Is that the message that most of us hear? Do we hear their silence?

When Everything Changes

Most of you have not heard my personal journey to faith. I grew up in a family that did not openly talk about God but did not discount God either. I remember my mom taking me to church when I was very young - I was a mama’s boy and cried when she left the room. She had to come back and get me. I went to Vacation Bible School after being invited by a neighbor. I joined the Cub Scouts and later the Boy Scouts both sponsored by our local church.

In the Boy Scouts I studied for and earned the God and Country Award. While studying for that I was required to attend either Sunday School or Church regularly. I went to Sunday School because they had donuts! It really is a hole-y food. (Pun intended).

Through these experiences I learned a lot about God. I could tell you the stories of Abraham, and Noah. I could tell you that Jesus was God’s son, and that he died on a cross for my sins, and rose again in three days. I could tell you about Paul and how God had spoken to him. I knew how our church was structured with elders and deacons.

Yet these are just facts.

The disciples on that mountain had a lot of facts they knew about Jesus. They don’t say anything about faith. And as we read the disciples said nothing about it.

As a pastor, and frankly as a Christian, this is one of my great fears, that our churches and our communities are suffering from the same mistake today. They are filled with people who know (or think they know) a lot about Jesus, but they don’t know him. The people’s theology is off.

It wasn’t until I was in High School that I first understood I could have a personal relationship with the Creator God through Jesus Christ. And everything changed.

A Matter of Inches

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth, “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (See 1 Cor. 8:1)

When we think of knowledge and love we think of them coming from two different areas of our body. Knowledge is in our head, and our mind; Love is in our heart.

God said and Jesus affirmed the greatest commandment is to: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And to love your neighbor as yourself.

There is a difference in knowing about someone and knowing them. I can tell you about Steve here. That he’s a writer, a city councilman, and a blackbelt. Those are facts about him, but they say nothing about my knowing him. I could go on to tell you he’s a man of deep faith, creative, has a great sense of humor and a great servants heart. I could tell you how he spent hours helping me move a couple years ago. These are also facts, but they are facts of experiencing him personally. The difference is knowing about him, and knowing him.

Our brain and our heart are about 18 inches apart.

Again, quoting from Paul,

1 Corinthians 8:2–3 ESV

If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

This coming week, on Wednesday in fact, we will enter the season of Lent.

I want to encourage each one of you to make it a season of prayer, Bible study, and seeking to KNOW Jesus and KNOW God.

I will be emailing out some studies this week, and you can also participate with groups or do them on your own. Each week a new study will be released.

In the mean time, if you can commit yourself to these 7 days of prayer each week through Easter. You will benefit, and be changed. That will benefit all of us.

When Everything Changes

When you come to really know Jesus, that is When Everything Changes.

To God be the Glory,

AMEN!

Related Media

Related Sermons