From the Mountain of Transfiguration to the Valley of Demons

 What's transfiguration (μεταμορφόω, metamorphosis)? Transformation. Back-country Bob & his family went to NYC. Bob saw his 1st elevator. Puzzled, he stared. An old, haggard woman went in. The doors closed. Minutes later, they opened & a young, attractive woman came out. Bob was stunned, then hollered. "Son, go get mother." If real, it'd be a great transformation. But Jesus' transformation was far greater. Humanly, impossible. In Lk 9:27, Jesus said, 27"Some standing here won't taste death before they see the KoG." Let's look at Lk 9:28-43a. 28About 8 days later, he took Peter, John & James with him & went up onto Mt Hermon to pray. The climb took almost a day. When they arrived, Mt Hermon's shadow was stretching 70 miles across the plain. Stars start twinkling. Jesus prays, well into the night. 29aAs He's praying, his face's appearance changes. Mt 17:2 adds, "His face shines like the sun." Much brighter than the stars He created. And it isn't just His face. 29bHis clothes get as bright as a flash of lightning. The light shines through them. It's so dazzling & brilliant, that they look white. Suddenly, 302 men, Moses & Elijah, 31aappear in glorious splendor. Why Moses & Elijah? Many reasons. Both talked with God on a mountain. Moses on Sinai, in the Exodus. Elijah on Mt Horeb, after fleeing Jezebel. Both died supernaturally. Moses died on Mt. Nebo, just after getting to see the Promised Land. God buried his body elsewhere. No one knows where. God took Elijah to heaven in a chariot of fire. Moses was Israel's lawgiver. Elijah, their greatest prophet. Moses founded Jewish religion. Elijah restored it on Mt Carmel. Together, they stand for the OT system. As Jesus nears the cross, Israel's greatest lawgiver & greatest prophet come to cheer Him on. In Jesus, they see fulfillment of all their dreams. All history longs & hopes for. And Jesus now knows He's on the right way. All history leads to the Cross. Moses' & Elijah's presence witnesses: Jesus is the Messiah. 31bThey keep talking with Jesus. What about? 31bHis departure... His ἔξοδος (exodus). Moses led his people out of Egypt. Jesus will lead His people out of sin & death. 31cHe's about to bring it to fulfillment at Jerusalem. On the cross. From captivity to death, Jesus will lead all God's children to heaven. In Mt 27:50-53, it started. Since then, at death God's children go home to Jesus, instantly. So, Eph 4:8 & Ps 68:18 describe Jesus' exodus. 8When He ascended on high, He led captives in His [victory] train. All God's children are in His victory train. Back on Mt Hermon, 32aPeter & his companions are very sleepy. Who wouldn't be, after an all-day, strenuous hike? But Jesus' face & clothes are flashing like lightning. They're startled awake. Whoever woke 1st nudged the others awake. 32bWhen they become fully awake, they see Jesus' glory & the 2 men standing with him. Jesus' glory lights up 3 awe-struck faces. His image dances in their wide eyes. Moses has been dead over 1400 years. Elijah, about 900 years. Their presence confirms it. Jesus IS the world's longed-for Messiah. He fulfills everything the Law points to. He fulfills the sacrificial system. He fulfills every Messianic prophecy. All that Jewish religion & history were moving toward. The 3 keep on talking. Amazing! Jesus is as bright as the sun & flashes like lightning. If ever there's a time for awed silence, this was it. 33aAs the men are leaving Jesus, Peter speaks. If there's nothing to be said, he says it. 33b"Master, it's good for us to be here. Who doesn't want to bask in glory? 33cLet's put up 3 shelters-1 for you, 1 for Moses & 1 for Elijah." Problem: We don't live or serve on the mountain top. That isn't God's plan for us. 33dPeter doesn't know what he's saying. Even Luke is embarrassed & offers excuses! Still, wanting to stay isn't the worst part. Peter wants to put up 1 shelter for each. He's setting Moses & Elijah on Jesus' level! God the Father will not stand for that. 34aWhile Peter is speaking, a cloud appears & envelops them. Peter's voice trails off. He's terrified. All 3 34bare afraid as they enter the cloud. From the OT, they recognize it. In Ex 13:21, God revealed himself to Israel in a pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night. In Ex 40:35, God's glory cloud covered the Tent of Meeting & filled the Tabernacle. In 1 Kgs 8:10-11, at the dedication of Solomon's Temple God's glory cloud filled the temple & priests couldn't enter. In Ezk 8:4; 9:3; 10:4, 18-19, Ezekiel saw God's glory cloud rise, move to the temple's edge, then out to hover over its E gate. Finally, in Ezk 11:22-25, God's glory cloud rose from Jerusalem & stopped at the Mount of Olives. For 600 years, no one saw God's glory. Until now. God isn't done. 35aA voice speaks from the cloud. The disciples are now terrified. 35b"This is my Son, whom I've chosen. Just as at His baptism. 35cListen to him." Stop talking. Listen! He's the Messiah. On the cross, Jesus will fulfill both the Law & Prophets. 36aWhen the voice had spoken, they found Jesus alone. In Him, the Law & Prophets are fulfilled. Listen to Him! 36bThe disciples kept this to themselves. In 2 Pet 1:16-18, Peter will write that he's an eyewitness of Jesus' glory & majesty. But 36bthey told no one at that time what they'd seen. Only after the resurrection will any of them really understand what they've seen. 37aThe next day, they come down from the mountain. Mountain top experiences encourage us. But life & service are in the valley. 37bA large crowd meets him. Jesus wanted solitude. But the crowds have found Him. 38aA man in the crowd calls out. "Teacher, I beg you. Look at my son. This is a model for us. Problem? Take it to Jesus. 38bHe's my only child. 39aA spirit seizes him & he suddenly screams. Even worse, 39bit throws him into convulsions so he foams at the mouth. Scary, but the worst part? 39cIt scarcely ever leaves him. It's destroying him. This father's desperate need is the kind Jesus always meets. The twist? 40I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't." In Lk 9:1-4, Jesus has already given them authority to heal & drive out demons. Why can't they? Do they have it down to a formula? (Magic?) Do they think they can do it on their own? Jesus' answer? Faith. 41a"O unbelieving & perverse generation. 41bHow long shall I stay with you & put up with you?" Without faith, we can do nothing. 41c"Bring your son here." 42aEven while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. In ministry things always get worse before Jesus displays power. Then. And now. 42bJesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy & gave him back to his father. The point? Our Father is much more powerful than the enemy's boss. (They have no father.) 43And they were all amazed at God's greatness. Let's wrap up. Just after crowded jet took off, 2yo Jimmy threw a loud temper tantrum. Mom tried to shush him. No luck. From the back, a USAF General walks up to them. He nods at Mom, leans down to Jimmy, points at his chest, & whispers in his ear. Instantly, Jimmy stops. The passengers applaud. As he walked back, a stewardess asked, "General, what did you say?" He smiled serenely. "I showed him my battle ribbons, service stars, & pilot's wings. I said they mean I can throw anyone I want out of any plane I'm on." I'd listened, too. But the general wouldn't make me near as fearful as hearing God's voice in a cloud. Amazingly, God says listen to Jesus, not just Himself. When Jesus speaks, we better listen. He has all authority on heaven & earth. All authority. And He's God's complete revelation. The Truth. Think about it. So... Got a problem? Take it to Jesus. Trust Him. He may lead us to a mountain top. But don't try to stay there. We live in the valley of demons. That's where we serve in His Name. So, armor up. And listen to Him! It's in the valley of demons that He gives us the great commission. In His authority, (all in heaven & on earth), go & make disciples, baptizing them & teaching them all He's commanded us. To help us, He's given us His Spirit & His armor. We go in His authority. From the Mount of Transfiguration to Valley of Demons - Luke 9:27-43a Page 1 of 1