Reading: Luke chapter 9 verses 28-36.
Ill:
• A man from the back mountains of Tennessee found himself one day in a large city,
• For the first time standing outside an elevator.
• He watched as an old, haggard woman hobbled on, and the doors closed.
• A few minutes later the doors opened & a young, attractive woman marched smartly off.
• The father stared in unbelief, then hollered to his youngest son,
• “Billy, go get mother.”
This morning we are looking at the greatest transfiguration of them all:
• The word transfiguration (comes from the Latin ‘transfiguratio’);
• And means: ‘Change of appearance’. ‘To make more spiritual or elevated’.
• In our passage this morning;
• We will see the greatest change of all.
(a). Introduction (Verse 28):
“About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray”.
(1). The Purpose:
• For both Jesus and the disciples these six days were a time of reflection:
• And this secluded mountain gave them time for contemplation.
Ill:
• An elderly man stopped at a hearing aid centre and asked about prices.
• The salesman said “We have them from £25,000 down to £1.50,”
• The elderly man asked; “What’s the £25,000 one like?”
• The salesman said “Well it translates three languages.”
• “And what about the one for £1.50?”
• “It’s this button attached to a string,” said the salesman, pushing it across the counter.
• The elderly man asked “How does it work?”
• “It doesn’t” replied the salesman said;
• “But if you put the button in your ear and the string in your pocket,
• You’ll be surprised how loud people talk!”
This passage is all about listening and the call to listen comes at two levels (verse 35);
• There is the divine voice of God which stops all discussion between the disciples & Jesus.
• And there is the central instruction to listen to Jesus.
• The point in both cases is that instruction is needed,
• Because the path Jesus walks is unexpected.
• If disciples are to understand that walk and follow in its footsteps,
• They will need to listen to him.
(a). For the disciples.
The disciples had just experienced eight days of reflection:
• Simon Peter had publicly declared Jesus to be the Christ of God (verse 20).
• So this was a major breakthrough in their own personnel understanding.
• But then they had been rocked by the news that Jesus was going to die (verse 22).
• For them that did not make sense.
• And this secluded mountain gave them time for contemplation.
• A time to think things through and try to figure things out.
• Together the disciples must have pondered and discussed,
• What Jesus meant by His death and resurrection.
• No doubt they tried to figure out how this related;
• To the Old Testament promises about the kingdom of God.
It no doubt left them confused:
• If Jesus were going to build a church,
• What would happen to the promised kingdom?
(b). For Jesus.
• It too was a time of contemplation,
• Luke tells us in verse 29 it was while: “He was praying”
• Jesus had gone up the mountain to pray.
• He knew his time was short and the cross lay ahead of him (verse 22).
• He had a lot to accomplish before the cross would take place;
• And Jesus waited in his heavenly Father for further instructions.
Ill:
• Jesus made it clear on many different occasions that he did not operate on his own plans;
• But operated according to his Father’s will.
(2). The mountain:
• The text does not name the place where this miracle took place:
• So we do not know (but that of course does not stop people guessing!).
(a). Tradition says Mount Tabor.
• But Mount Tabor is quite small (1,900 ft high),
• And it was also topped with a fortified city,
• So although tradition says Mount Tabor;
• This mountain would hardly give the peaceful setting Jesus required!
(b). Mount Hermon.
• Both Matthew and Mark tell us it was a “high mountain”.
• Most scholars believe it was Mount Hermon, which is 9,400 ft high.
• And it is only 14 miles away from Caesarea Philippi;
• So it would fit the context and continuity of chapter 16.
(C). Mount Jebel Jermak (or Jermuk).
• Which is in upper Galilee,
• The highest elevation in that entire region (rising 4,000 feet above the Mediterranean Sea)
Two reasons why it may have been this mountain:
(a).
• From this mountain it was a relatively short distance to Capernaum,
• Verse 24 tells us Jesus seems to have gone there soon afterwards.
(b).
• Mark chapter 9 verse 14 tells us:
• “A large crowd and the teachers of the law” surrounded Jesus.
• This mountain was not in the far north, populated mostly by Gentiles,
• But where Jewish people and their leaders were based.
(d). The honest answer is we do not know!
(3). The disciples.
• Peter, James & John regularly emerge as an inner group among the twelve,
• Once again if we are honest we do not know why these three were chosen!
We can only guess:
(a). Peter.
• In view of Peter’s great confession in chapter 16 verse 16,
• It is probably no surprise he was chosen to go.
(b). John.
• John had an affinity with Jesus, a real close bond.
• He is referred to as “The disciple whom Jesus loved”.
• Of course Jesus loved all the disciples;
• But John enjoyed a special relationship.
(C). James (John’s brother).
• James was the first of the twelve disciples to be martyred for Christ,
• Perhaps this warranted this special privilege.
Quote: Dr. G. Campbell Morgan:
• Has pointed out that on three occasions Jesus took these disciples aside to go with him,
• All three occasions had to do with death:
• Jesus was teaching these three men that He was victor over death,
• (1). He raised Jairus’ daughter.
• (2). In the Garden of Gethsemane, he surrendered to death.
• (3). The Transfiguration, Jesus taught them that He would be glorified in death.
(b). The voice of prophecy (verse 29-32):
“As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. 32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him”.
(1). illumination.
Ill:
• Helen Keller Helen Keller, was the deaf, blind woman;
• Who became a role model for millions of people.
• She tells of that dramatic moment when her teacher Anne Sullivan;
• First broke through her dark, silent world with the illumination of language:
• “We walked down the path to the well house,
• Attracted by the fragrance of the honeysuckle with which it was covered.
• Some one was drawing water and my teacher placed my hand under the spout.
• As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other the word water,
• First slowly, then rapidly.
• I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motion of her fingers.
• Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten;
• A thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me.
• I knew then that “w-a-t-e-r” meant that wonderful cool something;
• That was flowing over my hand.
• That living word awakened my soul,
• Gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!”
• The moment Helen Keller describes is that moment her world of darkness;
• Was shattered with the light of language.
• Although she was the same person physically, her life was transformed.
• She now had a way she could see and understand.
(a). Physical illumination:
• It was clearly not easy for these men to put their experience into words,
• And the gospel writers describe what happened to Jesus in slightly different ways.
• Matthew says (verse 2):
• “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as light”.
• Mark says (chapter 9 verse 3):
• “His clothes became dazzling white”.
• Luke says (chapter 9 verse 29):
• “The appearance of his face changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning”.
Ill:
• Remember the brightest artificial light they knew was a feeble candle or an oil lamp.
• They knew nothing of powerful spotlights or floodlights.
• The sight before them was breath-taking.
• It was both frightening and impressive and they were totally stunned by it.
(b). Spiritual illumination.
What the disciples saw was spiritual as well as physical:
• The veil of Jesus’ humanity was briefly drawn back,
• And they saw Jesus in a way they have not done before.
• This is the only time while he was on earth,
• That Jesus revealed His glory in this way:
Ill:
• Posh school boy “Metamorphosis”
• A metamorphosis is a change on the outside that comes from the inside.
• When a caterpillar builds a cocoon and later emerges as a butterfly,
• It is due to the process of metamorphosis.
Our Lord’s glory was not reflected but radiated from within:
• There was a change on the outside that came from within,
• As He allowed His essential glory to shine forth.
(b). Consolidation:
Question: Why did this experience take place?
Answer: To consolidate, to reinforce, to strengthen both the disciples & Jesus:
(1). Disciples.
The disciples had to learn that suffering and glory must go together:
• In Matthew’s account of this incident (chapter 16 verse 22):
• Peter had strongly opposed Jesus’ words regarding death,
• “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
• "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
• So Jesus needed to teach him and the other disciples that,
• Apart from His suffering and death, there could be no glory.
Note:
• All through this story, from start to finish is glory:
• E.g. Jesus face changed e.g. Matthew: “Shone like the sun”.
• E.g. His clothes glistened and gleamed like a flash of lightening.
• E.g. Verse 34 Cloud – Was it the shechinah, the glory of God (appears all through O.T.?)
Peter certainly learned the lesson:
(a).
• All through his first letter (1 Peter) he repeatedly emphasized “suffering and glory”.
• Two threads that run all through his first letter.
(b). Regarding his own death:
• Peter used the same word (Jesus used in verse 31) “departure” or “exodus”
• (2 Peter chapter 1 verse 15).
• For the believer, death is not a one-way street into oblivion.
• It is an exodus -a release - from the bondage of this life, into the glorious liberty of the life in heaven.
• Quote: Martin Luther King:
• “Death for the believer is a reward”.
(2). Jesus.
verse 31:
“Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.
They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem”.
The two greatest figures in Israel’s history (Moses & Elijah):
• Appeared with Jesus and encouraged him to go on with his mission.
• In them all Israel’s history recognised Jesus as its own consummation.
• The greatest law-giver and the greatest prophet;
• Recognised Jesus as the one they had dreamed and spoke about!
Note:
• The cross may not have been in plans of the disciples or the Jewish nation,
• But it was predicted again and again throughout the Old Testament.
• His suffering and death would not be an a mistake or an accident,
• It would be an accomplishment.
(C). Completion (verse 3):
Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
• These three men;
• Moses, Elijah and Jesus represent God’s dealings with mankind:
Moses & Elijah:
(a). Both represented the Old testament:
• (a). Moses represented the Law,
• (b). And Elijah the prophets.
• (a).Moses was the greatest of all the law-givers,
• (b). Elijah was the greatest of all the prophets;
• ‘The law and the prophets’ was a description given to the whole of the Jewish Bible,
• The part we call the Old Testament.
Ill:
• Jesus said that he had come to fulfil the Law and the Prophets.
• On the road to Emmaus he could say to the two men;
“44Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true.”
(b). Both of them also had mountain top experiences:
• The two characters who appear with Jesus in this story,
• Moses and Elijah both had mountain top experiences.
• Ill: Moses received the law on Mount Sinai.
• Ill: Elijah defeated Baal on Mount Carmel.
(C). Both are linked to sacrifices:
• Moses it was the Passover lamb (Exodus chapter 12).
• Elijah it was a bull (1 Kings chapter 18).
(C). Both departed earth in unusual ways:
• Moses experienced an isolated death on Mount Nebo;
• And was buried by God himself in the land of Moab (Deuteronomy chapter 34 verse 5).
• Elijah did not die but was carried up to heaven in a chariot of fire,
• (2 Kings chapter 2 verse 11.)
As you might expect with God:
• The two people from the past chosen to encourage and spur on his son;
• Could not have been better chosen! They were perfect for the task!
(C). The voice of divinity (verse 33-36):
(1). A mistake (verse 33):
Quote: Reader’s Digest, Oct., 1991, p. 62:
• When Jim Burke became the head of a new products division at Johnson & Johnson,
• One of his first projects was the development of a children’s chest rub.
• The product failed miserably, and Burke expected that he would be fired.
• When he was called in to see the chairman of the board,
• To his surprise, he met a unexpected reception.
• “Are you the one who just cost us all that money?” asked Robert Wood Johnson.
• “Well I just want to congratulate you. If you are making mistakes,
• That means you are taking risks, and we won’t grow unless you take risks.”
• Some years later, when Burke himself became chairman of Johnson & Johnson;
• He continued to spread that word.
Verse 33:
4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
Peter’s words are one of the great understatements of the Bible:
• “It is good for us to be here” - I’ll say it was!
• This was an experience that both himself and John would never forgot:
Ill: John chapter 1 verses 14b:
“We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”.
Ill: 2 Peter chapter 1 verses 17-18:
“But we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain”.
(a). Peter was enjoying this experience so much that he wanted to prolong it:
• Let’s build some shelters and we can stay here all night.
• His intentions might have been good, but they were also wrong.
(b). Notice also that Peter was not selfish in his words:
• He suggests they build three shelters, one for each special guest.
• Not four (including one for himself) or six (including everybody).
(C). Foolish statement.
• As if Jesus and the two visitors;
• Had no other means of protecting themselves against the cold.
• Peter sees a miraculous event, and wants to protect these 3 supernatural people;
• With natural means (a few sticks and branches).
• Notice: God himself provided a covering for them (verse 34):
• “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them”
(2). A voice - The voice of God (verse 34):
ill: TV Commercial:
• But one of them is a scene of people sitting in the stands at a tennis match,
• Their heads turning to and fro in unison,
• Following the progress of the tennis ball during the point.
• Then a man in the stands turns to his friend and says,
• "My stock broker works for E. F. Hutton, and E. F. Hutton says . . ."
• Suddenly every head stops and everyone leans in to hear the financial advice.
• The closing line of the ad is
• "When E. F. Hutton talks, everybody listens."
Verse 34:
5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
• The cloud was important,
• Because the Jews often connected this with God’s presence (Exodus chapter 16 verse 10)
The voice of God spoke different things to those present:
(a). For Jesus.
It was encouraging for Jesus:
• To have Moses and Elijah sharing with him;
• Telling him that what he was doing was right.
• But now he had the voice of God, his Heavenly Father,
• Publicly declaring that what he was planning by going to Jerusalem was the right way.
Ill:
• David & Bob at school play.
• Only wanted his Father’s approval.
(b). For the disciples:
The voice from heaven leaves them in no doubt:
• The God who spoke in the past through the law and the prophets;
• Is now speaking decisively through his son (ill: Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1-2).
• Jesus is not just a successor but was superior to Moses and Elijah.
• He is the fulfilment of both the law and the prophets.
(C). An insight (verse 36):
“When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen”.
Quote: Matthew in chapter 17 verse 6:
6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
• Like Isaiah of old the disciples having seen the glory of the Lord and heard his voice,
• Fall facedown on the ground and they are full of fear.
• Notice there is no rebuke from Jesus,
• Just a gentle touch, a lovely act of compassion.
The Lord tells them not to be afraid:
• Then he removes the reason for their fear;
• He sees to it that the strangeness, brilliance and majesty of the scene have gone
Verse 36:
• The lesson is learned:
• The Father will not permit His one and only Son,
• To be put on the same level as Moses and Elijah.
• “Jesus only” is God’s pattern.
Quote: J. Sidlow Baxter
• “Fundamentally, our Lord's message was Himself.
• He did not come merely to preach a Gospel; He himself is that Gospel.
• He did not come merely to give bread;
• He said, "I am the bread."
• He did not come merely to shed light;
• He said, "I am the light."
• He did not come merely to show the door;
• He said, "I am the door."
• He did not come merely to name a shepherd;
• He said, "I am the shepherd."
• He did not come merely to point the way;
• He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
Quote: Watchman Nee
“God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only. Namely, by showing us more of his Son”.
Quote: S.D. Gordon
“Jesus is God spelling Himself out in language that men can understand”.
