Prelude
Why was there glory on a mountaintop and failure in a valley? Let’s look at the transfiguration in Luke 9:28-42.
1. Prayer
“Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.” (Luke 9:28-29 NKJV)
When Jesus prayed it was a rendezvous with God, not just a ritual. In sacred places, like the Garden, the burning bush, the tabernacle and here we experience God. As we pray, our eventual transformation into glory is also foreshadowed. We see the hope of our future glory in this epiphany.
2. Moses and Elijah
“And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:30-31 NKJV)
On the mount of transfiguration Jesus’ true glory was revealed. Death is the last enemy and an exodus from this sinful world. Moses and Elijah spoke of Jesus’ “exodus.” They too had experienced an "exodus" from this life.
Moses and Elijah picture the law and the prophets, the two major divisions of the OT. In death we leave the wilderness and cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land of eternal life.
The Old Testament leaves Moses in the grave. This vision is a transfigured Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Soul sleepers believe that the spirit is “asleep.” Yet, they spoke of Jesus’ future death, not past tense from a future resurrection. This is a glimpse of Moses and Elijah awake after death now.
3. Sleepy Disciples
“But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.” (Luke 9:32 NKJV)
Are we sometimes asleep and almost miss God’s glory?
4. Peter’s Interruption
“Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said.” (Luke 9:33 NKJV)
Do we have a tendency to interrupt God, telling him how we think things ought to be run, rather than just listening to him? Does God sometimes ignore us because we need to be silent and listen?
Jesus said that some would see the kingdom of God before they die. The disciples had fear and joy. Moses, Elijah and Jesus represent the history of salvation from the Exodus to the end.
5. Fear or Ear
“While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’ When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.” (Luke 9:34-36 NKJV)
God spoke so that others could hear only a few times in Jesus' life, at His baptism and here. Moses and Elijah were “heard” every week in the synagogue. This was a new instruction.
Special manifestations strengthen faith before great challenges. Any such encouragement is only temporary. The Holy Spirit is patiently transforming us too. Eventually, the entire creation will be transfigured in the new heavens and new earth.
This affirms the importance of listening to Jesus.[1] As we see our past and future in Moses and Elijah, and focus on Jesus.
[1] Nolland, J. Vol. 35B: Word Biblical Commentary : Luke 9:21-18:34. 2002. Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 497.
6. Failure in the Valley
“Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, ‘Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’” (Luke 9:37-40 NKJV)
Why is it that immediately after the mountain-top experience the disciples failed in the valley? They could not heal a demon possessed boy. Sheep climb mountains to escape predators, but descend to the valley for food. It’s where we live. God is also with us in the valley.
7. Jesus Heals
“Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.” (Luke 9:41-42 NKJV)
We will all fail many times. Jesus is disappointed, but does not give up on us. Stern lessons are opportunities, not a reason to quit. Mountain tops do not remove the valleys, but help us see beyond.
Postlude
After a glimpse of our future, all else becomes insignificant. We no longer want to impose our will on God or His Word, but say to God, not my will but yours be done. We have a change of heart and mind and we believe the Good News about God and His reign. We no longer fear death, but see it as leaving this wilderness of pain and suffering, and crossing over Jordan into that promised eternal land of rest. You decide!
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
