Title: Mount of Transfiguration
Theme: Message about how prayer takes us to the next level on the mountain.
Text: Luke 9:28 - 36
Reference used is Awake My Soul by J Sudlow Baxter
Scripture Reading
Luk 9:28-36 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. (29) As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. (30) And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, (31) who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (32) 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. (33) 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. (34) While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. (35) And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" (36) 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.
“When we survey prospectively our Lord’s life on earth, seven preeminent events stand out like successive mountain - pinnacles. “
Those seven are, His birth (symbolizing “God with Us”), His baptism (obedience to the law), His temptation (power of the word), His transfiguration (eternal existence), His crucifixion (sacrifice for our sins), His resurrection (power to forgive and resurrect), His ascension (He’s coming back).
So right in the middle of the seven is the transfiguration. It is the pinnacle of Jesus life. It is truly a “new level” that transcends the world around. I want us to look at this event again with fresh eyes. I believe there is something here for us all as we begin 2024.
Luke 9:28-36 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.
Jesus seemed to have an inner few. Those were closest to him. When you survey biblical history you will see that they made the biggest impact of the disciples.
Note: We might want to be these men. Yet it is more about what they became that who they were at the moment. Peter was bold and brash and God had to squelch this without losing his courage. John was selfish (wanting to be the greatest) but Jesus had to tamper this without losing his desire for more of God. James was timid, Jesus wanted to give him courage.
29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
“As He prayed” – that is an interesting statement leading into the story. Make a note of that and we will come back to it.
Notice the description. “face was altered” Moses face shone as he had been in the presence of God. “His robe became white and glistening” Danie 10:9 prophesied of a man whom would come and his countenance and attire would be different. He is the Messiah.
Why Moses and Elijah?
The two book ends of Israel. The law and the miracles.
They both spoked to Jesus. They knew who he was. Truthfully you could say they saw Him before He ever came.
31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Interesting conversation between them. What were they talking about? The coming crucifixion. Prophecy. Maybe even the resurrection.
What was Peter and John doing?
32 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.
They missed it. They missed the revelation. They missed the conversation. Why? They were sleeping. The Bible has a lot to say about this.
Watch and Pray
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mark 13:33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Revelation_16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame”
Be sober
1 Peter_5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter_1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Pray without ceasing 1 These 5:16
Be on guard. God has a purpose for you. Keep your head up looking for every opportunity to help and to work. Don’t miss what God is speaking or doing because we are slumber, settled and comfortable. Don’t get so much in a a rhythm of life that we miss the God moments.
33 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.
It is always tempting to stay here. Stay in the “glory”. Stay in the presence of the Lord. We have all been there. Yet there is a world around you that needs God’s grace. They need to see the love, the joy, the peace, the patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self-control that the Lord brings.
34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 36 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.
What amazing event. They came to understand who Jesus was as the Father spoke from heaven. He affirmed Christ. Wow!
How did Jesus get here?
“But whatever other significances inhere in it, we miss the spiritual challenge of it if we overlook those three little words in Luke 9: 29 — “ As He prayed”. We are distinctly told that our Lord went up that mountain “to pray”, and that His transfiguration occurred “ as He prayed”. “
Why pray?
Prayer takes you to another level.
This level is above the crowd. Above the world and into a connection with your heavenly Father. This is a private connection between you and God. Here the secrets are told and also the secrets are revealed. It is where you are loved. It is where you feel peace. There are times here you will be rebuked (in a good way). But is where you have this relationship with your heavenly Father.
“Prayer transfigures our view of life”
When you climb a mountain your view changes. You survey the world around you differently.
Prayer gives you a different perspective.
What seems to be big here looks small when you are on the mountain.
Everything seen in a new perspective.
Prayer keeps us watchful, sober, and mindful of where we are at, who we serve and what the true purpose of life is.
When we spend time with God in prayer things change. It is our little world of peace no matter where we are at. The location is less important it is the one whom we are speaking to that makes a difference.
Conclusion
Moses on the Mountain vs. Israel in the Valley
Exo 32:1-19 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." (2) And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me."
Right then Aaron should have brought the congregation to prayer. They could have went to the mountain.
(3) So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. (4) And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" (5) So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord." (6) Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (7) And the Lord said to Moses, "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. (8) They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!' " (9) And the Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! (10) Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation." (11) Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: "Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (12) Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, 'He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. (13) Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.' " [30] (14) So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. (15) And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written. (16) Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets. (17) And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." (18) But he said: "It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear." (19) So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
Challenge to pray? Spend some time in prayer. Right now right here.
Moses prayer and fasting. Joshua prayer and fasting. Aaron and Israel “soaking up the sun”.
