Alright, well we're continuing on with the story of Jesus in Luke chapter 9.
Last week we reflected on those challenging words of Jesus about what's required to be a true follower of His.
! Today we're going to hear about one of the most spectacular things that ever happened with Jesus.
I mean, if all we've already seen and heard already isn't spectacular enough, this one will top most of them.
But before we get to that, there's just this one verse that we didn't get to last week.
One thing that Jesus said as He was teaching the crowd that I just want to take a brief moment to look at together with you.
Luke 9 verse 27.
Jesus said,
Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.
Many stumble over these words.
What Jesus seems to be saying is that there are some there in the crowd who will see the kingdom of God before they die.
But then as we heard a couple weeks ago, Jesus has told the twelve that the kingdom of God is going to unfold in a way that's contrary to the people's expectations.
They're looking for that political, earthly rule right now.
But Jesus has been telling His disciples that He must first suffer and be rejected and be killed.
And on the third day, rise again.
So there's this unexpected path to how God's Messiah will come to the throne of God's kingdom.
It's going to happen through suffering and rejection and death.
Rising from the dead.
Ascending to the throne of heaven.
And then returning to rule and to reign on an earthly throne.
And this is where we stumble over these words of Jesus.
Because based on these words, maybe like the people in Jesus' day,
we're either looking for the wrong kind of kingdom,
or we're looking for the fullness of God's kingdom in the lifetime of these people.
As the world might read these words,
they would look at this and maybe come to the conclusion that Jesus is a false prophet.
He was killed.
They would say He was rumored to have risen from the dead,
and rumored to have been seen by His followers,
and then He was never seen again.
There was no kingdom of Jesus.
And then not long after that,
the Jews in the land were wiped out or scattered.
That's how our world may look at these words.
As a prophecy of Jesus that never came true.
But it's because they were looking for the wrong kind of kingdom altogether.
If we take Jesus' words seriously and believe them to be true, as they are,
He must mean that the kingdom of God comes near
and begins with power during the lives of these very people that He's speaking to.
Not the full measure of the kingdom,
but a good measure of the kingdom.
Breaking into our world.
A significant demonstration of Christ's power in the lives of people.
And I think by the time we get to the end of Luke's gospel,
if we haven't already said yes, that's what we're seeing,
I think we'll see that yes, it is obvious.
It is visible.
God's kingdom has come with power.
Enough that we can look back at these words and say,
yes, we saw it.
It came in our life, in the lifetimes of these people.
Not the final fullness,
but the breaking in,
the first light,
the dawn of it.
And so we'll keep an eye out for that as we carry on with the story.
Let's now go on to verse 28.
After eight days,
sorry, about eight days after Jesus said this,
He took Peter, John, and James with Him
and went up onto a mountain to pray.
As he was praying,
the appearance of his face changed
and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
Two men,
Moses and Elijah,
appeared in glorious splendor,
talking with Jesus.
They spoke about his departure,
which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions were very sleepy,
but when they became fully awake,
they saw his glory
and the two men standing with him.
As the men were leaving Jesus,
Peter said to him,
Master, it is good for us to be here.
Let us put up three shelters,
one for you,
one for Moses,
and one for Elijah.
He did not know what he was saying.
So this next spectacular thing that we just read
happens about eight days after Jesus said what He did,
what we just heard in verse 27.
Jesus takes only three of the twelve disciples with Him,
Peter, James, and John,
and they hike up a mountain.
The purpose of this little trip, Luke tells us,
was to pray.
With the crowds always following Jesus around,
there were very few ways to get away from them
for time to talk with God.
One way was to get into a boat,
as we've seen already,
and another way was to start hiking up a mountain.
And Luke's the only gospel writer
who tells us that the purpose of this trip
is to pray.
And as we read this account,
there's a very subtle hint here, I think,
in the way Luke tells us.
None of the other gospel writers
have some of these details.
We notice, in verse 29,
that as Jesus was praying,
the appearance of His face changed,
and His clothes became
as bright as a flash of lightning.
And we'll talk about that transformation in a moment,
but notice that it's as Jesus was praying
that all this happened.
As He was praying.
Not as they were praying.
As He was praying.
And then we get this strange explanation
that comes kind of right in the middle
of this whole thing,
in verse 32.
Peter and his companions were very sleepy.
But when they became fully awake,
they saw His glory
and the two men standing with Him.
It seems as though He almost goes back
and tells a little bit more fully
of what was happening here.
It would be unlikely
that they would have fallen asleep
in the midst of all this,
as they saw Jesus
transform before their very eyes.
I think if we read it closely,
Luke says that
when they became fully awake,
they saw His glory.
The glory of Jesus.
So, I'm thinking probably
what's happened here,
which only Luke records,
is that
they became drowsy
and fell asleep
while Jesus was praying.
And that's actually not the first time.
Or I should say,
it's not the last time.
If you know the story of Jesus,
this is going to happen again.
They fall asleep,
probably while Jesus was praying,
and then they sort of awaken
from this
to this sight of Jesus
totally changed
in His appearance.
And whoa,
there's two other guys
with Him all of a sudden.
Imagine this
from their perspective.
It's another one of those
long prayers of Jesus.
Has anyone ever drifted to sleep
while someone else was praying?
I can see some of you nodding.
I'll be honest.
I have.
It happens to us.
It happened back then, it seems.
But then imagine this.
All of a sudden,
there's this bright light
shining in your eyes,
and you open them wider,
and you're sort of
remembering where you are
and what's going on
after you nodded off.
And whoa,
Peter,
look,
Jesus is shining.
You can bet
that the drowsiness
just sort of disappeared
at that moment.
This was something
they had never seen before.
Luke says
that the appearance
of Jesus' face
changed.
Matthew,
who was one of the twelve
in his gospel,
goes into a little more detail.
In Matthew 17, verse 2,
he says that
Jesus' face
shone
like the sun.
Think back to one
of those moments
where you've tried
to look right at the sun.
It's so bright,
you just can't
look at it directly
for very long.
That's what Jesus' face
was like
in this moment.
Shining so bright,
it was like the sun.
And Luke says
Jesus' clothes
became as bright
as a flash of lightning.
Matthew says
his clothes
became as white
as the light.
Mark,
in his gospel,
says his clothes
became dazzling white,
whiter than anyone
in the world
could bleach them.
It's hard to even
imagine this,
a sort of
radiant
and even
blinding
whiteness
to his clothes.
Like,
what's going on here?
Luke says
after this
in verse
32,
and this is probably
the best summary
of it,
when they became
fully awake,
they saw
his glory.
All this light,
this radiance,
this transformation
of Jesus
is them seeing
the glory
of Jesus.
It's them seeing
that Jesus
is more
than just a man.
It's like a glimpse
of his divine nature.
Now,
they probably
weren't thinking
about all
these questions
that I have
in this moment,
but I imagine
them wondering
about these things
soon after.
Like,
Jesus,
can you explain
what just happened
to you?
What is this?
What was that
all about?
Did you know
that you were
shining like
a blinding light?
Or is that
just something
that we were
seeing?
Did you do
that to yourself?
Or did that
just happen
to you?
Can you
control it?
Is this
something that
often happens
when you're
alone with
the Father?
I mean,
it must have
just utterly
flabbergasted
them in those
moments.
They believed
that he was
the Son of God
before this.
We just heard
Peter's confession,
you are the
Christ,
you are God's
Messiah,
the Son of
the Living God.
But that was
a statement
of faith
based on
the things
that they
had seen
Jesus do
and the
things they
had heard
him say.
Outwardly,
he was
otherwise,
he looked
and acted
like a normal
man.
he gets
tired,
he sleeps,
he gets
hungry,
he eats.
There was
that time
that he
walked on
the water,
but,
you know,
here it's
like they get
a glimpse
beneath the
surface of
what the
Son of God
really looks
like.
they see
something of
his divine
nature,
his glory,
a glimpse
of his
radiance,
a glimpse
of who
he really
is,
even before
he became
a man.
It reminds
me of what
John,
one of the
three who
witnessed this,
wrote in his
gospel at the
beginning.
In John
chapter 1
verse 14,
John wrote
this,
he said,
the word
became flesh
and made
his dwelling
among us.
We have
seen his
glory,
the glory
of the one
and only
Son who
came from
the Father,
full of
grace and
truth.
I wonder
if John
had this
moment in
his mind
as he wrote
those words.
How do you
think you
would have
reacted in
this moment
if you
had been
there?
You open
your eyes
and all
of a
sudden
you see
Jesus
shining
like the
sun.
What would
your response
have been?
This isn't
even half
of it yet.
We're just
getting started
here.
Not only
did they
see this
glorious
transformation
of Jesus,
suddenly
there's two
others with
Jesus.
Guys who
didn't hike
up the
mountain
with them
are there.
Bam!
And they
too, Luke
tells us,
had this
glorious
appearance.
They appeared
in glorious
splendor.
Luke says
they were
talking with
Jesus.
And they
are Moses
and Elijah.
I don't
know how
they figured
that out.
It doesn't
say.
Did they
overhear
Jesus
saying their
names?
Whatever the
case, they
figured out
at some
point that
this is
Moses and
Elijah.
Like Moses,
the prophet
that God
used to
lead the
Israelites
out of
slavery in
Egypt
almost 1500
years earlier.
That's him
right there.
The guy who
went up
Mount Sinai
and brought
the Ten
Commandments
down is
there talking
with Jesus.
And Elijah,
one of the
greatest
prophets in
Israel's
history.
The one
who lived
in the
days of
the wicked
king Ahab
and queen
Jezebel.
The one
who called
on God
and there
was drought
in the
land.
And then
who had
that showdown
with the
prophets of
Baal and
called on
God and
God answered
with fire.
The same
Elijah who
did all
kinds of
wonderful
miracles and
then was
taken up
to heaven
in a
chariot of
fire 900
years-ish
prior to
this moment.
There he
was with
Jesus.
Luke tells
us that
Jesus is
discussing
with them
about his
departure
which he
was about
to bring
to fulfillment
at Jerusalem.
this was
absolutely
wild and
amazing.
I mean
there's all
kinds of
things that
we could
talk about
here.
For
starters
we see
that
Moses
a man
who lived
over a
millennium
prior to
Jesus
coming
is alive.
we read
in the
Old Testament
about how
he died
before
the
Israelites
entered the
promised land
but here
he is
alive
and he
exists in
some sort
of glorious
state
where he
can simply
appear
and talk
to Jesus
and then
disappear.
this is a
glimpse for
Peter,
James and
John of
someone
actually
having
life
after
death.
It's
another
confirmation
that Jesus
isn't making
things up
when he
says to
the Sadducees
later on
that God
is still
the God
of Abraham
Isaac
and Jacob
because he's
not the God
of the dead
he's the God
of the living.
there really
is a life
with God
after this
one
for those
who have
faith in
him.
Even
before Jesus
came
God
kept
those
who had
faith
in him.
And then
of course
there's the
questions
that we
have about
this.
You know
why?
Why does
Moses and
Elijah just
show up
and talk
to him?
Why do
they talk
to Jesus
now?
Is this
a sign
mainly for
Peter and
James and
John?
for their
benefit?
Or is
this some
kind of
special gift
of grace
given to
Moses and
Elijah to
talk with
Jesus one
last time
before his
departure?
And what
is this
departure
that's about
to be fulfilled
at Jerusalem?
Is it his
departure from
his body
by his
spirit when
he dies?
Or is it
his ascension
to heaven
afterwards?
After he
rises from
the dead?
Or is it
all of
that just
kind of
combined in
one big
moment?
Moses and
Elijah talk
with Jesus
and then
they leave.
But as
they're about
to leave,
Peter interrupts.
Verse 33,
As the men
were leaving
Jesus,
Peter said
to him,
Master,
it's good
for us to
be here.
Let's put
up three
shelters,
one for
you,
one for
Moses,
and one
for Elijah.
He did
not know
what he
was saying.
There's a
sort of
mixture of
confusion
and fright
in this
moment,
and of
course,
we just
don't know
what Peter
was thinking
here.
Like,
was he not
wanting this
moment to
end?
Was he not
wanting them
to leave?
You know,
maybe you
can stay a
little longer.
Let's put
up some
tents and
let's continue
the conference
tomorrow.
One for
each of you.
We'll get
a tent for
each of you.
But wait
a second,
I mean,
do Moses
and Elijah
even need
tents?
Or could
they just
reappear tomorrow
morning if
this is going
to go on?
Are they
even present
in bodily
form?
We don't
know what
Peter was
thinking.
Luke says
even Peter
didn't know
himself what
he was
saying.
And then
things get
even more
spectacular.
While Peter's
still going on
about putting
up the
shelters,
a cloud
appeared
and covered
them.
And they
were afraid
as they
entered
the cloud.
This is
fascinating.
Let's start
with that word
covered.
The cloud
covered them.
The word
used here
means to
darken
something.
Like by
getting in
the way
of the
light.
To
darken
something.
To
cover.
usually
that's
what
happens
when a
cloud
comes
between
the sun
and you.
Casts a
shadow.
It darkens
everything
under it.
But there
wasn't a
darkening
from this
cloud.
Because as we
read in
Matthew,
in his
gospel,
he tells us
this was no
typical cloud.
He says
this was a
bright cloud.
While he was
still speaking,
a bright
cloud
covered
them.
The word
there means
shining or
radiant.
And it
seems to
envelop
Peter and
James and
John and
Jesus
on the
mountain.
And then all
of a sudden
they hear a
voice come
from the
cloud.
A voice
came from
the cloud
saying,
this is
my son
whom I
have
chosen.
Listen to
him.
This is
my son
whom I
have
chosen.
Listen to
him.
Now there
were some
other words
there.
If we look
at the
other accounts,
Matthew and
Mark,
God also
in this
moment says
that Jesus
is his
beloved son
and that
he's
pleased
with him.
Luke doesn't
have those
words.
He has
something that
the other
two don't
have.
That he
is God's
chosen
one.
this is
my son
whom I
have
chosen.
This is
really
important.
It
reminds us
of the
words of
Isaiah
spoken
long
before
this.
Isaiah
42
verse 1.
Here
is my
servant
whom I
uphold,
my
chosen
one
in whom
I
delight.
I
will
put
my
spirit
on
him
and
he
will
bring
justice
to
the
nations.
So
God is
making it
crystal
clear.
Yes,
this
is
my
son.
Do
not
take
his
words
lightly.
Listen
to
him.
When
the voice
had spoken,
they
found that
Jesus
was
alone.
So
just as
suddenly
as they
awoke to
all of
this,
it was
over.
It was
just
Jesus
and
them
again.
No
sign of
Moses,
no
sign of
Elijah.
Matthew
gives us
the most
detail in
his
gospel of
how this
thing
ended.
When
they hear
the voice
of God
speak,
Matthew
says,
when the
disciples
heard this,
they fell
face down
to the
ground,
terrified.
But
Jesus
came and
touched
them.
Get up,
he said.
Don't be
afraid.
When they
looked up,
they saw
no one
except
Jesus.
What an
awesome
moment this
must have
been.
I mean,
can you
imagine
this?
They're
afraid as
this bright
cloud covers
them.
They hear
God speak
to them
from the
cloud.
They hit
the ground
face down,
terrified,
and then the
next thing
they feel
is Jesus'
hand,
and they
hear his
words of
assurance.
They look
up and
they see
no one
except
Jesus,
probably
returned to
his normal
appearance.
What just
happened?
imagine
them.
John,
did you
just see,
did you
hear what
I heard?
Where did
Moses and
Elijah go?
What an
awesome thing
to have
witnessed,
right from
the beginning
to the
end.
Matthew
tells us
that Jesus
forbids them
to tell this
to anyone.
that would
be a hard
one.
Don't tell
anyone what
you have
seen until
the Son of
Man has
been raised
from the
dead.
Mark
tells us
that these
three men
later discuss,
well what does
that even
mean, to
rise from
the dead?
They didn't
understand what
was going to
happen.
And Luke
concludes the
whole story
with this.
The disciples
kept this to
themselves and
did not
tell anyone
at that
time or
in those
days what
they had
seen.
Well
eventually
Jesus did
rise from
the dead.
And Peter
did have
opportunity to
speak and
to say what
he saw.
And he
actually wrote
down a
little testimony
of what he
saw that day
in one of
his letters,
2 Peter 1
verses 16
to 18.
This is how
Peter describes
that moment
in his own
words.
He says,
For we did
not follow
cleverly devised
stories when
we told you
about the
coming of
our Lord
Jesus Christ
in power,
but we
were eyewitnesses
of his
majesty.
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.
We
ourselves
heard this
voice that
came from
heaven when
we were
with him
on the
sacred
mountain.
That's how
Peter describes
this moment
with Jesus.
We were
eyewitnesses
of his
majesty.
How does
God want
us to
respond to
all this
today?
Well, I
think the
first thing
that comes
to my
mind is
that Jesus
is worthy
of worship.
He is
the radiant,
glorious,
divine Son
of God.
And what
Peter and
James and
John saw
that day,
when he
was
transformed
and
shone,
that's
what we're
going to
see when
we next
see him.
That's how
he will
appear.
We will
fall to
our faces
before him.
Once we
find the
words to
say,
we will
praise him,
we will
proclaim his
majesty and
his glory,
just like
Peter did.
And we'll
do that like
never before.
But then
I got
thinking,
we don't
have to
wait until
that day
to worship
him like
that.
Because right
now,
he has
that glory.
He is
seated on
heaven's
throne in
glory.
We can
worship him
like that
every day.
especially
when we
gather together
like this.
We can
sing to
him,
we can
praise him
as if
that's who
he is
because that
is who
he is.
He is
the
glorious
son of
God.
I also
got thinking
about Moses
and Elijah.
There really
is life
after death.
death is
not the
end.
They were
there with
him.
1500 and
900 years
after they
walked the
earth.
They were
there.
We can
have life
with Jesus
too.
After we
die.
That's his
promise.
If we
repent and
believe in
him.
finally,
what did
God say
to Peter
and James
and John
about Jesus?
Specifically,
what did he
want them
to do in
response to
all of
this?
I think
God would
have us
respond in
the same
way.
This is
my son
whom I
have chosen.
Listen
to him.
if there's
only one
thing that
we do,
this one
thing will
put us on
the right
path.
To listen
closely and
carefully to
Jesus,
to everything
he said,
to take
his words
deep into
our hearts.
This is
God's
will for
us,
for our
lives,
to listen
to his
son.
So,
four things.
We can
worship
Jesus.
He is
the radiant
and glorious
divine
son of
God.
And we
don't have
to wait
until heaven
to do
it.
We can
do it
now.
He has
that glory
they saw
right now.
And
we can
rejoice in
the reality
that death
is not
the end
for all
of us
who have
faith in
him.
And most
of all,
God's
will for
us is
that we
listen to
Jesus.
That we
take his
words in
deeply,
that we
build our
lives on
his words.
And one
day soon,
we read in
the Bible
that he
will bust
through the
clouds with
that same
glory.
And are
we living
in light
of that
day?
let's
pray.
Father in
heaven,
I pray
that we
would all
be deeply
stirred by
this
moment on
the mountain.
Even though
we weren't
there,
may we
trust the
account that
we have
that you've
given us
of what
happened.
May we
stand in
awe
of your
glory.
May it
reorient
our hearts
and our
minds.
May it
change our
priorities.
May we
truly live
in worship
of you.
For you
are worthy
and your
son,
for he
is worthy.
Capture
our hearts,
we pray.
Amen.