Luke 9. 28-36; Exodus 34. 29-35; 2 Corinthians 3. 12-4.2
The transfiguration of Jesus
The Bible readings from the Old and New Testaments-especially our Gospel this morning tell us about two mountain experiences. In our first reading we have got Moses going up on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. When he came down, having been in the presence of God, his face shone so brightly that the people of Israel had to cover their eyes. In our Gospel reading we have got Jesus going up on Mount Herman. Luke says,
“His clothes became dazzling white”.
“a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”.
As we listen for God’s word in the sermon this morning, I would like for us to take a closer look at this second story – the transfiguration of Jesus – and, in particular, I would like for us to think about the radiance of God: What was it about being in the presence of God that was so apparent to others – the Israelites out there in the wilderness, the disciples up on Mount Herman?
When we look at Luke chapter-9, by this time of the story the disciples had been with Jesus nearly three years. And after all that they had seen and learnt, Christ brings them to a moment of decision by asking them a pointed question Luke 9. 20 (just before our passage) ‘who do you say that I am?’ After all you have seen and after all that you have heard about me what is your evaluation of me that’s Christ’s question.
Peter answered, you are ‘The Messiah of God.’ (Luke 9.20) As soon as Peter comes to this confession of faith, Jesus begins to speak to him about the cross.. Luke 9. 22 ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’
Now, this was not so good for them to hear, this did not go down well..Matthew records for us that Peter protested about the idea about the cross and then Jesus rebuked him, we see very clearly the tension between Jesus and the disciples, it was a time when the disciples seemed, not able to share and identify with the fellowship of His sufferings to come. When Jesus predicted His sufferings and death, the disciples must have thought where are we heading to? What does the future hold for us? There must have been uncertainty and fear in the minds of the disciples. I guess, sometimes this is the situation we find ourselves in, we follow Jesus but we don’t do it gladly because we are uncomfortable about the direction in which He is taking us.
Let us see how Jesus response to that- the passage tells us that ‘Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.’ He takes them on a prayer retreat on the top of the mountain.
The Experience of God in Prayer
One of the significant details of the story that is unique to Luke’s account of the transfiguration is that it occurs in the context of prayer. Neither Matthew nor Mark mentions that Jesus had gone up on the mountain specifically to pray (verse 28), and neither mentions that Jesus was praying when the transfiguration occurs (verse 29). It is clearly a point that Luke wants us to note. To Luke, prayer in the life of Christ was extremely important. So it should be in our lives as well. Luke says in verse 29, ‘And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.’
The change in the appearance of His face is reminiscent of Moses’ face becoming radiant upon experiencing the presence of God in Exodus 34:29-35. But the description of the change in Jesus’ clothes distinguishes Him from Moses significantly: Jesus’ clothes become “dazzling white,” words Luke uses to describe the appearance of angelic figures in Luke 24:4 and Acts 1:10. Jesus’ transformed appearance is thus not merely because He is experiencing God’s glory (like Moses) but rather because He is the very source of divine glory. The point is made explicit when the three disciples are said to see Jesus’ glory in verse 32.It says ‘they saw His glory’
Jesus gives these frightened, uncertain, confused and discouraged men a glimpse of the Future. The emphasis throughout the episode is on the dazzling attestation of Jesus’ identity. It’s not a changed Jesus, but Jesus how He really is. What happened essentially was this- the appearance of Jesus changed. So that He appeared as He would look in the future. What we have given here is that what Jesus would look after His death and after His resurrection and ascension. You see it’s very similar to the description after the ascension that we have in the book of Revelation chapter 1, remember, when John saw a vision of the ascended Christ John says ‘His face was like the sun shining with full force’. (Rev. 1.16)
The description is essentially the same, what the disciples experience here on the mountain is the glimpse of how Jesus would look after His resurrection and ascension, and the disciples needed this. Because in the next few days they were going to see the face of Christ that they love battered and bruised in fact Isaiah says prophetically that ‘His face was so disfigured beyond that of any human being’ (Isa. 52. 14)
Before they get there God is saying to them look what lies beyond the cross. Yes, there is going to be a lot of suffering in Jerusalem but at the end the Christ you love is going to be exalted in glory.
The appearance of Moses and Elijah in verse 30 adds to the attestation of Jesus’ identity and glory. Moses & Elijah are commonly interpreted as embodying “the Law and the Prophets,” which is no doubt a significant point. The risen Jesus Himself will later assert that Moses and the prophets point toward Him (Luke 24:25-27, 44-46). Luke tells us in our scene that Moses and Elijah “were speaking of His departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (verse 31), surely meant to anticipate Jesus’ teaching that He is the ultimate fulfillment of scripture. This brings us to the theological purpose of this event. This event wasn’t for the benefit of Jesus or Moses or Elijah. This event was to help these disciples and strengthen their faith.
Dear Friends..
The Christ you serve, the kingdom you are investing your life in is not some lost cause. You are part of the kingdom that will never end. We do not serve some weak or ailing Christ who is unable to stop what is going wrong in our lives or in the world. We serve our risen Christ who sovereignly moves history towards its climax. Which will be the day in which He will be revealed in glory. The next time Jesus is seen in glory will be at His second coming. If we are going to sustain life- long-devotion to Jesus we need this vision, this glimpse of the future. As we are preparing ourselves for lent, God is saying; before you face the cross see the glory. So be encouraged as we go into Lent, the resurrected Christ is with us throughout our journey of life, whether we are here in the city, or whether we are on the mountain top, He journeys with us and is the only one we should listen to.
In the name of God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen