Luke 9:28-36 A GLIMPSE OF HIS GLORY

A GLIMPSE OF HIS GLORY

Luke 9:28-36

(see also Matthew 17:1-9 and Mark 9:2-10)

Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

Susie: Matthew and Mark each say it was six days after Jesus had said, “But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:27). Luke says it was about eight days. He may have been including the day of the statement and the day of the Transfiguration, whereas, Matthew and Mark may have only counted the days in between.

Susan: Jesus stole away from the crowds, taking with Him only Peter, James, and John. He desired to seek the Father in a quiet place. Therefore, He took them up on a mountain.

Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening.

Susan: As Jesus connected with His Father, His appearance became altogether otherworldly. His clothing radiated with the brilliance of jewels . . .

Susie: . . . or the flash of lightening. I’m picturing a glowing gemstone aurora borealis.

Luke 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

Susie: Jesus, of course, knew who these men were; but there is no record of Him introducing them to Peter, James, and John. How did they recognize these great forefathers of Judaism? Name badges?

Susan: It’s not like the disciples had grown up seeing photos or even paintings of Moses or Elijah hanging in the synagogue or in their homes. Therefore, I believe the Holy Spirit must have revealed their identities to the disciples.

Luke 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Luke 9:31a (CJB) They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke of his exodus . . .

Susan: Moses and Elijah were encompassed in glory as well. Moses represented the Law and Elijah, the prophets, both of which prophesied about the death of the Messiah which is what they were discussing with Jesus.

Susie: Various translations say Jesus, Moses, and Elijah spoke of His “decease”, “departure,” or “exodus.” An exodus is a departure from one place to go to another. Moses led the Israelites in an exodus from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.

Susan: Jesus is the leader of the exodus from earth into eternity, the permanent Promised Land.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Susie: The word “accomplish” in Luke 9:29 always puzzled me until I saw the translation that used “exodus” instead of “decease.”  Our eventual departure or exodus to Heaven is the “accomplishment” of Jesus’s death and resurrection.

Susan: Our salvation and eventual resurrection is the fruit of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross and His being raised from the dead.

Susie: We are told what they talked about but not the specifics of the discussion. I wonder why God sent Moses and Elijah to be with Jesus during His prayer time? Perhaps it was to encourage Him or for the benefit of the three disciples with Him there on the mountain.

Luke 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

Susie: Neither Matthew nor Mark mention the fact that the disciples fell asleep while Jesus was praying.

Susan: It must have been a shock for the disciples to be aroused out of a dead sleep by the intense light of the Shekinah glory of God and to feel the power emanating from Jesus and His two companions.

Susie: As the drowsiness wore off, they came to the realization that they were in the presence of two great prophets of God.

Susan: James and John probably could not find words to express the awe they felt. But then there’s Peter . . .

Luke 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

Susan: Peter always seemed to have something to say, but whether or not it was the right thing to say is another question.

Susie: In this case, Peter was so excited to be in the presence of these revered prophets, that he proposed the idea of building shelters or monuments to them and staying right there on the mountain with them. The Bible records that he really did not realize what he was saying.

Susan: I think Peter often had the problem of opening his mouth before fully engaging his brain. His brash confidence changed to humility after he denied the Lord on the night of His arrest and was fully restored by the Lord after the resurrection. (Stay tuned for more on Peter in the weeks to come.)

Luke 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

Susie: Matthew 17:5 describes the cloud as “bright.”

Susan: The disciples quaked with fear as they encountered the glory and power of the Almighty God.

Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Susan: Matthew records the Father expressing His pleasure with His Son:

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Susan: “Hear him,” involves more than the organ of the ear working properly. God was instructing them to listen with the intention of complete, immediate obedience.

Susie: Peter recalled this event in his second letter:

2 Peter 1:16-18 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Susie: Peter pointed out that, as Jesus had predicted in Luke 9:27, Peter, James, and John were allowed to see Him in all His majesty as King before their deaths. 

Luke 9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Susie: Both Matthew and Mark point out that Jesus instructed the disciples not to tell anyone, and Luke informs us that they obeyed this command, following His instructions to the letter.

Matthew 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Mark 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

Ponder this and Apply it: Sometimes when we experience a fantastic time of worship or a miraculous answer to prayer, we, like Peter, would like to pitch our tents there and stay indefinitely. However, Jesus has called us to go down off that mountaintop to minister in the valleys below. Praise the Lord for the exciting times of complete joy. Treasure them as precious jewels. Use those times of refreshing and the memory of the blessings as fuel for days of uncomfortable service.