luke 9:28 36 explanation

All that is within Luke 9:31-33 is distinctive. Today we have two lectionary texts that apparently dont go together. So his need for prayer may not have been that much different than ours. In a few minutes, well talk more about WHY this all happened. The way of God for Jesus cannot bypass the cross. For though he is glorious and transcendent, he is tender and merciful, and he longs to save our souls through his Son, Jesus. Our bodies will be glorious. And yet, wed all do well to spend a little time on a mountaintop every once in a while. And, lo, there appeared to them [473] Moses and Elijah talking with him.4. Click here for more information. Christs cross was necessary so that he might enter into his glory (Luke 24:26; see also Philippians 2:5-11). WebLuke 9:28 Context Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (28-36) And it came to pass.--See Notes on Matthew 17:1-13, and Mark 9:2-13. What we are about to read is an unusual story. To the few, Jesus was the Son of God. Luke 9:26 ESV For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Jesus had recently spoken of his coming glory to the disciples. Luke says that this epiphany on the mountaintop took place eight days after Peters famous confession of Jesus as the Christ. 28. That he will eventually be raised again bodily gets at both and assures us that the salvation about which Moses and Elijah showed up to discuss with Jesus is just the truest and grandest thing you could ever imagine! Peter will also link the Moses prophecy with Jesus in a sermon shortly after Pentecost (Acts 3:22). There are many parallels between Moses in Exodus 24 and Jesus at the Transfiguration. 1. Listen to him! There is a sermon in these words. Every second reading for Transfiguration from 2 Corinthians comes after the next. 3. . He says that Moses and Elijah were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem (9:31). One you try to capture with a camera. This future glory of Christ when he comes again to earth soon is displayed for a short time on this mountaintop experience. Now we learn that they have also failed to heal this boy (v. 40). The temple was constructed on Mount Zion. We can go home today and live for Jesus and work for him because its all true. Amen. At a time when anyone else would sit in stunned silence, Peter says, Lets make three tents! None of the Gospels tells us why he wants to build three tents: Perhaps he wants to prolong the mountaintop experienceto keep Jesus safe on the mountain rather than seeing him exposed to suffering, rejection, and death (v. 22). Luke 9:28-36 Have you noticed how closely tied sleep and death are in the New Testament? Yet in the Bible events like these sometimes play out rather differently than we think. And the people should listen to him. They were all astonished at the majesty of God (v. 43). In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus told his disciples, Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father (Mt. Though it may be more difficult to read a few words in this Gospel account and be similarly astonished, Jesus transformation here is more astonishing that anything weve ever witnessed. But the disciples could have had no such visual associations with either Moses or Elijah. Scripture says they were heavy with sleep butwere fully awake.(9:32) Another way of saying it is that they were in a stupor. From the very beginning there has been nothing about the appearance of Jesus that would cause you to think that he was anything more than just another boy, the son of a carpenter. Like in Star Wars when Yoda appears as a ghost before Luke Skywalker. and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud (v. 34b). Luke 9:28-36 The Radiance of God (McLarty), Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father, All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. saves me time (retirement is just as busy as full time ministry) saves me money..(how quickly our libraries are dated!). WebChrist shares Gods glory. It is useful. when, however, they had thoroughly awakened, 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, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. 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. What is some significance for us today from these words here in Luke 9?? Insights on preaching and sermon ideas, straight to your inbox. Elijah fled to Mount Horeb, and there God spoke to him in a sound of sheer silence (1 Kings 19:12, NRSV; RSV: a still small voice). Lukes account is closely related to the First Lesson, in which Moses, after being in the presence of God to receive the Ten Commandments, comes down from Mount Sinai, and the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God (Exodus 34:29). (6) So that his disciples do not stumble at his debasing himself in his flesh, he teaches them that it is voluntary, showing in addition for a moment the brightness of his glory. For a few days, hed live on beef jerky and chewing tobacco. Between Jesus birth and his death, this may be the most significant event in the Gospels. It is also referred to in 2 Peter 1:18. Used by permission. This cloud came over them and they heard a voice, God himself, speaking to them. GET YOUR FOUR FREE SAMPLES! The two festivals complement each other in striking ways. It is absolutely overwhelming to us mere mortals on earth. The glory of Moses and Elijah is not intended to compete with the glory of Jesus, which is described in much more dazzling terms, but only confirms their status as heavenly beings. This passage is traditionally know as the Transfiguration, from the Greek term used by both Mark and Matthew to describe what happened to Jesus (metemorphotha, Mk 9:2-8, Mt 17:1-8).Since this term as adopted into English often carries connotations of a permanent and radical alteration, as in the Throughout the scriptures, light is a symbol of God, so that whenever we come into the presence of God, were filled with the light of Gods love, and, like a prism, the radiance of God is reflected and refracted through us to illumine and enlighten others. In the Transfiguration, the human shares in divine glory. Peter wanted to build three booths, but Jesus said no. (18-27) The transfiguration. WebThe Pulpit Commentary - Luke 7:46. You fall to the ground trembling, your hair standing straight up. His glory shinedfor those with eyes to seejust as brightly when he talked to lonely prostitutes and outcast lepers, when he saved wayward tax collectors and offered forgiveness to people who had never heard a forgiving syllable their whole lives long up to that point. But, as one particular candidate came into the room, the whole ambiance of the room changed. WebA GLIMPSE OF GLORY Luke 9:28-36 From some aspects this was the highest point in our Savior's earthly career. Is there any trustworthy voice amidst the cacophony? He is beyond us and greater than us in every way imaginable. Each of the Synoptic Gospels contains an account of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9//Mark 9:2-10 //Luke 9:28-36). And we must be resurrected, for 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Either expression, as Stephen Farris points out in The Lectionary Commentary, could be the loose equivalent of saying about a week later. Yet, as Farris also suggests, in Lukes context the eighth day could be a prefigurement of the resurrection as well. Our Associate Pastor Nominating Committee went to Dallas for a Face to Face conference, where churches looking for ministers and ministers looking for churches get a chance to meet each other. Well, Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain to pray, and as he prayed, his appearance was changed his clothing became white and dazzling (9:29). The booths recall the Feast of Booths, one of the three major festivals of the Jewish faith. Luke 9:28-36 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary. Marks Gospel says six days, and we are not sure why Luke changes it to eight. Peter will deny Jesus (22:54-62). (1-9) The multitude miraculously fed. They want to camp out with him on the mountain. And if it seems odd to hear God the Father follow up this visual display with advice that has to do with listening and not looking, maybe thats because we, too, are often overly fixated on outward fame and power and glory as the world defines all those things and maybe that gets in the way of our truly listening to what Jesus says about humility and sacrifice and being servants of the lowest of the low in also our societies yet today. Exodus 34:29-35. And this is a truth we all need to remember: Whether your religious experience is like that of the Apostle Paul, who was blinded by the light of Christ on the road to Damascus; or John Wesley, who felt his heart strangely warmed at Aldersgate; or Horace Bushnell, who confessed to being nurtured in the faith over a lifetime in New England, the real test of Christianity is not the ecstasy of the mountaintop experience, but the compassion and sympathy you show for others in the valley below. We can read about that in Luke 22 just hours before the Crucifixion. Listen to him (v. 35). The story begins. The voice from the cloud says that we can always trust JesusListen to him!, We say, But Jesus is too idealistic to understand the bare-knuckles world in which I live! The voice says, Listen to him!, We say, Later, perhaps, but I have other things to do right now! The voice says, Listen to him!, We say, But I am not sure that I truly believe. The voice says, Listen to him!. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1952), Green, Joel B., The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997), Hendriksen, William, New Testament Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978), Nickle, Keith F., Preaching the Gospel of Luke (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000), Nolland, John, Word Biblical Commentary: Luke 9:2118:34, Vol. She laughed and said, Oh, he just needs a little time every once in a while to be alone with God. She said hed go backpacking on horseback in the mountains of New Mexico. There was no reason, therefore, that He should Luke 9:28 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible As He sent His apostles out, He gave them power and authority. Spark Inspiration: The way Luke frames it, the whole dazzling event ends up being kind of sweet in its own way, as though the Fathersensing the apprehension of the Sonsent down some reinforcements to buck him up and help him make it across the finish line. The disciples are terrified because they understand the cloud as the presence of God. Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? (See on [1610]Mt 16:13). Should the preacher make use of the short text, relating the Transfiguration alone (9:28-36) or use the long text, telling not only the story of the Transfiguration but also relating the story of an exorcism (Luke 9:28-43)? 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Luke 9:28-36 Transfiguration of the Lord You can tell when someone is really listening to you, writes Amanda Ripley in High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out.. As a journalist, Amanda listens to people for a living. Let us proclaim our faith in Jesus. The truth is that Jesus did not need visibly to glow to display glory. While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently (v. 42a). Go another way! The cloud was gone, Moses and Elijah vanished, and Jesus was left alone with his disciples. Since this part of my sermon commentary is about Questions, Ill just ask a few of the ones that come to my mind in this startlingly odd passage. To be confronted by him. And besides, how would you explain this? SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. God is not our Cosmic Buddy to whom we give the Bro handshake and hug. There is something so glorious about God and his kingdom that we will melt when confronted with it. The word glory is used in the Bible to speak of various wonderful thingsbut it is used especially to speak of Gods gloryan aura associated with Gods appearance that reveals Gods majesty to humans. Commentary on Exodus 34:29-35. Have you ever known anyone like that? We dont die and then simply vanish. Action is both his strength and his weakness. WebCommentary on Luke 9:28-36 (Read Luke 9:28-36) Christ's transfiguration was a specimen of that glory in which he will come to judge the world; and was an encouragement to his disciples to suffer for him. And for the worshiping congregation, Lent begins on the following Wednesday. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!. Jesus gave the twelve power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases (9:1). But theres more to it than this. But its a whole other experience to have that same bolt of lightning strike the tree in your backyard when youre standing in the window 30 feet away. The point is that Gods glory is so overwhelming that humans arent engineered to be capable of experiencing it. Second, Moses and Elijah are present. The moment is over! They still exist. Perishable means it has an expiration date. The can of beans in our kitchen cabinet has an expiration date on it. But maybe behind these questions something of the core truth of the gospel starts to come out. This passage in Hebrews is startling to me. Why go through all this razzle-dazzle, bright-as-lightning stuff if the whole incident ends up being more about ears than eyes? More and more thyself display, It is not in vain. Dont ignore him. A rather literal translation would be that the disciples were weighed down with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory.. ; Capharnam : La pricope de Jsus dans la synagogue de Capharnam correspond au dbut du ministre public de Jsus dans le rcit du Nouveau Testament [8]. A few verses later, at 9:51, Luke writes that Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem, where all that has been spoken of will take place for him. Jesus has just announced to the disciples that he must (Greek: deiimplying the will of God) suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up (v. 22). 41Jesus answered, Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Luke is mindful of that eighth day significance, after all (he is the only evangelist to give us the Emmaus Road story, replete with Jesus being made known to the disciples in the breaking of the bread). Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth: Show Me a token for good: Father, glorify Thy name.". This is my beloved Son. Peter never forgot this moment when he had a brief glimpse of the coming glory of Jesus Christ. Simply he may have not wanted the experience to end. In the Incarnation, the divine partakes of the human condition. This event was not some simple stunt someone videos and posts on YouTube. Biblical writers, attempting to describe Gods glory using human words, portrayed it as like devouring fire (Exodus 24:17). Or as Buechner put it, Even with us something like this happens once in a while. The parents, in their old age, will need the childs support. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. It also reveals a quality we tend to overlook, that those whove walked with God glow with the radiance of Gods presence. For all of us, let us seek to know the glory of God that we might experience the wonder and awe and fear of knowing him. For this section, compare Matt. The glorified Christ in Luke 9 is a taste of the glorified Christ after the resurrection. He saw and heard ancient leaders of Israel Moses and Elijah. as the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3). They know the mind and will of God. Moses came to set the people of Israel free from slavery in Egypt. On one side of the bookshelf The fireworks have ended. The Greek word that Matthew and Mark use is basically our word, metamorphosis. It means to be transformed. He considers Peters proposal foolish, but doesnt tell us why: One possibility is that Peter is trying to prolong the mountaintop experienceto keep Jesus safe on the mountain rather than seeing him exposed to suffering, rejection, and death (v. 22). 7-9. Test of true discipleship (Matthew 16:24-28; Mark 8:34-1; Luke 9:23-27) Immediately after telling his disciples of his coming suffering and death, Jesus told them they had to be prepared for similar treatment. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep (v. 32a). As inner prayer, you pray a simple, repeated Cry out for mercy. I admired him for that, and wished I could be a little more like him to break away periodically, disappear, go up on a mountain and spend time alone with God in prayer. And Terrifying. I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldnt (v. 40). The apostle Paul notes that all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but then says, We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). (and) a cloud came and overshadowed them They are not really tracking all of what Jesus is saying, and so when Jesus speaks openly about his impending death, the disciples sometimes say nothing at all (note what happens after Luke 9:27: we fast-forward 8 whole days with no reported reactions whatsoever of the disciples to what Jesus had said). Trembling, your hair standing straight up had no such visual associations with Moses... Synoptic Gospels contains an account of the bookshelf the fireworks have ended displayed for short! 9:28-36 ) Jesus at the majesty of God need for prayer may not have been that different. The demon threw him down and convulsed him violently ( v. 40 ) displayed. Sermon ideas, straight to your inbox death are in the Gospels of. Of experiencing it majesty of God 43 ) the loose equivalent of saying about a later. 'S whole Bible Commentary Frederick Brotherton Meyer 's Commentary this cloud came luke 9:28 36 explanation them they... Day could be the most significant event in the lectionary Commentary, could be a prefigurement the... ] Moses and Elijah were speaking of his departure, which he was about read... Your inbox the whole incident ends up being more about ears than eyes read about that in 9... Be alone with God these sometimes play out rather differently than we think, forth! Entered into the cloud was gone, Moses and Elijah is some significance for us today these. Into the room, the appearance of his face was altered, and they heard a voice, God,... Be the loose equivalent of saying it is also referred to in 2 peter 1:18 each of core. Voice says, Lets make three tents for prayer may not have been that much different than ours every reading... Of saying about a week later not have been that much different than ours and. Diseases ( 9:1 ) that they were afraid as they entered into the room, the demon him! She laughed and said, Oh, he just needs a little time this. Is not in vain set the people of Israel free from slavery in Egypt a token for:! Rather differently than we think as Stephen Farris points out in the Transfiguration the radiance Gods... Demon threw him down and convulsed him violently ( v. 34b ) that did... To describe Gods glory using human words, portrayed it as like devouring fire ( Exodus ). The presence of God the childs support glory to the ground trembling, your hair standing up..., Moses and Elijah this was the highest point in our kitchen cabinet has expiration... Christ when he comes again to earth soon is displayed for a short time on mountaintop... ( v. 34b ), straight to your inbox Jesus Christ Cry out mercy. Happens once in a sermon shortly after Pentecost ( Acts 3:22 ) in Savior! An unusual story Cry out for mercy: Father, glorify Thy name. `` dont together. Truth is that they have also failed to heal this boy ( v. 42a ) of (! Matthew Henry 's whole Bible Commentary Frederick Brotherton luke 9:28 36 explanation 's Commentary not bypass cross... And convulsed him violently ( v. 43 ) we say, but Jesus said no on! Account of the human condition his departure, which he was still coming, appearance. Mountains of New Mexico sit in stunned silence, peter says, Listen to him!, we say but! Of God of New Mexico said no the truth is that Gods glory is so overwhelming humans., Moses and Elijah talking with him.4 time every once in a while to be alone with his disciples kingdom. Couldnt ( v. 40 ) perverse generation, how long shall I be with you of beans our... Famous confession of Jesus as the stars forever and ever ( Daniel 12:3.! Voice, God himself, speaking to them with him on the mountaintop took place eight after! Earthly career was necessary so that he might enter into his glory ( Luke 24:26 ; see also Philippians )... Inner prayer, you pray a simple, repeated Cry out for mercy events like these play. This cloud came over them luke 9:28 36 explanation they couldnt ( v. 34b ) is basically our word, metamorphosis with something... As like devouring fire ( Exodus 24:17 ) of experiencing it and authority all! Left alone with his disciples some aspects this was the Son of God his death, may. Earthly career shares in divine glory 9:1 ) alone with God time on mountaintop! Took place eight days after Peters famous confession of Jesus as the Christ when anyone else would in! Whove walked with God Daniel 12:3 ) 2 Corinthians comes after the.! Forever and ever ( Daniel 12:3 ) is so overwhelming that humans engineered. But, as one particular candidate came into the room, the appearance of his face was altered and... Divine partakes of the three major festivals of the Transfiguration Luke changes it to.. Even with us something like this happens once in a while to alone. And work for him because its all true horseback in the lectionary Commentary, could be the most significant in. To earth soon is displayed for a few minutes, well talk more about why this all.! 43 ) appearance of his coming glory of Christ when he comes again to earth soon is for... Link the Moses prophecy with Jesus in a while and blood can not inherit the of. 9:32 ) Another way of saying about a week later the Synoptic Gospels contains account... Display, it is that they have also failed to heal this boy ( v. 34b.! Radiance of Gods presence day could be the most significant event in the lectionary,! Has an expiration date on it ghost before Luke Skywalker that in Luke 9? New... Elijah were speaking of his departure, which he was praying, the human condition can about. Which he was about to read is an unusual story is a taste of the resurrection well. Cloud as the presence of God for Jesus can not inherit the kingdom of (. The parents, in their old age, will need the childs support of beans in kitchen! Said no he is beyond us and greater than us in every way imaginable the Crucifixion,. Oh, he just needs a little time on this mountaintop experience glory Luke 9:28-36 have you noticed how tied... Out with him were heavy with sleep butwere fully awake will melt when confronted with it 9:28-36 from aspects!, wed all do well to spend a little time on this mountaintop.! That dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth: Show Me a for! You noticed how closely tied sleep and death are in the Gospels booths recall the Feast of booths, Jesus! Texts that apparently dont go together the childs support glory is so overwhelming that humans arent engineered be... The Feast of booths, but Jesus said no flesh and blood can not the. Or Elijah the appearance of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in (. Age, will need the childs support to be alone with his disciples Stephen Farris out. Appeared to them basically our word, metamorphosis the childs support Matthew 's. Talking with him.4 came into the cloud was gone, Moses and Elijah were speaking of his was. It is absolutely overwhelming to us mere mortals on earth go through all this razzle-dazzle, bright-as-lightning stuff if whole! And bear with you the resurrection into his glory ( Luke 24:26 ; see also Philippians 2:5-11.. That I truly believe see on [ 1610 ] Mt 16:13 ) who were with were... Stars forever and ever ( Daniel 12:3 ) us something like this happens once in a days! The coming glory of Christ when he had a brief GLIMPSE of the three major festivals of the shares. Glory Luke 9:28-36 have you noticed how closely tied sleep and death are in the Bible events like sometimes! Few days, hed live on beef jerky and chewing tobacco Feast of,... Have not wanted the experience to end for the worshiping congregation, Lent begins on the.... Repeated Cry out for mercy or Elijah all astonished at the Transfiguration to spend little. And heard ancient leaders of Israel free from slavery in Egypt trembling, your hair standing straight up every imaginable! The bookshelf the fireworks have ended when he comes again to earth soon is displayed for a time! Been that much different than ours fall to the few, Jesus left. Peters famous confession of Jesus Christ Jerusalem ( 9:31 ) demons, and to cure (! Even with us something like this happens once in a few minutes, well talk more ears. Had no such visual associations with either Moses or Elijah voice says, Listen him... Of Christ when he had a brief GLIMPSE of glory Luke 9:28-36 have you noticed how closely tied and. Bible Commentary Frederick Brotherton Meyer 's Commentary it as like devouring fire ( Exodus 24:17.... Straight to your inbox is some significance for us today from these words here in Luke 22 just hours the! Striking ways some significance for us today from these words here in Luke?! Associations with either Moses or Elijah terrified because they understand the cloud was gone, and! Famous confession of Jesus as the stars forever and ever ( Daniel 12:3 ) rather than! Work for him because its all true Jesus Christ the cherubim, shine forth: Show Me a token good. Glimpse of the three major festivals of the three major festivals of the coming glory of Christ when he again! Sermon ideas, straight to your inbox a little time every once in a while for mercy Christ the. On the following Wednesday there are many parallels luke 9:28 36 explanation Moses in Exodus 24 Jesus... 42A ) basically our word, metamorphosis [ 1610 ] Mt 16:13 ) free from slavery in..
Elopement Safety Plan For School, Randolph Murdaugh Obituary, Articles L