Knowing The Word in Luke 9:28-36

The Transfiguration

9:28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

Comments

Several traditions exist about which mountain hosted the Transfiguration, but there is no definitive answer. Appearing with Jesus were Moses, the great law-giver, and Elijah, a great representative of the Old Covenant prophets. Neither man’s body was seen after his death. Moses died on Mount Nebo before he could enter the promised land. God buried his body. Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind of fiery chariots and horses. Still alive, these men give us a glimpse into our own future in which we will be face to face with Jesus. Both men were Old Covenant shadows of whom Jesus is the fulfilment. Only Luke tells us that the conversation was about the death of Jesus.

Luke uses the word “exodus,” translated here as “departure,” to show that Jesus’ death would deliver his people from a worse bondage than slavery. The crucifixion of Jesus, who John the baptizer calls “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” is to be related to the Passover and the exodus of God’s people from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. The Old Covenant Passover points forward to a greater “exodus” from the slavery of sin for all people. In this great and glorious moment, we see that the central event in biblical history, the topic of conversation for the glorious three, is the death of Jesus.

During this incredible event, why do Peter, James, and John become sleepy? When God made a covenant with Abram, Abram fell into a deep sleep. When God displays his glory, there is a pattern of people being overwhelmed by his presence and becoming sleepy. The disciples, however, could not sleep through the blinding light. Peter wanted to maintain and remember the experience, yet his leafy booths were, in a sense, pathetic in comparison.

The overshadowing cloud was the local and living presence of God, who speaks to the disciples about Jesus. He is different from Moses, Elijah, and everyone else. God commanded them and us to listen to Jesus in all things.

Why do you think Jesus asked them to keep silence after this amazing vision? Likely, it was that until his resurrection from the dead, the Transfiguration would not make complete sense.

Application

Have you ever become sleepy in the presence of God and rested in the peace of his presence? Try having a quiet time with God, perhaps lying down, and ask him to fill you with his Spirit that you may rest in him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, fill me with your transfiguring Spirit, that I may know your peace that passes all human understanding, and that I may see Jesus in my spirit for who he is, your Son and my Savior and Friend.