Luke 9:28-36

Date: Sunday, February 14, 2010
Study 11: Jesus showed that he is God’s Son.
Bible Study: Moses and Elijah Appear With Jesus (Luke 9:28-36)

What has preceded in Luke Chapter 9
·    Sending Out the Twelve
·    Herod Seeks to See Jesus
·    Feeding the Five Thousand
·    Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
·    Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
·    Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
Luke 9:   (also in Mark 9 and Matthew 17)
28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
Luke does not name the mountain.
It was probably Mount Hermon, near Caesarea Philippi .. where Peter had said that Jesus was the Messiah.
However, it could be Mount Tabor if Jesus had returned to Galilee during the week.
These three witnesses were used earlier in Luke 8:51 and later in Matt 26:37
29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
Luke does not use the word transfigured (which Matthew and Mark used), perhaps because it had been used so much in the Pagan theology . . But uses a phrase telling that His face had changed far from what it had been
His face shone far beyond what Moses's did when he came down from the mount
Jesus’ robe was white and glistering: in Greek —bright like lightning (a word used only here), to cover himself with light as with a robe.
When Christ humbled himself to pray, he was thus exalted
Matthew 17:2 says that Jesus’ face shone like the sun. Peter, James & John were able to see for a short time what Jesus will be like in his glory
30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
Moses, through whom God gave the law, and Elijah, the great prophet, were both there.
This showed that Jesus was more important. He explained what the Law meant, and he made the message of the prophets come true.
Seeing Moses and Elijah would make Peter, James and John stronger in their belief that God’s servants would live again after they had died.
31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
It was said in Matthew and Mark that Moses and Elias appeared to them; here it is said that they appeared in glory, to teach us that saints in Heaven are in glory; they shine in glory.
The Greek word that Luke used for Jesus’ death is ‘exodus’.
By his death on the cross, Jesus would rescue men from sin. Moses had rescued the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt. That event was ‘the Exodus’.
Jesus’ death in Jerusalem would complete the purpose for which God sent him.
32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.
These three were now asleep, when Christ was in his glory, as later on they were, when Jesus was in his agony;
see the weakness and frailty of human nature, even in the best people . . and what need we have for the grace of God.
Nothing could be more important to these disciples, one would think, than the glories and the agonies of their Master; and yet neither one would serve to keep them awake.
What need have we to pray to God for quickening grace, to make us not only alive, but lively!

33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
Peter did not understand why Jesus had brought them there
34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.
The cloud showed that God was there (Like when Moses went up Mt. Sinai in Exodus 24:15-16).
35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Like at Jesus’ Baptism in Luke 3:22 . . . God was very pleased
36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.
be quiet for a time until they understand what God is doing through Jesus
Many years later, Peter wrote of this experience in his second letter (2 Peter 1:16-18).

In this scene the call to listen comes at two levels. There is the divine voice, which stops all discussion between the disciples and Jesus, and there is the central instruction to listen to Jesus. The point in both cases is that instruction is needed, because the path Jesus walks is unexpected. If disciples are to understand that walk and follow in its footsteps, they will need to listen to him.

Why Moses and Elijah?
Moses and Elijah represent Jesus’ connection with God’s long-term plan of redemption.
Jesus is connected to both the Old Testament law and prophets.
He is not canceling or abolishing either.
His connection to these great men of faith is normal and expected.
the scene shows how Jesus stands superior to both men, who were great leaders in the history of Israel.
Luke makes the Moses connection explicit in various texts (Acts 3:18-22; 7:35-37), while Elijah is consistently a figure of “end times” hope (Lk 1:16-17, when John is pictured as such a figure). The event suggests two great periods of Israel's history, the exodus and the end-time hope of deliverance.

We go to work and go to church with the same people all the time .. But how much do we know about them ??
The disciples sure learned a lot about Jesus at this event.
If you had to prove that Jesus is God, how would you do it.
How were the disciples feeling ??

NOTES:

Luke was not one of the original witnesses who had seen and heard Jesus. But Luke had met some of these witnesses and heard their stories. He spent two years in Caesarea while Paul was in prison there (Acts 24:27). Luke would have found it easy to travel from there to collect information

The disciples are trying to come to grips with what is happening. In their view Jesus is another great figure, like Moses and Elijah. He will found a people like Moses and sustain them through hope like Elijah. So Peter suggests they together celebrate Tabernacles, a feast that looked forward to the “end times” (also called the Feast of Ingathering, Ex 23:16; 34:22; Lev 23:34; Deut 16:13; Zech 14:16-21). They should build three booths in honor of Jesus and his colleagues. The suggestion is eminently reasonable, except that it understates Jesus' relationship to his two witnesses. Peter wants to enjoy the moment and prolong it in celebration. He wants to stay on the mountaintop for as long as possible.
But Luke makes it clear that Peter has spoken because he did not know what he was saying. The voice from heaven explains: they need to listen to Jesus so they will understand his uniqueness, call and destiny to suffer. Also, their role is not merely to contemplate Jesus but to serve him. Celebration awaits in the future, but now is a time for instruction, response and action.
The voice from heaven speaks before Jesus responds. As was the case with the baptism, the voice describes who Jesus is. With the voice came the cloud that envelops them and leaves them fearful. The cloud symbolism is significant, though its meaning has engendered some controversy. The cloud could indicate God's presence as the heavens descend to the earth. But more likely is the suggestion of the new age's arrival, an age like that which founded the nation of Israel, when God's glory was present and overshadowed the people (especially Ex 40:35 LXX; also Ex 13:21-22; 16:10; 19:16; 24:16; 40:34-38).
The voice speaks of Jesus as my Son, language that recalls Psalm 2:7. Whom I have chosen highlights Jesus' unique, elect status. The wording seems to be a conceptual allusion to Isaiah 42:1: here is God's chosen instrument of deliverance. The third remark is crucial, because it adds to the remark made at the baptism. Listen to him recalls the language of Deuteronomy 18:15. Jesus is a second Moses who brings a new way for God's people. The disciples must listen to this Jesus. Their tendency is to assume they know who Jesus is and what he is about, but as his instruction shows, there are some surprises coming. He is greater than his extremely illustrious witnesses. The disciples need to sit at his feet and learn.
Instantly everything returns to normal. The disciples are so overwhelmed that they remain silent about this event for years. The testimony of 2 Peter 1:16-21 tells us why. Only in light of the resurrection did they come to understand Jesus' majesty and glory. The transfiguration was confirming testimony to the glory of Christ, and the resurrection was the crowning endorsement. Revealed in light, he is the light. With the "exodus" came understanding--but only after much listening. When we are with Jesus, we experience the cloud of glory, if we have ears to hear.A Failed Miracle and a Call to Listen (9:37-43)
The transfiguration called the disciples to listen to Jesus.