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. (1-9) The multitude miraculously fed. When Moses asked to see Gods glory, God replied, You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live (Exodus 33:20)but God continued, Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on the rock. Ive seen the Lord! In the Transfiguration, the earthly Jesus shares for a moment the company of two great and worthy residents of heaven, Moses and Elijah. Click here for more information. Moses face shone so brightly that he found it necessary to wear a veil to shield people from the glare (Exodus 34:29-35). WebCommentary, explanation and study verse by verse of Luke 9:28-36 by Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary. We are so familiar with Lincoln that we recognize even his silhouetted profile in an instant. 28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus * took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. Or perhaps he was thinking about Gods coming kingdom as displayed in the Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles, or the Feast of Tents., But the text here and in Marks parallel account seems that even Peter didnt know. The contrast between the mountaintop and the base of the mountain could not be sharper. While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them (v. 34a). Mark, the shortest Gospel, gives the most complete account of this exorcism. For though he is glorious and transcendent, he is tender and merciful, and he longs to save our souls through his Son, Jesus. Neither do Peter, John, or James offer an explanation. And that brings us to our fourth possible reason for the Transfiguration: To me its hard to imagine seeing these two ancient biblical heroes from centuries past. When we are tempted to doubt if our prayers matter, we can read Lukes Gospel and see that Jesus had no such doubts. But who can adequately translate those "strong cryings and tears?" Even now, its common for those who want to get in touch with the nearness of God to go to the mountains. We lead busy lives. To be amazed, even to tremble. His departure. All of that was to happen in and near Jerusalem. To me, its one of the more remarkable biological events. Luke 9 is no exception. Luke 9:28-36 These events in Luke 9 take place about six months before the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And finally, to what extent is the radiance of God visible in your life today? Jesus is preparing His disciples and telling them that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and be killed and then raised up on the third day. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The story takes place about eight days after the Confession of Peter (9:18-20), Jesus first passion prediction (9:21-22), and his admonitions about following him (9:23-27). In this case this stunning revelation of glory took place well out of the public eye and then, even for those human eyes that did take it in, there was a mixture of confusion, sleepiness, and then reticence to speak of it in the future. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was galtered, and hhis clothing became dazzling white. There are many speculations why these two men appeared. Listen to him! There is a sermon in these words. Often when someone dies they are said to have fallen asleep. A week earlier, Jesus spoke of his Second Coming when he returns to earth in glory. Where others failed, Jesus prevails. He was not making up stories about Christ. Does your face glow with the light of Christ? Sinai appearing before the glory of God. An experience the disciples never forgot. Lets make three tents: One creature is nothing like the other. Or as Buechner put it, Even with us something like this happens once in a while. Jesus himself metamorphosed into some radically different. WebChrist shares Gods glory. As we listen for Gods word in the sermon this morning, Id like for us to take a closer look at this second story the transfiguration of Jesus and, in particular, Id 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 the others the Israelites out in wilderness, the disciples up on Mount Herman? WebCommentary for Luke 9 . WebThe Transfiguration. A few years ago, I had an elder in my church whod disappear every two or three months. 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. The voice from the cloud interrupts so that Jesus never responds directly to Peters suggestion to build booths. Through the eyes of faith, we now see that the story of Jesus transfiguration is the story of a new covenant being established in Jesus Christ, a covenant that will be symbolized for all time, not by booths, but by the Cross of Calvary. Luke 1:4 that you may have certainty of what you have been taught.. As Moses led the Israelites in the wilderness, God told him to build booths in which the people would dwell for seven days (Leviticus 23:33-43). Yet in the Bible events like these sometimes play out rather differently than we think. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. Our bodies will be glorious. They cannot encourage Jesus to stick with what they dont understand (and would resist if they did understand it). To glimpse his majesty and power. First Reading. Perishable means it has an expiration date. The can of beans in our kitchen cabinet has an expiration date on it. If that is our view, we are badly, badly mistaken. The Third Readings: The Gospels (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001), Fitzmyer, Joseph A., S.J., The Anchor Bible: The Gospel According to Luke I-IX (New York: Doubleday, 1970), Gilmour, S. MacLean & Knox, John, The Interpreters Bible, Volume 8. Both Moses and Elijah had received revelation on mountains. If we do not know Jesus, we should turn to him. WebLuke 9:28-36 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary HomeCommentaries ReaderRelatedVerse Bible CommentsHomeCommentaries The Transfiguration. It would be too much for us. The two festivals complement each other in striking ways. Luke 9:28-36. 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). It happened about eight days after these sayings, Perhaps intimidating. The event takes place about eight days later (9:28), rather than after six (Mark 9:2; Matt 17:1); there appears to be no particular significance for the change. 28. an eight days after these sayingsincluding the day on which this was spoken and that of the Transfiguration. The voice from the cloud speaks only of Jesusnot of Moses or Elijahand does so only after Moses and Elijah depart. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1995), Evans, Craig A., New International Biblical Commentary: Luke (Peabody, MA, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1990), Farris, Stephen, in Van Harn, Roger (ed. While it has been common to think of them as representing the law and the prophets, which is not to be discounted, there may be more important things about them in this story. as the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3). Jesus exodon leads us into the kingdom of God. With no human or earthly voices available to encourage Jesus, his Father steps in to provide new voices in the conversation. 28It happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. All three of the Synoptics place the Transfiguration immediately after Jesus first passion pronouncement, emphasizing that the one who willbe killed, and on the third day be raised up (v. 22) is not a random victim of violence, but is the Son of God carrying out Gods plan (v. 35). Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!. For now, let it suffice that something heavenly is happening. Even to see an angel in his glory would be terrifying. He says that Moses and Elijah were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem (9:31). Talk to someone you trust about this. This, however, also seems unlikely.). (In more cheeky moments Ive wondered about these two men sporting Hello! As persons who have been privy to the company and mind of God, they are able to provide Jesus with divine revelation. The committee interviewed several candidates, and each made a positive impression. Moses and Elijah, who were leaving Jesus prior to the voice from the cloud (v. 33), are gone. 35A voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son. David Oliver-Holder; Luke; Only stories or art can articulate what is beyond measure or experiment or explanation. Listen to him! (v. 35). 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, b he entered Capernaum. The first is that Luke alone provides the content of the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah (on which comment is made below). Jesus has come to reveal God and redeem humanity. Its not like Moses had gotten his face onto the $1 bill or that Elijah had had his visage plastered all over the place in Israel the way we Americans do with Abraham Lincolns face. Jesus came to set people free from sin. GET YOUR FOUR FREE SAMPLES! In the Incarnation, the divine partakes of the human condition. The family lineage depends on this child. Mountains are places of prayer, and it is on mountains that many significant encounters with God take place. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. My wife and a few friends are reading a book trying to describe the grandness and majesty and transcendence of God. Earlier in this chapter, Herod, hearing of the great works that Jesus was doing, was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 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. In more cheeky moments Ive wondered about these two men appeared Bible CommentsHomeCommentaries the Transfiguration only Moses... 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