Luke 9:28-36 – The transfiguration of Christ

Luke 9:27, Christ told the disciples that some of them would have a foretaste of the glory of the Kingdom of God before they die. By the Kingdom of God Christ was referring to His upcoming Transfiguration. So in verses 28-36, we are told that eight days later, He took Peter, John and James up with Him to the mountain to pray, and there He was transfigured before them. On that mountain that day, four things took place. Firstly, we are told that as Christ was praying, His physical being was being transformed. His face literally shone brilliantly and His garment turned white and gleaming.  Christ was being transported into His pre-existence form, totally enveloped by the glory of God.

 

Secondly, Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking to Him. In verse 31, Luke reveals that they were discussing His impending departure. They were discussing about the event that would soon take place in Jerusalem. One subject must have come up: Christ's impending Calvary experience. Why Moses and Elijah and not the other prophets? It could well be that Moses represents the Law and Elijah, the Prophets. Perhaps there is a hint here of the different modes of departure that believers would experience. One can either depart through death like Moses or through the rupture like Elijah. 

 

Thirdly, Peter and the other two disciples were overcame with sleep. When they were fully awake they witnessed the glorified Christ and the two heavenly visitors with Him. When Moses and Elijah were taking their leave, Peter quickly, and as usual thoughtlessly, offered to build three booths: one for the Lord, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Luke was quick to say that Peter said that ignorantly. Why did Luke say that? It's because Peter had just placed Christ in the same class as Moses and Elijah. But they were certainly not in the same league as Christ. For both Moses and Elijah were only God's servants, whereas Christ is God's own Son.

 

At this point, the fourth event took place. The Shekinah, the glory cloud came and covered the place. Here, God the Father spoke out from the glory cloud, revealing the status of Christ. He explicitly said, "This is My Son, My chosen One, listen to Him." It was probably to signal to Peter in particular that Christ is not just a servant, He is His Son. And all of a sudden, the heavenly visitors were gone and Christ was found alone. Luke tells us that they did not tell anyone about what transpired on the mountain.     

 

What are the takeaways? The three disciples of Christ only saw all that transpired at the mountain, "...when they were fully awake..." (verse 32). Like them if we are to be able to see God's glorious plan realized, we need to be fully awake, both spiritually and physically. No wonder Paul in Ephesians 5:14 said: “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Secondly, the Heavenly Father's call to obey His Son must not be ignored. It's imperative. If we are to please Him, we cannot do it without obedience to Christ our Lord. Thirdly and finally, do bear in mind that the first reason Christ and the three disciples went up to the mountain was to pray. Like Him, we also need to know that the presence of the living God is within us. And our dependence on Him can only be maintained by a life of communion with Him. And through prayers we create the way for His presence and Kingdom to come into the midst of our daily affairs. So let us pray!