Home  Library  Donate

Luke 9:27-36

Sunday Morning Bible Study

November 8, 2015

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid to die?  Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Regular:  2900 words    Communion: 2500 words  Video=75wpm

Luke was a doctor and a travelling companion of the apostle Paul.

He wrote this book while Paul was in prison.

In writing his book, Luke made use of other older documents like the Gospel of Mark, as well as extensive eyewitness accounts.

Jesus’ ministry is well under say, and the people have been amazed not just at the things He’s been teaching, but the things He’s been doing.

Last week, while Jesus and His disciples were at Caesarea Philippi,

(Luke 9:20 NKJV) He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

9:27-36 Transfiguration

:27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

:27 trulyalethos – truly, of a truth, in reality, most certainly

:27 standinghistemi – to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set; to stand

:27 tastegeuomai – to taste, to try the flavor of; to taste; i.e. perceive the flavor of, partake of, enjoy; to feel, make trial of, experience; to take food, eat, to take nourishment, eat

Subjunctive aorist

:27 deaththanatos – the death of the body; metaph., the loss of that life which alone is worthy of the name,; the miserable state of the wicked dead in hell; in the widest sense, death comprising all the miseries arising from sin, as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth, to be followed by wretchedness in hell

:27 they seeeido – to see; to perceive with the eyes; behold

This will be important later.

:27 shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God

There are lots of theories as to what Jesus is talking about, but the simplest answer is that He’s talking about what happens in the next few verses, where Peter, James, and John will catch a glimpse of the kingdom by seeing Jesus in His glory.

What was Jesus talking about?

Was Jesus saying that some of the disciples would still be alive when He returned to set up His kingdom?
That didn’t happen.
Some have suggested that He might be talking about the gospel being preached after the day of Pentecost and God’s kingdom being the birth of the church.
Could be.
It could be that when Jesus talking about “tasting death”, He’s referring to the second death, hell.
Those who believe in Jesus will not taste the second death, but will be present when Jesus comes again.
It’s more likely that it has to do with what Jesus is about to show Peter, James, and John on a mountain in about a week.

: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.

:28 about eight days after

abouthosei – as it were, (had been), as though, as, like as, like; about, nearly

The other gospels tell us that it was actually six days later.  Luke is not wrong because he is only giving the number as an estimate, not meant to be exact.

:28 went up on the mountain

Where did this take place?

Video:  Tabor v. Hermon map clip

Though church tradition tells us that Jesus was transfigured on Mount Tabor, Tabor is 45 miles away from Caesarea Philippi where Jesus and the disciples had just been.
It’s more likely Jesus took the disciples up to Mount Hermon.  Caesarea Philippi is in the foothills of Mount Hermon.
Church tradition claims that the transfiguration took place on Mount Tabor.  There’s even a couple of churches built there to lay claim to that fact.
But when Peter declared that Jesus was the “Christ” (9:20), Jesus and the disciples were at Caesarea Philippi, which is 45 miles northeast of Mount Tabor.
Caesarea Philippi is already at the base of another mountain, Mount Hermon.
Matthew recorded that Jesus took the guys up on a “high mountain” (Mat. 17:1), and while Mount Tabor is 1800 feet high, Mount Hermon is the highest peak in the area at 9000 feet.
(Matthew 17:1 NKJV) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;

I think it’s more likely that Jesus took Peter, James, and John up onto Mount Hermon.

While we can learn a lot from church “traditions”, but they are not always 100% accurate.

:28 he tookparalambano – to take to, to take with one’s self, to join to one’s self

:28 Peter and John and James

Luke has them out of the usual order (Peter, James, and John)

Why these three?

These are the “inner three”.
They went places the other disciples didn’t go.
When Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead they were there. (Mark 5:37)

(Mark 5:37 NKJV) And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

They will now be the three allowed to see Jesus transfigured.
They were closest to Jesus when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33)

(Mark 14:33 NKJV) And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.

:28 and went up on the mountain to pray

went upanabaino – ascend; to go up; to rise, mount, be borne up, spring up

to prayproseuchomai – to offer prayers, to pray

Lesson

Praying through difficulty

Jesus made prayer a priority in His life.
What could He have been praying about?
He has just told the disciples (Luke 9:22) that He was going to die.

(Luke 9:22 NKJV) saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

After this event on the mountain, Jesus and His disciples will begin to make their way to Jerusalem for His last time.
I think it’s very possible that Jesus was praying about the road ahead, the road to the cross.
This will be a topic of discussion on top of the mountain.
We too need to pray when we’re facing difficulty.
Illustration
When someone accuses you falsely … just Push
When everything seems to go wrong … just Push
When the job gets you down … just Push
When people don’t react the way you think they should … just Push
When your money’s running out and the bills are due … just Push
When you get angry for whatever the reason … just Push
When people don’t understand you … just Push
Here’s what “Push” stands for…

Pray

Until

Something

Happens

:29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.

:29 the appearance of His face was altered

appearance eidos – the external or outward appearance, form figure, shape; form, kind;

from eido – to see.
This is a form of the same word that Jesus used in verse 27, “till they see the kingdom of God”

face prosopon – the face; countenance, look

altered heteros – the other, another, other; another: i.e. one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different. 

He became different.

Matthew records,

(Matthew 17:2 NKJV) and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun…
transfiguredmetamorphoo – to change into another form, to transform

Our word “metamorphosis” comes from this, like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.

Video:  Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis

:29 His robe became white and glistening

robehimatismos – clothing, apparel

whiteleukos – light, bright, brilliant; brilliant from whiteness, (dazzling) white

glisteningexastrapto – to send forth lightning, to lighten; to shine, be radiant

Mark records,

(Mark 9:3 NKJV) His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

This all sounds very close to John’s description of Jesus in His glorified state in Rev. 1:14-15.

(Revelation 1:14–15 NKJV) —14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

It also makes me think of that scene from the 1985 movie “Cocoon”

Video:  Cocoon – Light Peeking Out

I think that Jesus was simply letting His true self peek out a bit.

Paul talked about how Jesus had existed from eternity in the form of God, but He “veiled” His glory by taking on human flesh. (Phil. 2:6-7)
(Philippians 2:6–7 NKJV) —6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

When the human body of Jesus was being formed in the womb of Mary, Jesus was in a sense “veiling” His glory, covering it up with human flesh.

What Peter, James, and John are seeing is Jesus allowing His true glory to “peek” out a bit.

:29 As He prayed …

The transformation took place while He was praying.

prayedproseuchomai – to offer prayers, to pray

Present deponent infinitive

Lesson

Changed in His presence

We aren’t transformed like Jesus, but there is a sense in which we too are changed in God’s presence when we pray.
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after having received the Ten Commandments from God, his face was shining.  The glow would fade, but every time He spent time in God’s presence in the Tabernacle, his face shone. (Ex. 34:34-35).
(Exodus 34:34–35 NKJV) —34 But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. 35 And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.
Paul says that something similar happens to us as well.
(2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

I think this speaks of the transforming process that happens as we are praying and looking into the mirror of God’s Word.

His glory rubs off on us just a little.

We are changed a little to be more like Him.

Long after having seen Jesus be transfigured, Peter wrote about the mountain top experience.
(2 Peter 1:16–19 NLT) —16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes 17 when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” 18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
Even after the cloud is gone and you can no longer hear the voice of God Himself, Peter reminds us that we have something incredible that we need to base our lives on.

We need to base our lives on the Word of God that shines light in a dark world.

Learn to spend time each day in God’s presence.
Seek His face in prayer.
Expose yourself to the Word of God.
Paul wrote,
(Romans 12:1–2 NKJV) —1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are transformed in His presence as we yield to Him.

:30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,

:30 talked withsullaleo (“with” + “to talk”) – to talk with

The word is used to describe discussions among people.

Imperfect tense – they were talking, carrying on a conversation.

:30 Moses and Elijah

These are the two central figures of the Old Testament, representing the entire work of the Old Testament.

What we call the Old Testament, the Jews of Jesus’ day called “The Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah)”.
In a way, they are testifying that the entire Old Testament was pointing to the coming Messiah, Jesus.

Three significant figures stood before the disciples.

Moses was the one who gave and represented the Law.
Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.
Elijah represented all of the prophets.
Elijah delivered Israel from bondage to false Gods.
Jesus would die to set us free from sin and death.

Just a side note – Moses and Elijah have come from heaven to talk with Jesus.  We don’t know whether they have name badges on, or whether Jesus introduced them, but they are Moses and Elijah. 

When we get to heaven, we retain our identity.  We will remember who we are and what our lives have been like. We will be recognizable.
Our loved ones who have gone to heaven are still who we remember them to be.  They aren’t “Angel #52b”.

:31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

:31 appearedoptanomai – to look at, behold; to allow one’s self to be seen, to appear

:31 who appeared in glory

glory doxa – splendor, brightness

Moses and Elijah seem to be glowing brightly like Jesus.  They are in their “glorified” bodies.

:31 spoke of His decease

decease exodos (“out” + “way”) – exit i.e. departure; the close of one’s career, one’s final fate; departure from life

The book Exodus gets its name from this word.  Moses showed Israel the “way out” of Egypt.
Moses and Elijah are talking to Jesus about His way out of the planet through His death, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven.
NAS, ESV translate it “departure”
Peter uses the same word in one of his letters to talk about his own death –
(2 Peter 1:15 NKJV) Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

should mello – to be about; to be on the point of doing or suffering something; to intend, have in mind, think to

:31 which He was about to accomplish

accomplishpleroo – to fill up, to complete; to cause God’s will to be obeyed as it should be

Jesus’ soon death in Jerusalem was going to fulfill God’s will.  It was going to fulfill prophecy.

Lesson

He came to die

Jesus did not live His life simply to be a good teacher or live as an example to follow.
Moses and Elijah show up to talk over the upcoming plans for Jesus’ death with Him.
He came in order to fulfill a clear predetermined purpose.
He came to die.
The Law hinted at it.
(Leviticus 17:11 NKJV) For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’

The entire Mosaic system of sacrifices was building up to be fulfilled once for all in the death of God’s Son for the sins of the world.  He gave His blood, He gave His life, to atone for our sins.

The prophets spoke of it.
(Isaiah 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
We will be remembering this today during communion.
His body was broken for us.
His blood was shed for us.

: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.

:32 were heavy with sleep

were heavy bareo – to burden, weigh down, depress. 

Perfect tense, meaning that they had been heavy with sleep and the effects were still lingering.

with sleep hupnos (“hypnosis”) – sleep

:32 were fully awakediagregoreo – to watch through; to remain awake; to be fully awake. 

When they realized what was happening, they totally woke up.

:32 they saw eido – to see.  This is the same word that Jesus used (He could have used a couple of other words for “see”) in verse 27, that some would “see” the kingdom of God.

:32 glorydoxa – opinion, judgment, view; splendor, brightness; of the moon, sun, stars; magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace; as apparent in their exterior brightness; a most glorious condition, most exalted state

Peter, James, and John almost missed this entire thing because they were sleepy.

Lesson

Wake up

This would also be a problem when Jesus took these same three guys into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.  They kept falling asleep (Mat. 26:40-41)
(Matthew 26:40–41 NKJV) —40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Sometimes falling asleep is kind of cute.
Video:  Kid sleep driving
Sometimes it’s not so cute
Video:  Drowsy Driving TAC ad
The key to not falling asleep is getting your rest.
If you get the rest you need, you can stay awake.

I’m talking about spiritual rest and spiritual sleep.

Paul wrote,

(Romans 13:11–14 NLT) —11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

If we get spiritually “sleepy”, we may miss the moment.  We may miss the very reason God has us here for.

: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.

:33 were parting fromdiachorizomai – to separate thoroughly or wholly; to separate one’s self, depart

:33 Masterepistates – any sort of superintendent or overseer

:33 goodkalos – beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable

:33 not knowing what he said

not knowingeido – to see; to perceive with the eyes; to know of anything; to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive

Mark, who was close to Peter and recorded his gospel mostly on Peter’s testimony recorded,

(Mark 9:6 NKJV) because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
Sometimes it would be better to be silent than to talk about something you don’t know anything about.

:33 let us make three tabernacles

let us makepoieo – to make; to do

tabernaclesskene – tent, tabernacle

Peter might be talking about setting up tents.  But it could also be close to the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.  Maybe Peter is suggesting that rather than going all the way to Jerusalem to celebrate, they just celebrate it up on the mountain.

Lesson

Can’t stay here

Sometimes our lives feel like we’re on a hamster wheel, going nowhere.
Video:  Hamster Wheel
In case you don’t think that could ever happen to you …

Video:  Hamster Wheel Standing Desk

In a way, you can’t blame Peter for wanting to camp out and stay on the mountain. 
Who wants to go back to life on the hamster wheel after seeing what they’ve just seen?
But this wasn’t Jesus’ purpose in life, to set up tents on a mountain.
Jesus came to die.  He had just talked with Moses and Elijah about this.
Jesus had work to do.  He had a purpose to fulfill.  And it wasn’t on the mountain.
Sometimes we have some incredible experiences of God’s presence, whether it’s at a retreat or at church. 
Sometimes we don’t want to go home to what’s waiting for us at the bottom of the mountain.
Sometimes we don’t want to leave the presence of the folks we’re upon the mountain with.
But we have a purpose to fulfill.  There are people to reach, people to minister to.  There are people waiting for you at the bottom of the mountain.
If you want to change life on the hamster wheel, spend a little more time in the morning in God’s presence.  Be transformed.

:34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.

:34 a cloud came and overshadowed them

cloudnephele – a cloud

overshadowed episkiazo – to throw a shadow upon, to envelop in a shadow, to overshadow;

The word is found in three instances.
It’s used to describe Peter walking along a street, and people were healed when his shadow fell upon them. (Acts 5:15)

(Acts 5:15 NKJV) —15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

It’s used to describe the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary, and her becoming pregnant.

(Luke 1:35 NKJV) And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

It’s used of the transfiguration when this cloud overshadows Jesus and this group on the mountain (Matt. 17:5; Mar. 9:7; Luke 9:34)

(Matthew 17:5 NKJV) —5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

(Mark 9:7 NKJV) —7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

In the Old Testament, there was a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites through the wilderness. (Ex. 13:21)

It was a manifestation of God’s presence with the people.
(Exodus 13:21 NKJV) And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
When Moses built the portable worship center the Tabernacle, God’s presence came upon it in a cloud. (Ex. 40:34-35)
(Exodus 40:34–35 NKJV) —34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Later when Solomon built the permanent worship center the Temple, God’s presence was also there in a cloud.
(2 Chronicles 5:13–14 NKJV) —13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
This cloud of God’s glory is referred to by the Jews as the shekinah (“that which dwells”).  Solomon used that word to describe the cloud.
(2 Chronicles 6:1 NKJV) Then Solomon spoke: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.

This cloud is God’s presence.

:34 they were fearful as they entered the cloud

they were fearfulphobeo – to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away); to fear, be afraid; to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm; of those startled by strange sights or occurrences

they enteredeiserchomai – to go out or come in: to enter

Though the cloud overshadowed them, they in turn respond by entering into the cloud.  With much fear.

:35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

:35 a voicephone – a sound, a tone; a voice; of the sound of uttered words; speech

:35 belovedagapetos – beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love

:35 hearakouo – to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf; to hear; to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to understand, perceive the sense of what is said; to comprehend, to understand

:36 This is My beloved Son

A few days earlier while at Caesarea Philippi Peter called Jesus “the Christ of God”.

(Luke 9:20 NKJV) He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Now they hear it from God Himself.

Matthew records

(Matthew 17:6–8 NKJV) —6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

: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.

:36 when the voice had ceased

Literally, “when the voice was being”

It’s at the same time that they heard the voice, Moses and Elijah were gone and Jesus was there alone with Peter, James, and John.

:36 kept quietsigao – to keep silence, hold one’s peace; to be kept in silence, be concealed

:36 toldapaggello – to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report; to proclaim, to make known openly, declare

:36 they had seenhorao – to see with the eyes; to see with the mind, to perceive, know; to see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience; to see, to look to

:36 told no one in those days

They kept this all quiet because Jesus told them to.

Mark tells us that Jesus didn’t want them talking about it until He rose from the dead (Mark 9:9-10)

(Mark 9:9–10 NKJV) —9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
They still haven’t quite grasped everything about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

They didn’t keep it quiet forever.

The account of this occurs in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

:35 My Beloved Son … Hear Him!

Lesson

Who is important?

Earlier in the week Peter had received this amazing revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God.
Even though Jesus told Peter that the Father had revealed this to him, now Peter hears from God Himself that Jesus indeed is the Son of God.
I imagine that Peter and the guys might have thought that Jesus must be lucky since He was allowed to hang around with Moses and Elijah on the mountain.
But the truth is, Moses and Elijah were the lucky ones.
The greatest one on that mountain was Jesus, not Moses and Elijah.
The writer of Hebrews records,
(Hebrews 1:1–3 NLT) —1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Who is the important One in your life?
Who do you center your life around? Who do you “hear” or “listen to”?

Is it some sports hero?  Is it some movie star?  Is it some cool person at school?

Is it yourself?

Jesus is the One you need to be listening to.