Luke 9:28-36

Luke chapter 9 beginning with verse 28 in reading through verse 36 and it came to pass about eight days after these sayings he took Peter and John and James went up into a mountain to pray and as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered and his reigns was white and glistening and behold their talk with him two men which were Moses and Elias who appeared in glory and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem but Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep and when they were awake they saw his glory and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass as they departed from him. Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias. Not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud and overshadowed them. And they feel. feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud saying, this is my beloved son. Hear him. And when the voice was passed, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. May God bless to us His sacred and holy word this morning. In times past, there were occasions when royalty would dress up as a commoner, whether it be a prince or a king or a queen. And they’d go out and mingle with the people, but they would be incognito. And no one would know who they were. and they could mix with people and converse with people and so forth without being mobbed. No one perceived who they actually were. When Christ came to earth, his glorious person as the Son of God was obscured and hidden from men. God was manifested in the flesh, and he walked. upon this earth with the people and yet few actually knew who he really was. And though Christ was in the form of God, and though he thought it not robbery to be counted as equal with God, he made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men, the Bible tells us, in Philippians chapter 2. And so Christ, in a sense, hid his glory. And he did not exhibit it before men. A veil was thrown over it for a period of time. And thus, who would know? Christ, therefore, as we read in Isaiah 53, was despised and reject. of men. They saw no beauty in him that they should desire him. And yet there are a few passages in the history of our Lord Jesus Christ that’s recorded in the Gospels that formed an exception to this rule. And one of them is the passage before us. Where we see Christ unveiled. We see Christ in all his glory. It wasn’t for everyone to see. So here he is. During his public ministry, after speaking of his suffering and his coming death upon the cross at the hands of the Jews, Jesus reveals his glory. And that’s what we want to look at. Christ’s transfiguration, his transformation that we see in. this passage of Scripture before us this morning. Let me begin by saying this. You find Christ’s prayer and transformation in verses 28 and 29. And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and it was glistening. Let’s look at the circumstances of this event. He went up into a mountain to pray. Now, I believe this was Mount Tabor, which was a lofty mountain in the northern part of Gallag. We do not know what mountain he went up into. We’re just not told, and it’s not important for us to know. But he went to a suitable place. that was a place of retirement from the world, from prying eyes, from the public in general. Our Lord, as the true God, did not need to pray. But he was also man, and as such, prayer was a proper duty. But we should also see that he’s praying here as our intercessor as well. three of his disciples, not all of them, but three of his disciples were permitted to see Christ’s transfiguration. Peter, James, and John. Those three stand up on several occasions. It’s interesting that those are the three that saw his agony in the garden, so they’re also privileged to see his glory revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration. Now, this event takes place just eight days after Christ’s revelation of his coming suffering at the hands of the Jews. This event makes you appreciate the glory that Christ must have set aside in order to be the Savior sinners that I mentioned from Philippians chapter 2. And interestingly, enough, it is as he prayed, that he was transfigured. Luke does not use the word transfiguration here. Mark and Matthew do, but we see him transformed in Luke. But it’s all the same. It means the same thing. We’re told here that Christ’s general appearance was that of a common, ordinary person, but then the fashion or the appearance of his countenance was altered. There he was, praying in appearance as a normal human being, and all of a sudden, in the middle of his prayer, he is changed. Matthew says to us that his face did shine as the sun in Matthew 172. John tells us in Revelation in chapter 1 and verse 16 that Christ’s countenance was as the sun shining in his strength. That’s how Christ appears in his glory. Since God is light in 1.1.5, we read that. That he covers himself with light according to the Psalms, Psalm 104. When Christ here is revealed in his glory, light is the key thing, isn’t it? He glows. He shines. He is portrayed in Scripture as the son of righteousness in the book of Malachi and the light of the world in the book of John. So when the glorified Christ appeared, the Paul on the road to Damascus, you remember, He shine with such a brilliant light that Paul was actually blind for three days. That’s how bright it was when Christ reveals himself in his glory. His raiment was altered, we’re told in this passage of Scripture. It became white and glistening. This word glistening is an interesting word. It’s only used here in scripture. It means like, bright as a flash of lightning. Mark tells us in his gospel in chapter 9 verse 3, his raiment became shining exceedingly white as snow so no fuller or bleacher on earth could white them. Peter in his epistle later describes the glory of Christ and what he saw we were eyewitnesses of his majesty for we received from God the Father honor and glory. Second Peter chapter 1, verse 16 and 17. John later writes of his glorious experience here in John 114, and the word was made flesh and dwell among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. The writer of Hebrews Hebrews describes Christ as being in the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of his person in Hebrews chapter 1. This glory was veiled for a long time. Only this time and a few other times do you ever see a glimpse of this glory of Christ revealed. But Peter, James, and John were privileged to see it. The circumstances of the event. Now let me draw a couple practical thoughts from this passage as we look at these two verses and the one is this. You find Christ puts an honor on prayer as a transforming duty. Think about this in it. You look at verse 29. As he prayed, he was transformed. Prayer, communion with God has a way, of transforming you. You cannot come into the presence of the Holy God without being somehow changed by it. Now I’m not saying you’re going to shine as Christ shine, but you’re going to be changed by it. The Lord, make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you is what we read in number 625, the benediction of the priest. gave to the nation. To come into the glorious presence of God is a grace imparting experience for a Christian. Do you remember Moses when he went up on Mount Sinai and it’s interesting the scripture says that Moses met with God face-to-face? He he had such a close connection with the Lord, such a he was so close to his presence on Mount Sinai. Even though you remember, it wasn’t actually literally able to see him face to face. He only saw his afterglow. But there’s a sense in which he was in the presence of the Lord in such a manner that it drastically affected him. So that when he came down from the mountain, what happened? His face was glowing. Because he was in the presence of the Lord. God’s face shined upon him, and so he glowed. The people were afraid to look at him. He had to put a veil on his face for a time until the glow faded away. His face reflected something of the glory of God because he had been in the presence of the Lord. In a sense, not visibly, of course, but in a sense, this happens to you. When you dream, draw near to God in prayer. Look with me at 2 Corinthians, chapter 3 in verses 7 through 18. 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verses 7 through 18. Now, in this passage, he is contrasting the Old and the New Testament. The old, he says, was glorious, but how much more glorious is the new. Now notice what he says here, beginning with verse 7. He says, if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly be all the faith of the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away. Just like it faded off the face of Moses, it would fade. shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious. And if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more that the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. And even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that that excelleth. Or if that which is done away was glorious, much more than that which was glorious, much more. more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then, we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech, and not as Moses which put a veil over his face that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. But their minds were blinded, for until this day, remaineth the same veil, untaken away, in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil? is done away in Christ. Even under, but even under this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it, and I take it means the heart shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even by the Spirit of the Lord. As we behold the Lord were changed into something else. Their grace is given to us and graces are produced within us and graces are produced within us and so forth. You look at the Psalms of David, and I’ve repeated that he said this, you notice, Sil, sometimes he starts out rather melancholy in the song, but by the end of the Psalm, he’s praising God. He is transformed. Can’t come into the presence of God, really, and not have some transformation take place in your character. Some grace developed, some blessing imparted to us. No matter how dark and gloomy things may be, go into the presence of the Lord knowing that the prayer receives wisdom and grace and joy from God, which is able to make his face shine. You know what the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 8.1? It says, a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness or the strength of his face. shall be changed. My friends, when God imports wisdom to us, it changes our countenance. It changes us. Look not on prayer then as some kind of routine deed, a duty that we have. But it is in a sense a transforming duty. So that when we go into the presence of God, it can be transforming to us. So you find it. Christ puts an honor on prayer here as a transforming duty as he prayed. He was transformed. Secondly, if you would see Christ’s glory, you have to get alone. Notice the circumstances under which Christ revealed his glory to the disciples here. They had to get away from the public. They had to be up on the mountain. Engaged in prayer. You must get away from the world. shut out the world to be focused upon the Savior. Now, friends, he may come to us when we’re gathered with others. Peter, James, and John, and Christ were there, and there’s a sense in which Christ revealed himself to that little group. Why? That little group? Because they were seeking the Lord. They were isolated. They were alone. The glorified Christ appeared to the disciples in the upper room, but they were separate. Our text puts the emphasis then on two things, seclusion as the way to have the glory of Christ revealed to us. As you get alone, as you pray, you should be meditating upon what the scriptures say about Christ, the Savior. Because the Holy Spirit can unlock for us the glory of Christ as we meditate upon. Look with me at us. Isaiah chapter 9 in verse 6. It’s a very familiar passage of scripture. Isaiah chapter 9 in verse 6. When I was in seminary, we had a one of those old school music teachers. And he liked, he wasn’t a psalmist, exclusive psalmist, but he likes he likes scripture. He liked to sing scripture. And so we would always sing the Messiah. And it was marvelous to hear this verse of scripture, Son. It’s such a marvelous passage to meditate upon it because it was about the coming Messiah. And notice what it says here. For unto us a child is born unto us, a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful. Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace. Have you ever read these glorious names given to Christ and asked yourself, what does it mean? How is Christ wonderful? Why is He called a counselor? In what way is he revealed as the mighty God? How is he of the everlasting Father? How is it that he has children? In what ways? Is he the Prince of Peace? As we meditate upon Christ in the names that he’s given in the capacity that he has here, the glory of Christ is revealed to us. So you find Christ’s prayer and transformation. Secondly, this morning, let me direct your attention now to verses 30 and 31. because you find the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Christ. If you would turn with me back to the book of Luke in chapter 9 verses 30 and 31. And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias, or Elijah, who appeared in glory and spake of his deceased, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Now these verses are the only ones we’re going to be able to get to this morning, and Lord Willing next week will pick up from here. But let’s look at here Christ here on the Mount of Transfiguration and the appearance of Moses and Elijah with him. Let’s look at their look at his companions and their conversation. Moses and Elijah. Now, you’ll notice it begins with Behold. This is something unusual. Something amazing is taking place here. The two men who talked with Christ were very famous, well-known men in the history of the Jews. But they have been long gone from this earth. And yet, the apostles heard at least some of their part of their conversation, and from it, they were able to recognize this was Moses and Elijah. Moses died on Mount Nebo, you recall, in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan. He wasn’t allowed to go into the promised land, you remember. And the Lord himself buried him in a valley. He had an unknown grave. Elijah didn’t actually die. He was snatched and taken to heaven by charity of fire. But that was 900 some years ago. Moses, remember, was greatly revered because he had been given the books of the law by Jehovah Mount Sinai. Elijah was a highly respected prophet who prophesied in the days of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. together did they not represent to us the on the prophets, both of which testified of the coming of the Messiah. So standing together, Moses and Elijah portrayed the whole Old Testament, and of course they bore witness to the Savior Jesus Christ. You remember what Jesus said in a New Testament? He gave witness to this. He said, for had you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for he wrote of me. John 546. Luke 2427 and beginning at Moses and all the prophets expounded under them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself who appeared in glory it says here which means that they appeared in a glorious form such as those who are in heaven and are glorified saints what do we read in the book of Revelation chapter 198. And to her, the Lamb’s bride was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. They had the glorious appearance of just men made perfect. Now, symbolically, we’re seeing here, in a sense, the Old Testament, represented by Moses and Elijah, giving place to the New Testament represented by Christ and his death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and reign on high. Moses and Elijah. What was the topic of their conversation? What were they talking about? They spoke of his decease, which was going to take place at Jerusalem. And interesting, isn’t it? Jesus had just spoken about his death. So what are they talking about? They’re talking about his death. It’s interesting. The word to cease here is exodox. It’s where we get the word exodus. Talking about his exodus out of this life. And of course, I think his exodus also out of this world. When he was resurrected, he was ascended on high, and so forth. There’s something remarkable about this and how it’s expressed. that he should accomplish this disease. What does it mean that he’s going to accomplish it? Well, the accomplishment seems to indicate he is fulfilling something. That which was spoken of in the Old Testament, the law and the prophets, about Christ’s death, is going to be fulfilled by Christ. It was a great, inglorious accomplishment. this work that Christ had given him to do. His sacrificial death. You were told the general subject of conversation, but none of the particulars. This was a subject which stirred great interest among the Old Testament prophets. Remember, Peter tells us, of which salvation the prophets inquired and diligently searched who prophesied of the grace that you come upon you. Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Not just his death, but his resurrection, ascension, and reign on high. You can imagine how they may have spoken about God’s eternal purpose. You can imagine the specific prophecies maybe they spoke about. Psalm 22. Isaiah 53. that I read this morning. Daniel chapter 9, Zachariah chapter 13. They spoke of this vicarious, atoning death that Jesus Christ was going to accomplish for his people that they may be saved. And not only for the Jewish people, but also for the Gentiles as well, who would be included in his kingdom. This was a vital, important topic. of great interest of the people of God, was it not? And it would occur at Jerusalem. Why at Jerusalem? Well, Jesus has not Jesus told us in Luke 13, verses 33? For it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. The hub, the center of Jewish religious life. Peri would be despise and rejected a man would he want. So Christ’s companions and their conversation. Now, Let me draw a couple practical thoughts from this passage, and the first is this. Believers that are removed from this world still exist. The appearance of Moses and Elijah is significant. They are well. They are alive in a glorified state after their disappearance from this world. Moses had been. dead, as I said, 1500 years. Elijah had been gone for at least 900. And this is proof that when you die, you don’t cease to exist. But in fact, you live with God in heaven. We are confident, I say, Paul says, that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. When the beggar, Lazarus dies what happens to him. The angels of God, God transport him into Abraham’s blism or paradise. In the book of Revelation, you read about the souls of those who were martyred. They were killed because of their faith. Faith in Christ. They refused to worship the beast. They refuse to worship the image of the beast. And so they’re put to death. And what happens to them? What we read that they appease? here in heaven and we read those wonderful words. They lived and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. They lived and they reigned with Christ. Where are the blessed dead who have passed out of this world? They’re living and reigning with Christ. That’s where they are. They’re in heaven in a glorified state. When Elijah was taken away by an angelic chariot of fire. Where was he taken? Remember some of the sons of the prophets said, well, maybe God just moved him from one mountain top to another. Just moved him from one place to another. Let’s search for him. Elijah says, you shouldn’t search for him, but they were determined to do so. They couldn’t find him. Why? Where did he go? The Bible says here, Elijah went by whirlwind into heaven. That’s where he went. By the way, this is why we deny dispensationalism. You don’t go into some holding tank. The Old Testament saints were not held back from heaven until Christ’s actual death, but his death was all reviewed as taking place, as already accomplished, so that those Old Testament saints went right to heaven. Moses is not in some holding tank somewhere. Elijah is not in some holding tank. Here they are in a glorified state. In the presence of Christ, my friends, when you draw your last earthly breath in this world, you go to be with the Lord if you know Christ. Let that be something that warms our hearts as we go through this life because we’re all getting older. And I notice that I’m getting older. Everything more breaks down. It doesn’t last. I was talking to my mom yesterday. And she said, boy, the older you’re getting, more things break down. You know, you just can’t handle things as well as you used to. Your body just doesn’t recover as quickly. My friend, there’s a world, a glorious world beyond the grave. Moses and Elijah appearing on the Mount of Transfiguration proves this to be true to us. They appeared in glory. believers remove from this world do not cease to exist. Secondly, we have clear proof here of Christ’s deity. If there have been nothing of Christ’s glory revealed to us wherever manifested on earth, you might question is he really the Son of God? He looked like a man. He had the various needs of a man. He hungered. He thirsted. He thirsted. He needed sleep. Did he not? He got tired. He even died. He’s going to die. He’s going to die. They’re speaking of his disease. And so it’s helpful to find Christ’s glory revealed to us unveiled here. Then we get a little glimpse of it in this passage of scripture. One of the witnesses of the event, Peter says, we be held his majesty. God’s own voice on this occasion as we shall see testifies to who he is. This is my son. The eternal son, the Lord of glory, walked on this earth to accomplish the redemption of his people. Let all God’s people declare along with Paul, the apostle from Romans 9-5, that Christ is overall God blessed forever. Let this never be doubted. Christ is worthy of our love and he’s worthy of all our worship. Clear proof of Christ’s deity. Thirdly and lastly. What a wonderful example we have here of godly conversation. They converse, they spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. What did they talk about? They’re talking about Christ’s atoning death, are they not? His resurrection, his ascension, his royal enthronement, if you would. All of this was purchased by Christ, this, all that was purchased by Christ, by his redemption for his people. We can think about all that. This was the subject. They thought worthy to converse about when these glorified saints met with Christ what interested them? His resurrection, his ascension. So, my friends, this isn’t the topic of the multitude of the world around us. It’s John, one of the witnesses of the transfiguration declared they are of the world. Therefore, speak they of the world. First John 4.15. Their conversation is worldly. What do they know about Christ in his glory? What do they know about Christ in his death? Don’t deceive yourself. Do you know what it is to speak with pleasure of the atoning death of Christ and the important topics that are connected with it? When we gather together, should this not be the main focus of our conversation that we would take pleasure in that. My friends, if you can’t take pleasure now, why would you want to go to heaven? That’s what they’re going to be talking about. That’s what their focus is on. Worthy is the land that was slain. My friends, if your mind is different than Moses and Elijah, why would you even want to be there? If you leave a world in that condition, this world, in that condition, my friend, you would be unfit for the congregation of heaven. When you meet with the people of God, yes, we should ask how they’re doing and how things are going in their life and so forth. But last, remember, it is the spiritual state that’s important to talk about. It’s Christ’s work that should so thrill us, energize us, capture our attention, that we would speak of it. Christ in him crucified. I would not know anything else among you. Paul says, that’s my main focus. Christ in him crucified. The redemption of your soul is such an important topic for us to converse about. Friends, let us be more spiritually minded. Let us elevate our conversation that we might speak of the glorious redemption of our Savior Jesus Christ. Let me close this morning. There are times when royalty would come as commoners and they’d walk on the face of this earth and people wouldn’t recognize them. When Christ, the Son of God, came to earth, he was veiled. He was hidden from us. Obscured. Few knew his true identity. But on the mound of transfiguration, we’re getting a glimpse. Take a peek. He pulls back the veil. Here I am in all my glory. That’s who I am. And we shouldn’t forget it. It’s a privilege to have a little peak. We weren’t there with Peter and James and John. But their records, the the gospel records give us a peak. Their epistles give us a little peek about his majesty and what it was like. May we take it at the heart this morning. Well, let’s close with a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this glorious passage of scripture. How we have no true inkling for. Of such glory as we have revealed to us in this passage. We pray, Father, one day we will see Christ in all his glory. And we shall be with us. him and he will glorify us too. And we ask Father this morning, bless your people, encourage us, strengthen us in the faith. And as we appeal to you in our prayers, change us even as we seek your face from one state of glory to another, as we draw closer to you, may we also be changed more like Christ. bless your people this morning, Father. We ask in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and with Thanksgiving. Amen. Let’s stand for the benediction this morning. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.