Luke 9:32-36

Luke chapter 9, 28 to 36 for our reading this morning. Our focus this morning will be in the second half of this section. But let me begin with verse 28. And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings. He took Peter and John and James and went up into a month. mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, his remit was white and glistening, and behold, there talked 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 in the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass as they departed from him. Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elias, not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud and overshadowed them. And they feared as they entered into the cloud. 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. God blessed to us, the reading of his sacred. and Holy Word this morning. It’s exceedingly important to be absolutely convinced of those truths associated with the Christian faith, such as the deity of our Savior Jesus Christ. Sometimes people wish that God would speak to them out of heaven, that they would get a voice like out of the cloud here in this Mount of Transcendant. His audible voice to confirm a particular doctor. Now, you might desire something miraculous like this. Such a desire for signs and wonders is nothing new. It’s common in every age. However, most people don’t realize what they are truly asking. After all, you’re made of the same flesh and blood as Peter. James and John. When they heard God’s voice, when they saw Christ transfigured before them, they fell on their faces and were sore afraid, according to Matthew’s Gospel. Such audible and visible evidence of the truth can be downright frightening for us as human beings. So be careful what you wish. You may find it overwhelming in making use. so afraid as well. Remember that saving faith can never come and be produced by carnal sight and sound. It doesn’t work that way. It is the Holy Spirit that works faith in us. And he does it really, most of the time, apart from any miraculous signs. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the world. to God. Simply believe what God has said in the scriptures, and you really need nothing else. Now regarding Luke’s account here of Christ’s transfiguration, we’ve already considered Christ’s prayer and the fashion of his countenance being altered in verses 28 and 29. We also considered the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Christ and and their conversation in verses 30 and 31. We want to ponder the rest of the remainder of this passage, verses 32 to 36. Let me begin by saying this. We see the great pleasure the disciples took in Christ’s glorious appearance. Versus 32 and verse 33. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep. 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. Let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias, not knowing what he said. Now let me begin by saying here you often miss much by being asleep, as we see here in verse 32. Peter James and John appear to have fallen into a deep sleep as Christ was praying. Perhaps it was late night. Perhaps they were weary, or it may just have been done. spiritual, sinful carelessness, if you would, on their part that they fell asleep. When Christ was engaged in prayer, their minds drifted. They’ve lost focus and drifted off to sleep. Now, what’s interesting is sadly these same three disciples that fell asleep on the occasion of the Mount of Transfiguration are the same three that fell asleep. in the garden when Christ was praying to the Father. They were left to sleep on when Christ began to be transfigured and perhaps even during part of the conversation with Moses and Elijah. So they miss part of the glorious event because they fell asleep. Now friends, you and I can be guilty of the same thing. we can miss out on some spiritually beneficial and wonderful things. Now you may literally fall asleep or you may just be spiritually asleep and therefore not able to gain any benefit from those things which are spiritual. You become spiritually lethargic, no, you’re not paying attention, your mind is elsewhere and you’re not focused. You may be in church and be in church and be able to be. whether it be literal, whether it be spiritual in nature. When the Word of God has preached, during the solemn exercise of prayer and so forth, it’s harmful to your soul. And you may miss out on something that’s truly a great benefit to you spiritually. It’s particularly suitable, perhaps, to your circumstances, but you missed it. And your soul was not spiritually refreshed. I read this morning the parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25 is here is the visible church. They’re awaiting the return of the bridegroom Jesus Christ, the second coming. Five were true believers. They’re the ones with the oil in their lamp. Five were foolish. They were false professors. And yet, we read about them all that while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. It wasn’t just the unconverted it did so, but even the converted, slumbered and slept. How sad it is that in the history of Christ’s church, the same thing happens a lot of times. The genuine saints and false professors slumber and sleep side by side. But those who claim they have the oil of grace within them should be wide awake. They shouldn’t be falling asleep. We ought to be serving Christ. We would be watching for his appearance. But there’s a tendency for believers to become weary and well-doing, become spiritually and thergic, and to be sleepy. We become dull of hearing. So that when the Word of God is proclaimed, we don’t get the benefit we should. We remain unedified. They fail to seek God’s blessing upon the word and they receive none. Are you sleepwalking through the Christian life? Listen to Paul’s rebuke here in Romans 1311. It is high time to wake out of sleep. For now is our salvation near than when we believed. Spoken to believers. Wake up. You’re missing out on spiritual growth and knowledge. You’re endangering your soul. You’re opening. the door to all kinds of temptation and falling into sin. In the Song of Solomon, we have a wonderful allegory in this book in Chapter 5. It portrays the bridegroom and the church is the bride. And the chapter 5 opens with the bridegroom of the bride asleep. I sleep, it says. Well, the bridegroom comes and knocks at the door. open to me my sister my love my dove my undefa open to me he wants fellowship with the bride he wants intimate relationship with the bride but being weary and sleepy the bride doesn’t want to get out of bed she’s sluggish she doesn’t want to open the door finally he has been out there prodding her for a bit of time and finally she gets up and goes to the door opens it and guess what the bridegroom is gone he had withdrawn himself and then she has to go out and seek him where is he i got to find him she missed out on an opportunity of the most intimate relationship with christ because she was sleeping don’t let that be you you you often miss much much by being asleep. Secondly, you should delight in fellowship with Christ. We see that in verse 33 where Peter says, Master, it’s good for us to be here. Seems like he’s speaking for the other disciples who are with him when he uses the word us. All three of us, it’s good for all three of us to be here. Prophet, there must have been. To hear Christ, see him in his glory, and hear him conversing with these two glorified saints. Moses and alive. happy were their eyes because they saw the Lord in all his glory happy were their ears for they heard the wonderful and edifying conversation between Christ and Elijah and Moses can you imagine what kind of conversation they had you can imagine perhaps they were talking about the regulation of the law how they portray Christ’s work or maybe they were looking at the prophets and all the prophecies and those key passages of scripture that relate to Christ in his work and his death on the cross and the salvation that he would bring to his people. What a wonderful thing that must have been. On the day of Christ’s resurrection, you recall that the Savior joined two of the disciples who were going back from Jerusalem to Amas. Their eyes were hidden so that they did not recognize Christ when he appeared with them, caught up with them, as they were walking along. the way. And so he joined them. And he asked them why is so sad? And they told them that they were sad because they discussed what things had happened to Christ. And they had hoped that he was going to be the Redeemer of Israel. But the chief priest and the elders and the people put him to death. And they were brokenhearted about it. Greatly disappointed. When Christ was crucified. And what does Jesus say to them? Oh, fools, and slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And then what does he do? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded under them in all the scriptures the things pertaining to him. Eventually, the Lord opened their eyes, and they realized it was the risen Savior, but he disappears then out of their sight. But overjoy, the disciples say to one another, did not our hearts burn within us while we talk with us, by the way, and while he opened the scriptures to us. Boy, was that great to have him do that. Surely you can imagine the disciples here, on the amount of transfiguration hearing this edifying conversation must have had the same feeling. Their hearts burn within them. It’s good for us to be here. To hear this, to see this. It’s good for their spiritual knowledge. It was good for their faith. It was good for their comfort of heart to be there. As a believer, I hope you will say along with the psalmist, it’s good to draw near unto God. as Psalm 73.28 tells us, you find fellowship with Christ, in a sense, provides us with a tiny glimpse of heaven and the glory of it. It rejoices your heart. It elevates your heart above all the things you could possibly have with regard to the things of this earth. It delights your soul. It elevates your heart above all the things that you could possibly have. to meditate upon Christ, to have your eyes open to biblical truth about Christ in his work. Behold the beauty of the Savior himself. So draw an eye unto God, and he will draw an eye unto you. That’s what James tells us in James 4.8. It’ll do your soul good. You should delight in fellowship with Christ. Third point is this. Your zealty is this. is misplaced if you look for a heaven here on earth. You’ll notice Peter says here, let’s make three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elijah, not knowing what he said. Finding the situation of the Mount was so pleasant, it seems like Peter wants to prolong it. He wants to stay there for a while and perceiving that Moses and Elijah are taking their departing. they’re leaving. He decides to make this extraordinary proposal to the Lord. Hey, why don’t know I, we build three tabernacles and we can all stay up here for a while. This proposal showed at the same time some things were excellent and some things that were foolish. I’ll take the excellent first. First, it showed you a great appreciation and love for the Savior a high regard also for the presence of these heavenly visitors. that they would want to be with them. He also saw how valuable the amazing experience was to their souls and says, hey, I wish I could prolong this because this is good. It showed a disinterest in their own comfort. They’re willing to build for Moses and Christ and Elijah, but I guess they’re willing to sleep on the ground. They don’t have to have a tent. Just let us stay here. Evidently the disciples were, content to do that. Peter also made this request in a spirit of humility. If thou wilt, let us do this. Now what was foolish? How could Peter ever imagine the glorified saints would want to stay here? In a world it’s corrupt and so forth. And it’s earthly, you know, under, in some kind of, you know, temporary earthly shelter when they have glorified, uh, a glorified house in the heavens. Considering the ministry of Christ had yet to be completed, what they were talking about, that soon he’s going to have his departure, why do you want to detain him? He’s focused on his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his glorification. That’s where his eyes are. He’s already set his heart to go to Jerusalem. Why detain him? Or how could Peter think that it was desirable for him and the other two apostles with him not to go about their apostolic work of preaching the gospel. They’re just going to stay up there on the mountain for a while. But we see the answer to all this at the end, not knowing what he said. He taught, he spoke without giving it much full thought. And in the wonder and excitement and the fear of the event, Peter has overcome and he speaks unadvisedly. And we can just have to accept that that happens sometimes. Friends, we’re off target if we ever think we can get some kind of utopia on this earth. It’s just not going to happen. You’re a pilgrim. You’re a foreigner. You’re a foreigner in this world. Don’t expect to construct here a continuing city or some kind of everlasting abode because it’s not going to happen. There’s a tendency among Christians to isolate themselves. from the world around them to build their little utopia apart from society. But God never attended for us to live on the mountaintop. So there is no building of any tats up here. This is a temporary. This is a one-time event. In the sermon in the Mount, you recall Jesus explained your relationship as the believer to the world under two headings. You are the salt of the world and you are the light of the world. Now think about that a minute. Salt, in order to work, has to be mixed in with the food, doesn’t. Or in a case of meat as a preservative, you know, to keep the meat from rotting. They used to salt it. And that would keep the meat from decaying so you can eat it. later on. They didn’t have refrigeration back then. And so the salt had to be mingled in with the food or with the meat to be useful. And light, what good is light, but to light up something dark, to make what’s dark to make what’s dark illuminated. And so we have to be in the darkness in some sense in order to be an illumination, to be the light of the world. we have to be connected with the world we’re to show forth the praises of God in the midst of this world because we’re sent by the Lord into the world to be a witness to it as john 17 18 indicates so we see the great pleasure the disciples took in Christ’s glorious appearance here you can miss much by falling asleep you should delight in fellowship with Christ and there is is misplaced if you think some or other we can look for a heaven or some utopia here on earth. Secondly, we see the wonderful testimony which God the Father gave concerning Christ in verses 34 to 36. Let me talk about God’s voice out of the cloud, verses 34 and 35 first. While he thus spake, there came a cloud and overshadowed them. And they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud saying, this is my beloved son. Hear him. Matthew tells us it wasn’t just a cloud. It was a bright cloud, he tells us. It is the Shikina, Lord, or the glory cloud that we read about in the Old Testament that filled the tabernacle in the temple. It was a symbol. of the immediate presence of Jehovah God. A token, if you would, of the presence of God the Father here. But we should always realize when God presents himself, even in an obscure form, like when he came down on Mount Sinai on the cloud too, it’s frightening. It’s something that’s scary. And we read here that, the hearts of even good men are filled with some degree of fear. They enter it into this cloud, realizing its significance they were afraid. Out of the cloud comes the voice. And it’s the voice of God the Father saying this. It’s a simple but vital message. This is my beloved son. Hear him. Now notice here that Jesus is declared to be God’s beloved son, having all the fullness of the godhead bodily. Moses and Elijah are about to be with John. They’re going to give place to God’s son. The disciples are not to be troubled and tried to detain Moses and Elijah. Someone greater stands in their place, the Son of God of self. Hear him. Listen, with attention, with ears to hear, with obedience, the Son of God. And then Jesus is found alone with the disciples in verse 36. 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. After Jehovah’s voice was gone, And the cloud disappeared. And Moses and Elijah had vanished. The disciples found himself alone with Christ. And Christ had again laid aside his visible glory and veiled it. So that now he appears just as a normal human being as he appeared before the transfiguration. He’s restored to that. state they first when they first met. Jesus, according to Matthew, charged them, tell the vision to no man, until the son of man be risen from the dead. Probably this account would seem too fantastic, or maybe an idle dream, incredible for people to believe, without the backing of the resurrection and the recognition of his glorification in heaven. but after the resurrection, you know how the disciples talked about Christ being in heaven and how he was glorified. But for the present, the disciples didn’t tell a soul. They kept the matter in their hearts. Let me make this final observation on this passage. And that is on these two words, Here, Christ. There’s a tendency for, for us sometimes to get caught up with human preachers and their abilities and their skills. Now, we would certainly recognize Moses and Elijah, and we would say, boy, these were great men of God, who taught us the things of God. But there’s a tendency sometimes to elevate even godly ministers to a place where they shouldn’t be. to hang on every word they say, to buy every book they write, and read them with interest and enthusiasm. But remember, these words that were spoken by Moses long ago in Deuteronomy 18, a prophet, shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me, him shall ye hear, in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. and it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people. There’s a sense in which when the father says, hear him, it’s a gentle rebuke, I think, of Peter here, and saying, don’t put my son on the same level as Elijah. Moses, a greater than they are, is here, he’s my son. A good lesson for us to take the heart, too. Are you hearing Christ’s words? Are you giving Christ’s words the proper, superior place in your life? The words of men may or may not be true. They may be faithful to scriptures, they may not be. Christ’s words always coincide with the divine will. and error. Great men come and go. They pass. We’re here for a generation and they’re gone. Christ is here forever. Hear him. Some people, I’d like to talk about the voice of the church. However, we should never be satisfied with the voice of the church. We had to be satisfied with the voice of Christ. And if it’s not found in this book, in the scriptures, there’s no light in them, even though they say they the claim to be the voice of the church. The voice of the church is only useful as it agrees with the scripture. Godly men are to be witnesses of the truth. But remember, Jesus Christ is the truth. Let us conclude this morning by saying this. You may want a miraculous decoration of truths of Scripture, I don’t know that you and I are of the stuff that could handle that. The audible voices, the visible experiences, and so forth. You read about Daniel being, you know, falling to the ground and trembling and, you know, being like a dead person. And that was just an angel appearing before it. God is not going to confirm his word to us in these miraculous signs today. He simply says, believe what he says is word. Now, we’ve considered the transfer of his word. and I hope as we’ve considered it you see there is much to learn there are many lessons I think to be gathered and benefited by this text and what it contains I hope that we have benefited by let’s close with a word of prayer heavenly father we bow before you we ask Lord that you would be pleased to forgive us our own foolishness and sin Help us to be focused on the words of Christ and his teaching. And those who were guided by the spirit of God, knowing that the spirit of Christ was in them. And that’s why they speak the truth and were inspired to write the scriptures. Bless us as your people, Father. Strengthen us in the faith. Encourage us in the ways of the Lord. And we ask these things in the name of Christ. Jesus, our Lord, and Savior this morning with Thanksgiving. Amen. Let us stand for the benediction. Now the Lord of peace himself, give you peace always, by all means, the Lord be with you all. Amen.