THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

Luke 9:28-43a / Keywords 9:29

As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

 

The Transfiguration

9:28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure,[a] which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Footnotes

a. Luke 9:31 Greek exodos

1. 8 days after Peter’s confession of faith, Jesus went up onto a mountain with his top three disciples. As he was praying, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun (Mt 17:2), and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. In glorious splendor, Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus and talked about his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection. Witnessing the transfiguration, Peter wanted the glorious party to go on forever, but God told him to listen to Jesus. Jesus revealed his heavenly glory so that his disciples could understand who Jesus truly was and follow him assuredly. The transfiguration made a lasting impact on Peter who identified himself as one of the “eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Pe 1:16). Just as Jesus was transfigured, we as Jesus’ people will all be changed in glory when our redemption is complete in the resurrection of the body.

 

2. Jesus came down from the mountain. A man whose only son was demon-possessed begged Jesus to heal his son. He had begged the other nine disciples to drive out the demon but they could not. Lamenting over the unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus healed the boy. People in unbelief suffer, but those in Jesus find deliverance.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for showing us your glory and for revealing our future glory. Help me to listen to Jesus and share his glory with our generation.

One Word Present suffering, future glory