Transfigured and Transformed

Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and went up on the mountain to pray. Luke 9:28

The disciples have been on the move and Jesus has been preaching and healing. Crowds have been following them, and maybe it was time to get away from it all - To take some time out for prayer.

For an hour each week, we disengage from the cares of our weekday, work-a-day world by coming to church. We come to worship to get away from it all, to pray, even hoping to meet Jesus.

On that mountain – during that time of prayer – everything changed. There is a stunning, transfiguring vision, and a cloud overshadows them. Jesus is transfigured before their eyes. They see Moses and Elijah.

A heavenly voice says, This is my Son, my chosen, listen to Him. Luke 9:35

This encounter could be a description of what we hope for in worship – an encounter with Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, the scriptures – and a renewed vision of Jesus – perhaps a word from the Lord, or even the hope of a revelation of some sort – a fresh insight.

It is not solely through our efforts that we discover the truth, but rather through the Lord’s gracious revelation. Peter didn’t figure Jesus out – but rather He was revealed to Peter on the mountain top as the transcendent Lord – Chosen One of God, King of kings – the One who is beyond the limitations of time and space.

Peter had listened to Jesus’ teaching every day, just as we listen to the gospel every Sunday. I’m sure he learned a lot. Yet something more was necessary: A moment of revelation – of insight prompted by the Lord. That divine push helped Peter put together what he had been learning – and then move to a greater level of understanding.

Maybe that’s the way it works for us. We come to church – and read the scriptures and go to Bible study classes. We grow in understanding. But hopefully there are moments when we, like Peter, receive fresh insight by the guidance of the Spirit - moments when we are led to put our knowledge together in a new way. With the Spirit’s help, we may get a glimpse of the kingdom - the rule of God breaking into our lives.

The gospel suggests three ways to open our selves up to the Spirit so that we might, like Peter, in some way see the light – that Christ’s light might shine in a new way in our lives: Bible study, Prayer, and being a disciple in our daily lives.

This is my Son, my chosen, listen to Him. Luke 9:35

Listen for His voice speaking to you through scripture. You can do that through reflective, prayerful Bible study. What I mean is doing a little more than just reading the text. Read it through once, and then more slowly again. Make some time so you can quietly ponder the text, asking how might it speak to my life. Pray about it.

I’m challenging you to fast – to abstain from some activities that take your time now. Give them up for the six weeks of Lent so you can make time to listen to Jesus speaking to you through the word.

They went up on the mountain to pray. Luke 9:28

The revelation to Peter, James and John came after they went off with Jesus for a time of prayer – an extended time of prayer. To move our scripture study beyond Bible facts, we need times of prayer. If Jesus needed to pray, then so do you. Prayer settles us down and opens us up. It allows us to shed our ambitions and to immerse ourselves in the desires of the Lord.

Prayer isn’t really so much about changing God’s mind as it is about changing our hearts.

Prayer is not just about asking for things so we can get what we want. Rather it’s praying “Thy will be done” in my life, and seeking His will – what would the Lord have me do – so that I get what I need, rather than what I want.

Set aside some time for prayer – a quiet time each day – maybe just ten or fifteen minutes of silence – when you’ll simply pray, and meditate – and open your mind to the Lord.

On the mountain top, Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus about his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. Luke 9:30-31

Jesus was resolute; he set his face toward his suffering, death and resurrection.

The disciples came down from the mountain and walked with Him to Jerusalem. We are invited to join them as Jesus says, to take up our cross, deny self, and follow.

Will you accept Christ’s invitation?

C. S, Lewis wrote about a time when he was in a darkened tool shed. There was a single beam of light streaming through a small crack in the roof. He looked at it, admired that beam of light in the darkness. Then he changed his position to look along it – with it – and saw something different – what it illuminated.

Lewis said this is a metaphor for two different ways of knowing. One is observation from the outside; the other is participation from the inside.

Observation from the outside would be looking at Jesus – studying the scriptures to learn more about Him. It’s an objective, even scientific approach to the subject.

That tells us a lot, but that doesn’t tell us everything. The second way – or second step, is participation from the inside.

With Jesus, that simply means accepting His invitation to follow Him – to start living His way, putting His teaching into action in your life, and even participating in his on-going mission. And as we are in fellowship with others who are striving to follow, we come to know the light of Christ by seeing it reflected in the lives of other believers.

Following Jesus on the way to Calvary will mean self denial. But if you accept his invitation, the Lord promises transformation. When you follow His teaching in your life, you look, sound, and act like a different person. You speak truth to others. You live in love, as Christ loved you. You act in ways that are kind and tenderhearted. You offer enemies a smile. You think of the needs of others – and even put them before your own. You begin to live a transformed life, because you are walking with Jesus - and thus you really come to know Jesus because you are participating in His way of life.

(Mark 9:1-9)

¹ And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.

² Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

³ His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

⁴ And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—

⁶ because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

⁷ And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

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.

Present with power: The Transfiguration, a visible experience of the kingdom power, observed about six days later by three disciples, was a foretaste of both the Resurrection and Second Coming of Jesus. ~NSFLB~

(Luke 9:28-36)

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Luke reports that the topic of conversation with Moses and Elijah was Jesus' decease (v. 31) The experience confirmed Jesus in His decision to go to Jerusalem to suffer. The fulfillment of God's plan comes through the Cross. Since the word for "decease" is literally "exodus," suggesting Jesus' departure from the world, the conversation probably included a discussion of the Resurrection and the Ascension as well as the Crucifixion. The appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus signifies that the Law and the Prophets support Jesus in His messianic mission. ~NSFLB~

~Bits and Pieces of a Sermon of the San Antonio Luthern Church ~

One Sack of Food

"When Jesus heard [about the beheading of John the Baptist] he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart" (Matthew 14:13). Surely Jesus was saddened and needed a time to pray--John was his fore-runner and his relative! The foe was coming closer. 'Herod had heard of the fame of Jesus.' But just now 'the people had heard him and they followed him on foot.'

"Even so, Jesus went out to meet the multitude, and was moved with passion" and went about healing the sick. They stayed until evening, longing to hear and see more of this Jesus. His disciples approached him saying, "This is a desert place (v. 13) . . . send them away . . . to buy themselves victuals" (Matthew 14:15).

Now Jesus had been made sorrowful. Going to the Father to refresh himself, he moved on. May I quote him? "They need not depart, give ye them to eat" (Matthew 14:16). These people were now physically hungry! As for the soul, Jesus taught much in spiritual nourishment, yet he never neglected the physical needs of the crowd gathered around him.

One sack of food, offered with a smile and a concern in the voice, does make a difference to the often disappointed, abandoned and many times lonely human soul who timidly inquires for just one sack of food. Can we take time out of our day, our circumstances, perhaps even our sorrows and move into another mode, that of action? Placing our burdens at the feet of the Father, we then will be able to do as Jesus so willingly did! First he was saddened, then he prayed. He then cared for the spiritual needs of the people. His example of compassion, if there is a need--give ye them to eat. The crowd was drawn to him long before the food was served!

We too must go, being filled with that same compassion and having the courage to lay aside our own petty problems of the day, search and find the needy. Sometimes it is just only being there at the right time and with the right attitude. If it takes a sack of food for their bellies, then knowing Jesus would approve, 'give ye them to eat!' But never, never leave anyone destitute for the powerful food, the words of Jesus! The Word that fills the soul with the unbounded joy. He said, "Bring them hither to me" (Matthew 14:18). It may only take one sack of food!

~by Judy Corns

Father-God, I pray that I will live a life worthy of the calling I have received. I purpose to bless others, keeping your ways and doing what is right and just in Your sight. I pray that my offspring will be a blessing to all the nations of the earth.

Germaine Copeland - Browse all of our prayers by clicking here.