Sunday, March 4, 2007

Luke 9:28-36 (The Message)
Jesus in His Glory
28-31About eight days after saying this, he climbed the mountain to pray, taking Peter, John, and James along. While he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became blinding white. At once two men were there talking with him. They turned out to be Moses and Elijah—and what a glorious appearance they made! They talked over his exodus, the one Jesus was about to complete in Jerusalem.
32-33Meanwhile, Peter and those with him were slumped over in sleep. When they came to, rubbing their eyes, they saw Jesus in his glory and the two men standing with him. When Moses and Elijah had left, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, this is a great moment! Let's build three memorials: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He blurted this out without thinking.
34-35While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then there was a voice out of the cloud: "This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him."
36When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus there alone. They were speechless. And they continued speechless, said not one thing to anyone during those days of what they had seen.

Can you imagine being Peter, John, or James on the day we just read about? They are on a mountain with Jesus, their friend, and he is praying as he usually does. But something unusual happened. Jesus’ clothes started glowing and his face changed in appearance. Then two men, Moses and Elijah, who have been dead for years are there, talking with Jesus about his work on earth! This sounds like the makings of a ghost story!

It is no wonder that Peter, John, and James are speechless. They had fallen asleep while Jesus was praying, but the glowing and the two dead men with him woke them up. Peter starts talking without really knowing what he is talking about. He wants to build memorials; he is trying to capture the moment so it does not end. It would be like you or I trying to take a picture of the scene so we do not forget it.

Other amazing things happen. A cloud covers them and they hear a voice. Then it all leaves and Jesus is standing there, alone.

This is kind of a mysterious passage. We call it “The Transfiguration.” What does it mean, that Jesus turned white on a mountain and two famous, but dead religious figures come and talk to him? What about the cloud and the voice? What about the disciples not knowing what to say and then not being able to say anything at all?

This passage reassures us that Jesus is the Son of God. The voice in the cloud is God’s voice. He says “This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him.” This is really important because in the section just before this, Luke 9:21-27, Jesus has predicted he will die. The words God speaks through the cloud tell Jesus and the disciples that this path of suffering and death is the path he has chosen for Jesus. God gives Jesus credibility by telling the disciples to listen to him. What Jesus says, even what he says about his death, is the truth.

How do you think this experience changed Peter, John, and James?
How do you think this experience made Jesus feel?
Have you ever had an experience with God that made you speechless? If so, what was it?
How did it make you feel? Were you changed?