Home -- English -- Luke -- 061 (The End of Christ's Ministry in the Mountainous Region of Galilee )
Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 3 - JESUS' MINISTRY IN GALILEE (Luke 4:14 - 9:50)
17. The End of Christ's Ministry in the Mountainous Region of Galilee (Luke 9:10-50)
LUKE 9:28-36
28 It happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. 30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 33 It happened, as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said. 34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” 36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.
Jesus called his disciples to deny themselves and take up the cross at all times, for he chose this way for himself, making himself of no reputation, and died for us on the infamous and accursed cross. There is no other way for salvation except through of the Lamb of God.
This way is but a transition period whose aim is to glorify God in the unity of love. Jesus chose his mature disciples, and showed them the true glory in God’s communion that they might clearly understand the aim of their self-denial, for this is the guiding principle of all mature believers: To glory through the cross.
This glory is not received through a gift from God, but through humble prayer. Luke showed us more than the other evangelists Jesus at prayer, and thus a model for all who pray. As he spoke with his Father, the appearance of his face became different, for God is the center and direction of the prayer. He created man in his image, and therefore this image can most easily be found in prayer.
In Christ’s union with God, his appearance and his robe changed into light. The face of Moses shone after his meeting with God. But Jesus, the founder of the New Testament was the Holy One himself, and therefore the glory that appeared in him was complete and unveiled (Compare 2 Corinthians 3:4-18).
Open your eyes and observe what is strange and seemingly impossible: the dead are alive. Moses is the founder of the law, and Elijah is the symbol of the prophets. This shows that Christ in his prophecies about his death, was in full harmony with the teachings of the Old Testament, for Christ did not set up his kingdom by human power and ability, but by suffering the cross, and resurrection.
Probably the two glorious servants of God had to tell the incarnate Son about the mysteries and difficulties of his planned sacrificial death. His death with all its effect on the universe is beyond human understanding. Therefore the Son prepared himself to die crowned with shame purposely and intentionally to reconcile men with the Holy One.
This transfiguration took place for the three disciples might also understand the way of the cross as the only way to the eventual glory. However, Peter did not see the cross, but only glory, and while his Lord was talking to everyone about the hour of his death, his subconscious murmured about his wish: to cling to those three holy men so that Paradise might come into the world, and he might go there without sufferings and worries. It was not easy for the disciples to see the shining glory of Christ, for they slept in a state of extreme exaltation, shining light and beauty. Their human spirits could not bear the appearance of God’s glory. They also slept in Gethsemane when the fullness of God’s wrath, and all the temptations of the devil descended upon Jesus. But the three eyewitnesses on the Mount of Transfiguration were granted wakefulness to see with open eyes and with astonishment the God of light who dazzled them with a splendor more than the brightness of the midday sun displays (John 1:14).
In this sleeplike or half-conscious state, there came the cloud of the light of God, which had accompanied the people in the wilderness, and which Ezekiel saw with awe, for it was the veil of the glory of the Holy One. Fear fell upon those creatures, and their offences troubled their consciences. But the Creator did not come to judge his Son’s witnesses, for their faith had saved them. He brought good tidings to those who were afraid, and showed them the way to full salvation. The Holy Bible does not contain many divine words with which God directly addressed his creatures; therefore we need to penetrate deeply into each letter of his words and repeat them in our prayers to God.
God the Holy One called Jesus his Son, because he humbled and denied himself, and chose the way of the cross. This was the will of the Father. The divine nature of the Father appears in the Son’s meekness. Christ is not a created prophet, but he proceeded from the Father before all ages, and was an eternal, holy, and glorious one of the three divine persons.
The Son of God became incarnate because of our sinful state. His Father kept him as the apple of his eye since childhood, and the Holy Spirit developed his human talents with his heavenly power. Thus the Man Jesus became the perfect Man who determined in his love to die for others, for he alone was worthy to die as a substitute for us.
He was the incarnate Word of God, and the Revelation of his true eternal will. God commands you to hear Jesus’ word daily and accept it, for it is filled with creative power, divine authority, and spiritual comfort. Christ’s word offers you eternal life.
When the disciples heard God’s revelation and commandments and accepted them, they realized who Jesus was, and knew that he was not a political savior, but the Son of God in flesh, and the sacrificial Lamb to die on the cross. At this moment, the vision stopped and the voice became silent, and they saw Jesus alone. This is the summary of our faith: We do not require angels, saints, bishops, or churches, for Jesus is our Savior, and our faith in him delivers us. You will never see anyone of help to you except Christ. Bind yourself to him, for God says to you, “This is my beloved Son. Hear him.”
PRAYER: O Father, we thank you for sending your Son to our evil world to save us. Cleanse our ears and hearts that we may listen to his words and keep them, that we may realize his divinity, respond to your Fatherhood, and glorify you for his death on the cross by our pure and wise behavior.
QUESTION 70: Why did Jesus show his disciples his eternal glory?