Luke 9 Part 2 (1)

Pray Psalm 27.4-6.
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

Sing Psalm 27.4-6.
(St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise)
One thing we request but to dwell with You, Lord,
Your beauty to test and to think on Your Word.
In trouble You hide us secure in Your grace.
No foe may o’erride us: We sing of Your praise!

Read and meditate on Luke 9.28-36.

Preparation
1. What did Jesus talk about with Moses and Elijah?

2. What did the voice say to the disciples?

Meditation
We recall that Jesus had just explained that He was going to suffer, die, and rise from the tomb (vv. 21, 22). Now here, up on the mountain and during a season of prayer, Jesus discussed the same with Moses and Elijah (vv. 29, 30). How were they able to appear to Him? We can’t explain that, except that God granted them transport in their spirits to meet with Him in glory.

This conversation shows us two things: (1) The suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus are firmly grounded in the Old Testament. Moses and Elijah represent the entirety of the Old Testament, showing us that part of Scripture is very familiar with everything about Jesus. (2) This subject is drenched in glory. This is because it pleased God to bring Jesus to suffering, that by His stripes and death we might be healed.

Imagine the disciples’ surprise, to wake up and see this incredible sight (vv. 32, 33). They longed to remain there in the glory of God (v. 33). But they did not expect a voice to come out of that glory and speak to them. The Father’s voice refocused Peter, John, and James on Jesus and reminded them that their calling to glory would only be realized through Him, by hearing and obeying His Word, that is, all of Scripture (vv. 34, 35). The disciples didn’t immediately say anything about this episode (v. 36), perhaps because it was simply too wonderful to relate. Glory is like that, yeah it is.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Lk. 9.18)
“But who do you say that I am?” (Lk. 9.20)

The crowds were leaning toward John the Baptist, or an old prophet/lawgiver like Moses (1 Ki. 2.3; Neh. 9.14; Mal. 4.4), or Elijah the quintessential prophet (Mal. 4.5; Lk. 1.17; Jms. 5.17, 18).

In addition to the “glory-drenched” meaning of this experience, it was also an opportunity to confirm and reinforce Peter’s declaration, when he answered Jesus’ query with, “You are the Christ of God” (Lk. 9.20), and to convince John and James of the truth of Peter’s words.

There they were, those three: Jesus, accompanied by two wrongly supposed candidates for who He was: Moses and Elijah (Lk. 9.19). And then, Poof! Two were gone and one was left to bear the Name:
“This Is My Beloved Son!” Not Moses, not Elijah, but Jesus, the Christ of God.

Because they were dust (Ps. 103.14), Peter, James, and John fell into sleepiness. But then they woke up and “saw His glory” (Lk. 9.32).

Are we ever “sleepy” about Who Jesus is?
Do we need to wake up to the fact that He is God?
Paul, who was not known to mince words, wrote, “…now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly…” And “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13.11-14).

Are we awake? Are we awake enough to hear what God said about His Beloved Son, the Christ of God? “Hear Him!” (Lk. 9.35).

And what does Jesus say that we need to hear? “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me…and see the Kingdom of God” (Lk. 9.23, 27).

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
(C. T. Studd, 1860-1931)

For reflection
1. What is the glory of God? How did Peter, James, and John experience it? How did Jesus manifest it?

2. With this in mind, what does it mean for you to live for God’s glory?

3. How would you explain to a new believer what God means by saying we should “hear” Jesus?

In our greatest glories on earth, let us remember that in this world we have no continuing city. What need we have to pray to God for quickening grace, to make us lively! Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Luke 9.28-36

Pray Psalm 27.7-14.
Pray that the Lord will lead you through this day, teaching and guiding you at every step, guarding and protecting you, and giving you many reasons to praise Him.

Sing Psalm 27.7-14.
(St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise)
Hear, Lord, when we cry and be gracious, we pray!
Lord, do not deny us Your favor this day!
Our help, our salvation, though others may fall,
preserve our good station when on You we call.

Lord, teach us; Lord, lead us because of our foes!
Hear, Lord, when we plead for release from their woes.
Had we not believed all Your goodness to see,
our heart sorely grieved and in turmoil would be.

Wait, wait on the Lord; persevere in His grace.
Hold fast to His Word; seek His radiant face.
Be strong, set your heart to abide in His Word;
His grace He imparts; therefore, wait on the Lord.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.