Listen to Him
Luke 9:28-36
Key Verse 35 “A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
Introduction
After hearing Peter’s confession, “God’s Messiah,” Jesus began to teach what the Son of Man must do: suffer much, be rejected and killed and rise again. When Peter heard about these, he strongly rejected Jesus’ teaching. However Jesus continued to say, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”. Jesus challenged them to lose even their lives for him and the gospel because it was the only way to save their lives. When they heard this, they were troubled and confused. They did not really know what he was talking about, and they were afraid to open their mouths. The atmosphere was tense and the relationship between Jesus and his disciples was strained. Jesus was transfigured to help his disciples accept his suffering, death and resurrection and decide to continue following him. Jesus teaches that suffering and death is not the ultimate destiny. After that true glory follows.
Read verses 28 and 29. What did Jesus say about eight days ago? Who went up to a mountain with Jesus? Why? (28b) What happened when Jesus was praying? (29) What do you think this transfiguration revealed about Jesus?
1-1, Read verses 28 and 29.
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.
1-2, What did Jesus say about eight days ago?
About 8 days ago, Jesus told his disciples that the Son of Man must suffer, die and rise again, and that they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him.
Mark’s gospel tells us that the disciples were shocked. Peter even took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. Then Jesus rebuked Peter.
1-3, Who went up to a mountain with Jesus? Why? (28b)
“he took Peter, John and James with him”
Jesus must have had hard time due to their poor spiritual condition.
An ordinary leader might have dismissed the disciples and started over.
Jesus did not. He went up onto a mountain to pray.
It was called Mount Hermon, which rose about 9,200 feet above sea level.
Going up the mount was not because he wanted to go sightseeing but so he could solve the problem through prayer.
Those who try to raise disciples understand that we reach human limits; even Jesus did. We learn from Jesus to pray to God at such times.
1-4, What happened when Jesus was praying? (29)
“As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.”
Luke simply says, “the appearance of his face changed.”
Matthew says, “his face shone like the sun” (Mt 17:2).
We can guess that his appearance is related with his crying out to God.
Luke’s gospel depicts how our Jesus Christ shows His true humanity as the Son of Man.
Luke mentioned Jesus’ prayer more than other synoptic gospels.
Hebrews 5:7 says, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
When Jesus began his prayer, he was crying. He was crying for God’s help to save him from death. He was crying for God’s help to open the spiritual eyes of his disciples.
He was crying for the salvation of the world through his suffering, death and resurrection.
1-5, What do you think this transfiguration revealed about Jesus?
This light was so bright that no one could look at it directly. His clothes, which had been dusty and ragged, began to radiate like flashing lightning.
Jesus revealed his glory and identity as the holy God.
Until now, Jesus’ glory had been veiled by human flesh. But at this time, Jesus’ glory blazed forth in power.
“Transfiguration” in Greek is “metamorphosis,” which is used to describe a change on the outside that stems(originates) from within.
In contrast, the word “masquerade” which is an outward change that does not come from within.
Jesus’ appearance reflects his divine glory.
He revealed his radiant glory as God (Heb 1:3).
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
Before climbing up the mountain, the disciples’ image of Jesus was of a poor, hardworking, sacrificial servant.
He was the friend of sinners and tax collectors. Jesus was always surrounded by many kinds of needy people.
Jesus never ignored them and always welcomed and served them wholeheartedly.
Matthew remembered that Jesus “took up our infirmities and bore our diseases,” and that he had no place to lay his head (Mt 8:17, 20).
Isaiah said: “he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him; nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isa 53:2).
However, Jesus’ original image was not like this. Jesus is the Creator God who is clothed with splendor and majesty.
Jesus’ dazzling white clothes symbolize his glory, majesty, purity, holiness and victory as the Almighty God.
This Jesus would be raised from the dead, defeating the power of death, and exalted to the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
Apostle John saw this glorious Jesus in a vision while in prison on the island of Patmos.
“dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance” (Rev 1:13- 16).
Read verses 30 and 31. Who appeared to Jesus and how did they appear? (30a) What did they speak about? (30b and 31) Why do you think they talked about his departure and the fulfillment at Jerusalem? (22)
2-1, Read verses 30 and 31.
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.
2-2, Who appeared to Jesus and how did they appear? (30a)
“Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.”
Moses and Elijah are great servants in God’s redemptive history.
They both suffered greatly to deliver God’s people.
Moses received 80 years of training to prepare for his mission.
When he became a humble man, God used him powerfully to deliver the people of Israel out of the land of slavery toward the Promised land.
He became the object of bitterness and complaint. When people were tired or hungry or thirsty, they grumbled against Moses.
On one occasion, Moses prayed to God, “If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now...” (Nu 11:15).
Elijah lived in a time when Baal worship poisoned the people in Northern Israel. Elijah fought against Baal worship as a matter of life and death. God gave him a great victory on Mount Carmel.
After working to the point of exhaustion, he was threatened by evil Jezebel and became so discouraged that he prayed, “I have had enough, Lord, take my life” (1 Ki 19:4).
They both saw the glory of God in the midst of suffering.
Moses once asked, “Now show me your glory.” The Lord hid Moses in the cleft of a rock. Then the Lord passed by Moses in all his glory.
Moses saw only the Lord’s back, as the Lord proclaimed.
“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness...” (Ex 34:6).
Strengthened by the vision of God’s glory, Moses could carry out his task as a shepherd for Israel to the end.
When Elijah was deeply discouraged, he ran away to Mount Horeb.
There the Lord displayed his glory before Elijah. It was not in a powerful wind, or an earthquake, or a fire, but in a gentle whisper (1 Ki 19:11-12).
Then the Lord gave Elijah a plan to continue his work in history by raising Elisha & anointing kings of the nations according to God’s will.
This encounter strengthened Elijah to finish his race to the end until he went up to heaven with a chariot of fire.
Both Moses and Elijah had suffered much to deliver God’s people and were strengthened by visions of God’s glory.
At last, they entered God’s eternal glory. They appeared in glory.
Here we find a principle of God’s work: No suffering, no glory. However the glory of God lasts forever.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Ro 8:18).
2-3, What did they speak about? (30b and 31)
“They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”
2-4, Why do you think they talked about his departure and the fulfillment at Jerusalem? (22)
We find two key words here: “departure” and “fulfillment.”
These two words are meaningful in that Jesus will soon depart the earth after suffering in Jerusalem and will fulfill God’s will.
It reached to the point when Jesus would make his final decision to obey God’s will. So it is the crucial momentum for him to complete his mission.
Jesus' departure from this world came through his suffering, death and resurrection, and his ascension to the right hand of the Father.
This departure would restore God’s righteous reign over all creation once again, fulfilling the promises of God in the Law and the Prophets.
Jesus would liberate mankind from the awful bondage to sin, death and the devil and restore those who believed in him to be children of God.
Moses and Elijah must have helped Jesus to see the vision of God’s everlasting kingdom, filled with people from every tribe and nation and language, who would worship and serve God forever.
Moses and Elijah must have testified that Jesus was the one, that Jesus would fulfill all of God’s promises and prophecies.
Through this glorious vision, Jesus found the absolute meaning of his death and was strengthened to obey God’s will to the end.
God gives his kingdom vision to those who must suffer much to bring it about.
The Lord gave Dr. Samuel Lee a vision of raising a kingdom of priests and a holy nation in the USA and the world. For this vision, he suffered a lot.
Dwight L. Moody saw a vision and made a decision to change his job from a mere businessman to a Sunday Bible teacher for children. Later he became a passionate preacher by faith despite many difficulties.
People who see God’s kingdom vision are willing to give their lives for it. We can live and die for it. May God’s kingdom vision come into each of our hearts!
Read verses 32 and 33. What were Peter and his companions doing? (32a) What did they see? (32b) What did Peter say to Jesus? (33) What does it reveal about Peter?
3-1, Read verses 32 and 33.
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.)
3-2, What were Peter and his companions doing? (32a)
They were very sleepy after climbing up the high mountain.
But the real reason was that they had rejected Jesus’ words.
They did not like to hear about suffering and death, much less they want to participate in it.
But the more they did so, the more they became rebellious. Gradually they fell into sorrow and then depression.
When the glorious event was almost over, the disciples began to wake up. At first, they thought they were dreaming.
They saw Jesus’ glory. Jesus, who had been so familiar to them, suddenly looked dazzling and majestic and awesome.
3-3, What did they see? (32b)
To their surprise, it was Moses and Elijah!
3-4, What did Peter say to Jesus? (33)
“They are leaving” indicates that Jesus remains in the end.
But they were leaving. Peter did not want them to leave. He appealed to Jesus to make them stay, saying, “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.”
The parenthetical comment says, “(He did not know what he was saying.)”
3-5, What does it reveal about Peter?
This indicates that Peter was speaking not only from his conscious mind, but from his subconscious mind. He was revealing what’s in his heart.
He wanted to stay on the mountain and enjoy glory with Jesus forever.
Peter had completely forgotten Jesus’ words that he must suffer, die and rise again. He forgot Jesus’ words that whoever would come after him must deny himself and take up his own cross daily.
Peter is a representative sinner. It is part of our sinful nature that we want to enjoy great glory without the cross; great success without hard work.
It was this sinful thought keeping Peter from accepting Jesus’ words.
Peter’s problem was not in his ears, but in his heart. He had his own self-centered dream of glory without suffering.
Read verses 34 - 36. What happened when Peter was speaking? (34) What voice came from the cloud? (35) Why did they need this voice? What do you learn from ‘a voice’? (35, 3:22b) How did Jesus’ disciples respond? (36)
4-1, Read verses 34 - 36.
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.
4-2, What happened when Peter was speaking? (34)
“While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.”
Here the cloud represents the presence of God Almighty.
God had appeared to the Israelites in the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Ex 13:21).
The disciples were suddenly surrounded by the Holy God Almighty, and they were afraid.
4-3, What voice came from the cloud? (35)
“A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’”
With these words, God Almighty affirmed Jesus’ identity in front of his disciples just as it had happened in Luke 3:21-22.
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus, whom they were resisting in their hearts, was not just another man.
He was the Son of God. Jesus is in very nature God. Jesus’ thoughts are God’s thoughts; Jesus’ words are God’s words.
God is the Creator and we are the creatures. God is the source of life and we have no life without him.
God is the Sustainer of all things, and we need his provision daily. God is the only Savior and we need his salvation.
God is the Judge and we will stand before him to be judged. That is why we must accept God’s words from our hearts when he speaks to us.
4-4, Why did they need this voice?
At this time, Jesus’ disciples had to repent of their own ideas and accept Jesus’ words because they were the very words of God.
Jesus taught us the necessity of his suffering, death and resurrection. It was the only way of salvation that God prepared for mankind.
Our salvation was so costly and so difficult to obtain that it required the death of God’s one and only Son.
Jesus alone can save us from our sins, heal the wounds in our souls, restore the image of God in us, give us eternal life and take us to his everlasting kingdom.
Jesus is the only way of salvation. And he taught us that we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow him.
4-5, What do you learn from ‘a voice’? (35, 3:22b)
We must listen to this. I must listen to Jesus. We have enjoyed the word of God. We have freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
God gave us all this to use us as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, sending missionaries to the ends of the earth.
But so many are immersed in self-centered human dreams, petty pursuits, and pleasure seeking. Now, let’s accept God’s kingdom vision, and listen to Jesus.
It was meant to be a secret in their hearts that would enable them to obey Jesus’ teachings throughout their lifetimes.
Today we have seen Jesus’ glorious image as the Son of God who restores God’s righteous reign in the world.
Let’s hold this image in our hearts and see his kingdom vision so that we may listen to him, especially his gospel message and his challenge to follow him.
4-6, How did Jesus’ disciples respond? (36)
After the voice of God spoke to the disciples, they found themselves alone with Jesus. The mountain-top experience of glory was over.
But Jesus remained. In the end, we are alone with Jesus, Jesus who became flesh to be with us.
The disciples kept this experience to themselves, without telling anyone at the time what they had seen.
Martin Luther King Jr said, “I’ve been to the mountain top and seen the other side. And it’s wonderful. And we’re going to get there. I am not fearing any man because I’ve seen the Lord.”
When he had a glorious vision of Christ in his heart, he could bear all the hardships of serving his people as a good leader.
Serving American campus ministry is not easy for us. We face rejections, misunderstandings, persecution and much more.
These can leave wounds and scars in our souls, making us weak and lead us to fall into despair.
We must come to Jesus and see his glory. Then we can have power and joy to take up the cross and follow Jesus to the end.
Conclusion
Just as Peter and the disciples did not like to hear about suffering and rejection, neither do we. In fact, no one likes to suffer and be rejected. We tend to seek glory by bypassing suffering. Sometimes we are wrapped up in fleeting human glory instead. The Bible tells us that true glory stems from God. This glory never fades. True glory comes only through suffering: suffering first, then glory. When we seek this glory, suffering has great meaning. This is what Jesus really wants to help us understand. Also We tend to listen to what we like to hear. We like to hear words of blessing, encouragement, grace, prosperity, peace and forgiveness. But we don’t like to hear words of suffering, self-denial, taking the cross, repentance, obedience and training. So we may try to ignore them. We call this “selective listening.” It is not really listening at all. God told Peter to listen whether he liked it or not. Actually, to deny oneself, take up the cross and follow Jesus is really a great privilege and blessing. This is the way of true glory. So let’s listen to Jesus from our hearts. Have mercy on us so that we may be active listeners!
One word: Listen to Him!
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