Luke 9:28-36 Commentary

Comments, Questions, and Observations

The liturgical calendar gives us a glimpse and experience of glory before reminding us that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Transfiguration Sunday ends Epiphany even as our heels are nipped by Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent—a season where we will try our very hardest to do as God commands from the cloud: to truly listen and do what Jesus said as we follow him to the cross.

Jesus has invited Peter, James and John to go up the mountain with him for one of his prayer times. We know from the gospels that Jesus regularly went away to pray. Often the disciples had to go looking for him, but this time he has invited his inner circle to come with him.

Just a little over a week ago, Jesus talked with the disciples about what was to come. That conversation ended with these words, “Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (verses 26-27)

I can’t help but wonder if the Transfiguration was part of that promise. Because, as Jesus prays, some of his glory bursts out, changing his face and his clothes to the brightness of lightning. Then, Moses and Elijah also appear in a glow of radiant light. They are there to talk to Jesus about what’s to come: how he will leave the earth by what he will fulfill through his death, resurrection and ascension.

Some scholars see Moses and Elijah as significant representatives of the Jewish tradition. Moses represents the law and Elijah the prophets—both of which Jesus himself fulfills perfectly in his time on earth to the glory of God the Father and on behalf of humanity. God’s glory in a snapshot: the law and the prophets being accomplished beyond their letter, fulfilled by God’s own spirit of holiness and perfection.

If this meaning resonates with you, then having Peter, James, and John up on the mountain with him while he prays is another act of revelation by Jesus the Christ. He is purposefully allowing them to see more of the reality and plan of God by inviting them to be present in prayer.

Unfortunately, like what will happen to them in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples are weighed down by sleepiness when they get to the top and Jesus starts to pray. The disciples either fall asleep and wake up to catch a glimpse of what is happening, or they were in some sort of groggy state of wakefulness throughout the whole thing. (The verbal form for “awake” in verse 32 is a participle which can be translated in a few different ways.) That lightning-bright glow seems like it would be hard to sleep through, but either way, what is clear is that they don’t comprehend the magnitude of what is happening—which is also quite similar to what will happen in the Garden.

And honestly, for those of us who know that we’ve had a divine encounter during prayer, it is hard to wrap your mind around. It can feel scary because it is overwhelming, and it can be an experience we don’t want to see end. So when Peter suggests they build some shelters just as Moses and Elijah were leaving, I can’t say that I blame him or find him that foolish. Just because he doesn’t know what he was talking about—presumably why Moses and Elijah were there in the first place— doesn’t mean his motives are bad. Peter seems to want to do an act of service in order to acknowledge the goodness of this moment he’s become more aware of, to perhaps hold onto it a little while longer. Goodness knows, maybe then it would give him, James and John some time to be present to it, now fully awake; and maybe then they’d be able to make some sense of it.

But God makes sense of it for them. As Peter speaks, Elijah and Moses leave and a cloud of glory shrouds them all. Glory has gone from a bright glow to a darkening mist that surrounds them. A voice booms, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Listen to Jesus, their rabbi, who has taught them the true fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Listen to Jesus, their Messiah, who has told them that the way to life is death through the cross. Listen to Jesus, the Father’s Son, who is God’s beloved chosen one and whom they have seen in glory. Listen to Jesus and we too will know the glory of the Father through the Son. Listen to Jesus and we too will shine with lives full of his glory. Listen to Jesus and “when Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.” (Col 3.4)

Textual Point

They aren’t on Mount Sinai during the Transfiguration, but it is worth noting that Moses and Elijah are the two humans said to have met God on the holy mountain (in Exodus 24 and 1 Kings 19, respectively). Here they meet God again, albeit in a new form.

[Note: In addition to these weekly sermon commentaries on the CEP website, we also have a resource page for Lent and Easter with more preaching and worship ideas as well as sample sermons on the Year C Lectionary texts.]

Illustration Idea

C.S. Lewis is often-quoted as saying that he didn’t pray to change God, but to instead change himself. Actually, he is depicted as saying it in the biopic film, Shadowlands, but there is no proof that Lewis himself ever wrote or said the words. All the same, I wonder if it might give us a window into the Transfiguration. Jesus’s appearance changed while he prayed. It seems to me that prayer might make us think and feel like God has changed—just as Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’s face and clothes change. In fact, I hope that our idea and sense of God changes when we pray; it would be a sure sign that we have learned more about God, experienced more of God and God’s glory, and been drawn closer to God. Of course, such an experience would change us—even if it takes a while to come to terms with, as it did for the disciples.