Today, we’re talking about the transfiguration of Jesus, the awe-inspiring moment when Jesus ascends a mountain and is transformed, his face and clothes becoming dazzlingly white. Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus about his impending departure from the world. With Peter, John and James we see the humanness of Jesus’s closest friends. The takeaway? Let God’s voice overshadow any negative thoughts or lies you may believe about yourself. Oh boy, this is a good one. Let’s dive in!
Show Notes:
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Transcription:
It was a sci-fi, transportation to another dimension. And while Peter and John were still reeling, Moses and Elijah showed up. It broke the barrier between heaven and earth. For Jesus was the one who could belong to both at the same time, a citizen of heaven, a citizen of Earth. Author Sarah Lowe, kicking off today’s episode of The Bible for Busy People. Hi, I’m Erica, your host, and she was writing about one of the most remarkable things that happened to Peter and John and James. And I’ll tell you, they had a long list, but this had to be close to the top. Sarah was writing about the transfiguration; one of the coolest adventures that Peter was invited to along with some friends. Let’s go to the mountaintop together, shall we? Join me in Luke chapter nine. And I want you to know that what we’re about to read took place just about a little over a week after Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah in front of the Lord and all of their close friends. That big huge moment you and I read about earlier this week. So join me now in verse 28 of Luke nine.
About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. 31 They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and the others had fallen asleep.
Can we just pitch a small tent right now? What was it like to be in this moment and why in the world did Peter and James and John fall asleep? I mean, I dunno. I fall asleep watching a movie sometimes, but this was the son of God who was transfigured in front of them with Moses, the dude who split the Red Sea, who God used to rescue the Israelites from slavery. And then Elijah, one of the prophets, one of God’s mail carriers in the Bible, a part of so many incredible stories, many of which you and I have studied here on the Bible for Busy People. Remember, he was the one who got so exhausted and burnt out serving the Lord that he sat under a tree and pretty much wished he would die. And remember what God did? He sent the ravens to feed him. He sent an angel to tell Elijah to take a nap. Don’t you love how tender our God is? And Elijah was revived and he went on to serve the Lord. And so, these two amazing people are gathered on the mountaintop with the Lord Jesus who was transformed before their eyes. They were seeing both the human Jesus and the heavenly Jesus. What an amazing sight, but they fell asleep. I so appreciate the humanness of Jesus’s closest friends. It makes me feel better. How about you? So back to verse 32, now.
When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 34 But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them. 35 Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” 36 When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
What a moment. Unforgettable, mysterious, awesome. And when I say the word awesome, I mean it in the realest sense of that word. They must have been filled with awe. Maybe they were even looking at each other, Peter and James and John, and wondering, Did that just really happen? That would’ve been me. I don’t blame them for a hot second. But I want to point you to another story in the Bible that talks about a voice that others hear when Jesus is around. So, join me real quick here in Luke [Matthew] chapter three, verse 13.
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” 15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
Isn’t that incredible? Each time the voice from heaven, the Father, our Father, God speaks it is to point us to Jesus. This is my son in whom I’m well pleased. Another translation says. And I just want to encourage you today because since you’re human like Peter was and his buds, James and John, maybe you hear voices sometimes that point you away from Jesus. Like you’re a bad person. You’re never going to get it right. Why are you doing this Christian thing? You’re ever going to be good enough to be a Christian. You know those voices? That’s not God’s voice speaking to you. The voice from the cloud, the voice of the Father is always going to point you to Jesus. Listen to that voice. I’m struck by how a cloud overshadowed Peter and James and John in that moment on the mountain, it overshadowed them. Let the voice of God, the true voice, the one that says, I love you. I sent my son to die for you. Let that voice overshadow the lies that you tell yourself. The lies that you believe from other people and from the enemy. Just let the cloud overshadow you. Let God fill you with his love and the tenderness he has for you. Let him speak truth over you and let it overshadow those lies for you are so loved.
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