This is a copy of my talk given at Ayia Kyriaki and Saint Stephen’s in the Anglican Church of Paphos on Sunday 2 March 2025. The Bible reading was Luke 9:28-36.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for Your word.
By the power of Your Holy Spirit,
May You speak to my heart,
And change my life.
In the precious name of Jesus I pray.
Amen.
Introduction
You may remember the word Metamorphosis from your biology/science class at school! It’s one of the more remarkable biological occurrences. Metamorphosis is when an ugly, crawly creature like a caterpillar forms a chrysalis, undergoes a complete transformation and turns into a beautiful, delicate butterfly.
The Bible has a more remarkable story when Jesus himself metamorphosed into something radically different. The Bible calls it ‘The Transfiguration.’ It’s an event which matches the magnitude of the virgin birth and Jesus’ resurrection.
- Prayer vs 28-29
Only three disciples went with Jesus. We’re not told why, although it wasn’t unusual for Jesus to pull Peter, James and John aside. Out of the group of 12 disciples, these three were ones Jesus seemed to trust more than the others.
Luke tells us, not for the first time in his gospel, that Jesus is praying. Jesus’ constant praying shows his love for his Father in heaven and his confidence that his prayers were heard. As a young believer, I would think, “Jesus was the Son of God. Everything was easy for him.”
But there’s a bit of mystery here. Jesus was fully divine yet fully human. And he endured human suffering just like us. So, his need for prayer may not have been that much different than ours. Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Prayers and petitions. Fervent cries, tears and submissions. Jesus understands our suffering because he suffered greatly whilst here on earth.
It was whilst he was praying that Jesus was transformed before the disciples’ eyes. His face was altered. His clothing became dazzling white. His body lit up like a blazing light. Jesus was changed into a glorified heavenly state.
- Jesus, Moses and Elijah vs 30-33
If the moment wasn’t already astonishing, now two great men of God, Moses and Elijah, appear with Jesus, right in front of the three disciples.
There are many speculations why these two men appeared. Moses seems to represent the OT Law, while Elijah represents the Prophets. Both of those portions of the Scriptures point ultimately to Jesus. But the subject matter of their conversation is clear: “They spoke of Jesus’ departure and what he would accomplish in Jerusalem.” This refers to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and probably his ascension into heaven. His “departure.” All of that was to happen in and near Jerusalem. The last 3 chapters of Luke speak of this.
The intriguing thing about Moses (Exodus 34:29-35) when he came down from the mountain, was that he didn’t know he was shining with the Glory of God (Shekinah Glory). It happened because he had been in God’s presence. Those around him were so terrified they asked to cover his face.
What were Peter, John, and James thinking about this stunning scene before them? Jesus glorified like the sun. Ancient leaders of Israel appearing before their very eyes. Were they terrified? Peter, as usual, is the first to speak up. I love Peter, He is bold and outspoken. Sometimes he says something beautiful and other times he gets it wrong. Here Peter says something that seems to make no sense: “Let us set up tents for you, Moses and Elijah.”
Why did he say this? Commentators speculate as to what Peter intended to say. He may have not wanted the experience to end. Or as Mark 9:6 says, “he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” Some of us might relate to this. From some frightening experience, we said or did something … and we later wondered, “Why did I do/say that?”
- God Speaks vs 34-36
We read a cloud came over them and they heard a voice, God himself, speaking to them: “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” If Peter, James, and John had any doubts before as to who Jesus was, witnessing Jesus lit up like the blazing sun, seeing the long dead Moses and Elijah alive before them, and now hearing a voice from heaven, surely, they had no doubts now. This was a moment they would never forget. But there is more to it than simply an unforgettable moment.
God the Father’s words point us back to an OT prophecy of the coming Messiah. Moses spoke words of a coming prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers – it is to him you shall listen…”
This Voice from the cloud seems to be articulating these very words, making the point that this long-awaited Prophet – the Messiah – is here. And the people should listen to him. Don’t ignore him. Don’t doubt him. Don’t disregard him. Don’t disobey him.
The three disciples told no one of this astonishing moment. We know from Matthew’s and Mark’s Gospels Jesus told them to tell no one until after the resurrection. And besides, how would you explain this? The glorification? Moses and Elijah? This event was not some simple stunt someone videos and posts on YouTube. This event was unprecedented. Sobering. Alarming. And Terrifying.
- Why The Transfiguration?
This is such an unusual moment. I’ve read this many times and wondered, “Why did this happen?” What was the purpose? There is hardly anything else quite like it in the entire Bible. Let me offer a few thoughts.
1. It gave the three disciples a glimpse into the glory of Jesus when he comes back to earth. This future glory of Christ when he comes again to earth soon is displayed for a short time on this mountaintop experience. Thirty years later, Peter wrote with words of awe about this day on the mountain. 2 Peter 1:16–18 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honour and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
2. Jesus himself may have been strengthened by this event. We know from the Scriptures that Jesus never sinned. He never panicked nor doubted his heavenly Father. He was not only 100% divine he was 100% human. Though sinless, Jesus experienced pressures and grief and sorrow.
The clearest example is his prayerful agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. We can read about that in Luke 22 just hours before the Crucifixion. In his prayerful agony, as he felt the weight of his impending suffering on the Cross, Jesus’ sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. To be glorified here on the mountain, and to talk about his coming suffering in Jerusalem may have given the Lord Jesus strength for his days ahead – strength when facing this unimaginable human suffering.
3. The disciples would have been strengthened by this experience. Just a week earlier, Jesus spoke hard words about his own suffering on the Cross, and the disciples’ suffering for his sake. Luke 9:22–23 “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
After hearing such hard, perhaps even shocking, words a week earlier, now on the mountain the three disciples would have found great strength by seeing a glimpse of the coming glory in the resurrection, ascension, and His second coming. Yes, Jesus is going to suffer and die. But he will rise. Yes, the disciples themselves will suffer as they follow Jesus and proclaim him to the world. But there is something glorious, something heavenly that awaits them.
4. Seeing Moses and Elijah would have given reassurance to the disciples that there is life after death. Though it’s hard for us to grasp what happened here when Moses and Elijah appeared, to see them would have been sort of a pledge to the disciples of their own immortality. These ancient leaders of Israel had been gone for centuries. The disciples would have heard of them and read about them from the Scriptures. Now they are standing right here in front of them. That means there truly is life after the grave. We don’t die then simply vanish. Peter, James, and John already believed in life after death, but surely this moment dramatically increased their convictions that everything they had been taught about life after death was absolutely true.
Conclusion
Though this story in Luke 9 is quite unusual, even strange, it is a story that builds hope in us. Hope that Jesus is who he claims to be. It builds faith, that all we’ve been taught is absolutely true. It increases our motivation to work for Jesus, for everything we do matters. It is useful. It is not in vain.
At the conclusion of his splendid chapter on the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of our bodies, Paul magnificently concludes: 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. We can go home today and live for Jesus and work for him knowing that our labour is not in vain.
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER The text contained in this sermon (except where stated) is solely owned by its author, Revd Paul A. Carr. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name.
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