Sermon Notes/Outline for Luke 9:28-36 “Jesus’ Transfiguration”

By Pastor Walter Ko- 3XL Christian Church

6/28/15

I.  Luke 9:28-36

II.  8 Days after Jesus explaining about the cost of discipleship and predicting His death for the first time, He takes Peter, John, and James up to a mountain to pray. And this is where and when Jesus’ transfiguration happened.

Several unique things we can note here:

1. No other event in the Gospels involves the presence of luminaries from the past like here with Moses and Elijah.

2. The visible glorification of Jesus is unique in the context that He was glowing brightly like “flashes of lightening”.

3. The mountain they were up on isn’t mentioned but we do know it’s outside of Jerusalem. Scholars believe it’s either of 3 mountains, all outside of Jerusalem.  Scholars believe this is significant, that Jesus is glorified outside of Jerusalem also, alluding that the Gospel will start in Jerusalem but will go outside as well.

III.

- While praying Moses and Elijah appeared in “glorious splendor” talking with Jesus.

-Some scholars believe that Moses was representing the law, and Elijah was representing the prophets, and that’s why they were there.

- And please remember that Jesus fulfilled the law by the cross, and the prophets pointed to Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

- What were they talking about?  They were talking about Jesus’ departure. The word used here is exodus. I believe there maybe some significance with using that word here. Let me explain.

- Peter suggests making 3 shelters. Scholars believe he was thinking of the Feast of Tabernacles where shelters were set up to commemorate the Exodus, God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt.

- Luke points out that Peter didn’t know fully what was going on though.

- Verse 34. God speaks from heaven like he did at Jesus’ baptism.  This time proclaiming that Jesus is His Son, He is the chosen one, meaning He is the expected Messiah, and to listen to Him, meaning to listen and obey, not just hear His words.

- Now remember the Book of Exodus is a true story of when God delivered His people from the bondage of slavery from Egypt, and it also points to what’s to come of God delivering His people from the bondage of sin through His Son Jesus Christ. The Exodus points to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

IV.

- The Transfiguration Event showed Jesus’ deity:

1. He illuminated light brightly, like flashes of lightening.

2. The ability to talk with luminaries from the past.

3. God speaking down from heaven, stating, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen, listen to him.”

Also the Transfiguration pointed to Jesus as Savior, the Messiah, the expected One.

1. When the 3, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were talking about His exodus.

2. The presence of Moses and Elijah. Moses represented the Law and Elijah represented the prophets, and Jesus the fulfillment of the Law and prophecies.

3. Peter recalling the Feast of Tabernacles, wanting to build the 3 shelters, like commemorating the Exodus. This alluded to the ultimate Exodus through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

4. Verse 35.

-Now Peter was kind of on track but was off too when he was referring back to the Exodus, but missed the big picture, Jesus is the new, better, ultimate Exodus.

-Then I present the Gospel of Jesus Christ…

- Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have the ultimate deliverance from the ultimate slavery, the slavery of sin. This is by the grace, love, and mercy that we have in Christ Jesus expressed by the Gospel.