Luke : Day 20

Read Luke 9: 28-50

Imagine parents telling their children that they will be going to a resort during the holidays, in six months’ time. The children can’t believe it, and assume it’s not true. How could the parents assure them that they are really going? They could show the children the tickets!

That seems to be similar to what happened in this section of Luke’s Gospel. Jesus had previously described His return as the glorious Son of Man, welcoming His people into an everlasting kingdom. You can imagine how the disciples might have looked at each other sceptically, seeing this as a step too far.

So on a mountain, God gave Peter, James and John a sneak preview of Jesus in his future glory, with a changed appearance and clothes ‘as bright as a flash of lightning’ (verse 29)! They heard the Father’s voice describe Jesus as His Son, telling them to listen to Him. That must have been a mind-blowing experience, but it would also have helped the three disciples grasp the truth of what Jesus had said about Himself.

Clearly there was a lot that the disciples still didn’t understand (see verse 45). But later, these three all became leaders of the early Christian church. Although they kept this event to themselves at the time (verse 36), later they shared it with everyone, and Peter wrote this:

“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.”

So actually, the transfiguration wasn’t just for these three – It was for us too. These verses are in the Bible to assure us that Jesus will really return in glory and power. We have an eyewitness description of that glory!

“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Luke 9:35