This Sunday, Pastor Joey Sampaga led us through Luke 9:28-36, “A Glimpse of the King’s Return.”
Have you ever experienced a moment so profound, so overwhelming, that words failed you? A moment when heaven seemed to break through into your everyday reality? For three disciples on a mountain in first-century Judea, such a moment came when Jesus was transfigured before their eyes—His face shining like the sun, His clothes radiating brilliant light, His divine glory breaking through human flesh. But this spectacular revelation came at a critical time. Just days earlier, Jesus had shattered their messianic expectations by predicting His suffering and death. Their minds were reeling. How could the Messiah die? How could the path to glory lead through a cross? Into their confusion, God granted a vision—a glimpse of the King in His royal splendor, a preview of the glory that awaited beyond Calvary. This morning, we journeyed to that sacred mountain to witness what they saw and to understand what it means for us today.
Approximate reading time: 15-20 minutes.
From the Pulpit to Practice: AI as a Catalyst for Lasting Transformation
The measure of a sermon’s power isn’t found in Sunday’s applause—it’s discovered in Monday’s obedience. Yet here’s the challenge: traditional preaching, for all its Spirit-led passion and biblical depth, remains bound by time. The sermon concludes, the congregation disperses, and within days, even the most attentive listeners struggle to recall specific points, Scripture references, or practical applications that moved them just hours earlier.
This isn’t a failure of preaching or listening—it’s the limitation of linear communication in an age of information overload. We ask people to absorb, retain, and apply complex theological truths while simultaneously managing the cognitive load of note-taking, child-wrangling, and mental distraction.
AI-assisted sermon resources address this gap not by replacing the preached Word but by extending its reach. When we process Pastor Joey Sampaga’s sermon audio through intelligent tools, we’re creating what might be called “ministry scaffolding”—a structured framework that supports ongoing engagement with biblical truth. The spoken word becomes searchable. Linear teaching becomes cross-referenced. Momentary inspiration becomes accessible wisdom.
Think of it this way: the sermon plants the seed; AI tools cultivate the soil. The preacher faithfully opens Scripture; technology ensures those insights remain harvestable throughout the week. This isn’t about diminishing the Spirit’s work through preaching—it’s about honoring that work by making it more actionable, more retainable, more transformative.
The call to the congregation shifts from passive consumption to active discipleship. Don’t just hear the sermon—explore it. Don’t just take notes—interact with comprehensive study materials. Don’t just feel inspired—pursue sustained transformation through tools designed to keep biblical truth accessible when Monday’s trials challenge Sunday’s commitments.
This is ministry meeting the moment—using every God-given resource to ensure His Word accomplishes the purpose for which He sent it.
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(Due to variable audio quality—including background noise, unclear speech, or recording issues—this transcription may contain errors or omissions not present in the original recording. For complete accuracy, please refer to the audio itself or consult with participants about any uncertainties in the text.)
Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. How’s everyone doing today? Good.
Well, I wanted to thank the worship team for the karaoke. We didn’t have karaoke during church, huh? We did karaoke, and praise the Lord for that.
As you probably know, the Salazar’s are the, what do they call that, a dedication? So that’s where they are, that’s why they’re not here. And then I do encourage you to attend the events. We did put them on the back of the bulletin as well. So make sure to do that.
And then if you do have any prayer requests, please let us know. Let me know. Let maybe the deacons know or any of the leaders so that we can pray for you, because we are a praying church, and a praying church is a powerful church, so let’s make sure that we pray for one another.
All right, so we are going to be in chapter 9 today, chapter 9, verse 28 to 36.
Now, before we do that, I just wanted to kind of recap the last two weeks here. So last week, Pastor David preached on Colossians 2, verses 6-7, which was a great sermon if you were here. If you weren’t, then you missed a good one. But he reminded us that because we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, that we’re called to walk in Him, to be rooted in Him so that He’ll build us up, we’ll be built up in Him and He’ll strengthen us in our faith. When our lives draw deeply from Christ, when we’re rooted in Christ, when we allow him to build and shape us, and when we stand firmly on what we’ve been taught, the natural result is a heart that overflows with thanksgiving.
So now we’re going to jump back into the Gospel of Luke. Our last sermon on Luke two weeks ago, Jesus asked his disciples the most important question anyone will ever answer. But before he asks the important question, he prefaces it with the initial question in Luke 9, verses 18 and 19.
So remember, after the feeding of the 5,000, there’s a lot of talks of who Jesus is. And the disciples were with him, and Jesus asked them, who do the crowd say that I am? And then they answered, John the Baptist, but others say Elijah, and others say that you are one of the prophets of old that has been risen.
And then in verse 20, Jesus continues to say, or asks, Okay, but who do you say that I am? This is what the crowd says, but who do you say that I am? And of course, Peter being Peter, he speaks up first because he’s known as the leader of the disciples, right? Of the apostles. And Peter answered, the Christ of God. Right? And Peter, he definitely got it right. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.
But then Jesus said something they weren’t ready for. 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. So this was pretty shocking to them. They were probably wondering, what is Jesus talking about here? They thought that Jesus would be there, was there to conquer Rome. That’s what the Messiah was supposed to do. That’s what they were thinking. But rather, Jesus said that he must suffer and be killed.
Now, can you imagine their confusion? Jesus, aren’t you supposed to be here to kind of take over? They were confused. They were thinking, what do you mean, Jesus, that you came here to be killed? You’re the man, right? You’re the Messiah who’s supposed to take over these Romans and take them down, right? Because they were suffering from the Romans.
Then he laid it out for them, and only in the way Jesus would. Look at verse 23. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life…
And then Jesus said something that probably made the disciples scratch their head even more. Verse 27, there are some standing here right now who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.
So in today’s message, we’re going to see how what Jesus said in verse 27 will transpire. And Sister Tenda read a passage where she was wondering whether they talk about how this passage here will answer that.
All right, so let’s pray. Lord God, Heavenly Father, we come before you with grateful hearts this morning. Lord, thank you for this gathering, gathering us together and giving us the privilege of opening your word. Lord God, quiet our minds from the distractions of the week and the holiday season and calm our hearts from the worries we carry in with us here today. His beauty, his truth, his glory, and his love. Father, give us understanding that goes beyond human wisdom and draw us closer to you through your word. And as Father Grima prayed as well, prepare our hearts to receive whatever you desire to teach us. Shape us, strengthen us, and make us more like Christ as we listen to your voice. And Lord, we give this time to you now. I pray that you’d be honored in everything we do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
All right, so let’s read, starting with verse 28. Chapter 9, verse 28 of Luke. Now, about eight days after these things, he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but then they became fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah, not knowing what he said.
As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And the voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my son, my chosen one, listen to him. And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
So this passage right here is a high point of Jesus’ earthly ministry before the cross, right? So it’s the moment when his true nature shines through his humanity right so the first point that I want to talk about is the glory of the king being revealed right here up on that mountain right in verses 28 and 29 Jesus brings his inner circle with him.
So he had his 12 apostles. Actually, even if you go further than that, he had disciples who were following him. Then he had kind of his inner circle of the 12 apostles. And then he had his type inner circle, which was usually Peter, John, and James. It was typically them three. It’s not that there were cliques or anything like that. So I don’t want you to say, oh, we can start cliques now because Jesus did it. No, he just had certain ones that he liked to share for them to share to the others. So he just had an inner circle. I mean, that’s just how we are. We have accountability groups, right? Accountability people that we like to share personal things with. So that was Peter, James, and John. They were usually invited to most intimate moments, such as Jairus’ daughter being raised, if you recall that. The Garden of Gethsemane. And now the Mount of Transfiguration.
So God is about to show them something that will anchor their faith for the rest of their ministry. Remember in verse 27 when Jesus told them, he says, there are some of you here who won’t die until you see my majesty and my glory. And this is where it’s about to happen.
So Jesus, he went up to the mountain to pray. This is a major pattern for Jesus that we should actually imitate, right? So at his baptism, what did he do? He prayed. Before choosing the 12, what did he do? He prayed. And before the cross, guess what he did? He prayed, right? So prayer, it precedes revelation, right?
And then you have a transformation. You’re looking at verse 29. As he was praying… The appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And then in the other Gospels, in Matthew 17, it says, And after six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, John, his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And then Mark says, And his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.
So it is so bright that they needed glasses, sunglasses, or something because it was so bright. Imagine looking at the sun. It’s probably the way it was. So Jesus, just so you know, he wasn’t reflecting God’s glory, so there wasn’t a spotlight on Jesus. The glory that he displayed was coming from Jesus himself, right? From inwardly, right? So the glory he had before the world existed that he mentioned in John chapter 17, or the glory that he will display when he returns, or the glory that he momentarily veiled when he took on flesh in Philippians chapter 2. So this is not a spotlight shining on Jesus. Again, this spotlight is shining out of Jesus. This is the real Jesus here. The eternal Jesus. The King of Glory.
And then the second point I wanted to mention is found in verses 30 to 31. It’s about the Law and the Prophets that point to Jesus. Moses and Elijah were named here, but why them two? Verse 30, behold, two men were talking with them, Moses and Elijah, so it actually says it. Why? Why them two? It wasn’t a random thing. It was planned that way from the very get-go.
See, Moses, if you think about what he represents in the Old Testament, the first five books are known as the what? The law, right? So Moses, in this case, represented the law. And then Elijah, what was Elijah? He was a prophet. So Elijah represented the prophets, right? So together, they represented the Old Testament, the entire Old Testament.
So they had a conversation. What was the conversation? Luke tells us this in verse 31. Who appeared in glory and spoke of what? Of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. So the word departure is exodus. So what is Jesus about to accomplish here? Well, just as Moses led Israel out of Egypt, Jesus is about to lead his people out of sin and death. Just as Moses confronted Pharaoh, Jesus is going to confront Satan. Just as the blood of the Passover lamb saved Israel, guess what? The blood of the lamb of God, Jesus’ blood, will save sinners.
So Moses and Elijah show us something essential here. Every shadow of the Old Testament, guess who that points to? Jesus. So every symbol finds its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. So every prophecy meets its completion in Christ Jesus. So Jesus is the center of all scripture. And I’ve mentioned that to you several times. The Old Testament points to Jesus, and the New Testament points back to Jesus.
And then the third point is Peter’s response here. It’s right, but it’s misguided at the same time. So look at verse 32. Peter, he wakes up groggy. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep. And then they were overwhelmed in verse 33. They wake up. Peter sticks his head out of the tent, probably. I’m thinking that. Master, it is good that we’re here to see this. Let us make three tents. What else is Peter going to say? Peter just likes to blurt things out. I don’t know what to say, but let’s make three tents.
So here, here’s where Peter went wrong. He put Moses and Elijah on the same level as Jesus. He meant well, but Jesus is not one of the three. He’s Lord over all. This is where, again, Peter went wrong. He put Moses and Elijah on the same level as Jesus first, and then secondly, he wanted to stay on the mountain. He wanted to continue camping. He was in his tent. He wanted to cook up some bacon and some eggs, have some coffee, right? That’s what he wanted to do. And he probably was thinking, ooh, I got a lot of questions for Elijah and for Moses. That’s what Peter wanted, but Jesus, he needed to go to the cross. He didn’t have time for eggs and bacon and coffee and beans. He had a mission to accomplish, and that was to die on the cross.
And then thirdly, Peter made a mistake by he preferred the glory over the suffering. And we often do the same. We want comfort without commitment. We want blessing without obedience. And we want the mountaintop without the cross. Right? Don’t we want the blessings without having to be obedient? Right? When people accept the Lord, they say they accept the Lord Jesus Christ, they say, yes, I want all the blessings. Oh, I have to do all that? I have to carry the cross and follow Him? I have to be obedient and stop cursing and stop looking at porn and stop doing all this other stuff? Again, I’ll just go with the world and do what I want to do.
See, but the thing is that the path to glory always goes through suffering. It goes through sacrifice. And if you’re a Christian, if you profess to be a Christian, you, I’m sure, witnessed in your own life the suffering that you needed to go through, the obedience that you needed to go through. Being married in a marriage that you don’t want to be in. You say, I’m going to stay with my wife or I’m going to stay with my husband because the Lord hates divorce. And I’m going to act the way God has told me to be in my marriage. If I’m a man, I’m going to lead the family and I’m going to lead them spiritually. I’m going to learn about the Lord. I’m going to dive into the Bible. I’m going to lead my family spiritually because that is my job as a husband to do. And if I’m a wife, yes, the Bible says to submit, to be subservient to your husband, not meaning your husband takes advantage of you, but you are to be the helper, to encourage, to show them love as they lead the family. Right? That’s considered sacrifice, right?
I would rather not leave my family. I would rather not tell Heather, Heather, we need to read the Bible together. We need to, oh, we shouldn’t be doing this. I would rather not say that. And I’m sure Heather would rather not be my helper. But that’s what we’re taught to do. That’s how God formed us. That’s what he meant for his creation, for man and for woman. And I’m just giving that as an example. There are other examples. I mentioned earlier, guys, we need to stop watching porn if we ought. We need to stop looking at other women with our eyes because guess what? That’s adultery. Women, you need to stop gossiping. Why? Because somebody said don’t gossip. That’s all sacrifice. We stop doing what we used to like to do. Right? So we need to be obedient. It’s a sacrifice. But guess what that sacrifice brings? It brings glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And it’s only for our good. Because God is good. Right? And he means good for all his children. Right? So… The path to glory was going through suffering. And that’s what he did. He suffered on that cross. Not for himself, by the way, for us. He didn’t have to die for himself. Remember, he died for us.
And the fourth thing I wanted to talk about in verse 34 and 35 is when the Father speaks. So while Peter is talking in verse 34, a cloud came and overshadowed them. This is the Shekinah glory. This is what’s known as the Shekinah glory. It’s the cloud of glory, that same cloud that filled the tabernacle, the same cloud that filled Solomon’s temple and led Israel out of the wilderness. In the wilderness and out of the wilderness.
And then the father speaks in verse 35. This is my son, my chosen one. Listen to him. So there are three things that he tells us to do, or tells us. He says, this is my son. He declares Jesus’ deity here. Secondly, he says, leave my chosen one, where he affirms Jesus’ mission to save the world. And then thirdly, what does he say? Listen to him. This is a command, by the way. It’s a command. Listen to him. He didn’t say, listen to your feelings. He didn’t say, listen to the culture. He didn’t say, listen to the influencers. He didn’t say, listen to your heart. He says, listen to him, Jesus, his son. This is discipleship.
And then in verse 36, everything ends. Jesus was found what? He was found alone. Moses is gone, Elijah is gone, and the cloud lifts. Only Jesus remains. Why? Why is that? Because Jesus is supreme. Jesus is sufficient. Jesus fulfills the law and the prophets. Jesus alone saves, and Jesus alone is worthy.
This is a preview of Revelation. Revelation 1, chapter 12, verses 12 to 16. His eyes were like flame of fire. His face was like the sun shining in full glory. They, James, Peter, and John, they got a glimpse of what Jesus truly is. Outside of his flesh, outside of Jesus’ flesh. They saw the flame, his eyes being flame of fire. His face that was like the sun in full strength.
This is not the gentle Jesus that the culture imagines. This is the glorious king who’s going to return. And that’s a promise that he made. And at this moment on the mountain, it reminds us of something our culture desperately needs to hear. That we all need to hear.
See, Jesus is not some weak, soft, effeminate figure, nervously hoping and praying that we are going to accept him as Lord and Savior. He’s not sitting there and hoping and praying, oh, I hope he puts his faith and trust in me. He’s not an effeminate man, God, a God-man who’s sitting there hoping and wishing. He’s not a savior hoping that you choose him. Jesus isn’t begging for followers. He isn’t begging for approval or pleading for likes and shares on Facebook or YouTube. No, he is the king of glory.
And sometimes we forget to put that reverence in him. We think that he’s our boyfriend or our girlfriend, our boyfriend and our best friend. Right? He is the one whose face shines like the sun. Right? Think about humans, right? Well, most of you know who Mike Tyson is. Right? And you saw how he boxed and everyone was scared of him. And if you saw Mike Tyson, you would probably be like, oh gosh, I better treat him with respect or else he’s going to beat me up. Jesus is infinitely more mightier than Mike Tyson or any human that ever lived. We sometimes show so much respect for other people, but then when it comes to Jesus, oh, he’s my best friend. I mean, is he your friend? Yeah, he’s your friend because he saved you. But you gotta remember who Jesus is. He’s the king, the king of glory, right?
He’s the one whose face shined like the sun, whose garments blazed with heavenly light, whose voice shook the mountain, right? He’s the one who spoke the universe into existence and holds it together by the word of his power. Remember, Jesus was there during creation. It was the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who were there, who created the entire world, the entire universe.
This is a Jesus who will return with the armies of heaven at his side. This is a Jesus for whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess willingly in worship, or unwillingly in terror. This is a Jesus who will judge the living and the dead. This is a Jesus whose eyes are like flame of fire and whose voice thunders like many waters that was described in Revelation. This is a Jesus who will cast Satan, his demons, and all evil into the lake of fire forever. He’s not asking for permission to beat him. Because he is king. Right? He’s not waiting to be voted into office. He reigns right now as we speak. He’s not one option among many. He’s the only way, the truth, and the life.
When the cloud lifted, Moses didn’t remain. Elijah didn’t remain. It was just Jesus. Right? The law and the prophets stepped aside. Because only Jesus deserves the glory. Only Jesus deserves the worship, and only Jesus deserves the throne. And only Jesus remains.
My dearly beloved, my brothers and sisters in Christ, that is the whole point of this transfiguration. That is the whole point of this revelation. This is the reason that Peter shared in the epistles of what he wrote, that this is what he saw, Jesus’ majesty. He didn’t mention it until after the resurrection. It was a glimpse, it was just a small glimpse of the king who will return in the same blazing majesty.
So this is a reminder that the suffering Savior is also the sovereign King and Lord. He’s not an effeminate man who’s just sitting here and praying that you would come to him. It’s us who need to go to him and ask him and beg him to allow us to go to him by saving us. He came here for that mission, to save us. Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
There’s so many churches out there right now, so many songs out there right now that’s talking about this effeminate Jesus. We don’t have a wimpy God. Jesus is King and Lord over all creation. And so we need to treat him as such.
See, it’s a promise that the cross was not the end of the story. Because guess what? Glory is coming soon. Jesus is coming soon. Peter, James, and John, they saw a preview of the king’s return. And one day, we’re going to see it too. Whether we truly put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ or not, we’re going to see it. We’re going to bow down and be put on our knees, whether we want to or not, and call him Lord. And when Jesus comes again, we’re going to see it. It’s not a vision. It’s not a dream. It’s not someone just saying it. It’s reality.
And so the same Jesus whose glory shone like the sun is a Jesus who’s going to split the sky and reign forever. He’s going to come down in the cloud of glory the same way he went up. So what does the Bible tell us to do? To listen to him. To follow him. To trust him. To worship him. Because a king is coming.
He’s the reason why the gospel exists. He is the gospel. He died for sins. He was buried. And three days later, he rose again. And he came here to fulfill the prophecies. He’s now seated at the right hand, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. Are you ready for that? I hope so.
Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, thank you. Thank you for giving us this glimpse of your majesty. Lord God, help us listen to you, to follow you, and to trust you every single day. And Lord God, give us the strength to carry our cross, knowing that glory is coming soon. You will be coming soon. And Lord, let your transfiguration, this revelation that you’ve given to us, remind us that suffering is temporary, but your kingdom is eternal.
And Father, if there’s someone here today that has not put their faith and trust in you, Lord, I pray that you break them down that you put such a big and huge conviction in their heart that after this sermon is preached, Lord God, they ask you, they beg you, they yell to you, Lord God, what must I do to be saved? And Lord God, I pray that you save them. And Lord, if there’s someone here who has not done that, Lord, I pray that they do that today. And of course, if you have any questions, they can come to me or any of the deacons.
Father, we thank you for your love, we thank you for your word, we thank you for your truth. And we lift all this up to you. May you protect us, you keep us in your blessings.
A Glimpse of the King’s Return:
A Comprehensive Study of Luke 9:28-36
Introduction: Between the Cross and the Crown
The Transfiguration of Jesus, recorded in Luke 9:28-36, is one of Scripture’s most spectacular moments—when heaven touched earth, and three disciples witnessed glory beyond human comprehension. Luke positions this event at a critical juncture. Eight days earlier, Peter had confessed Jesus as “God’s Messiah,” and Jesus immediately began teaching about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection, calling His followers to deny themselves, take up their crosses daily, and follow Him.
The disciples’ minds must have been reeling. Their messiah predicting His own death? The path to glory through suffering? The cognitive dissonance between their expectations of a triumphant Messiah and Jesus’ predictions of suffering must have been profound.
Into this theological crisis, God grants a spectacular revelation. On a mountain, three disciples witness Jesus transfigured in glory, conversing with Moses and Elijah about His upcoming “exodus” in Jerusalem, affirmed by the Father’s voice from heaven. This event confirms that Jesus’ path of suffering is not a deviation from God’s plan but its very center, and that the glory Jesus spoke of is absolutely real.
The Transfiguration provides a preview of Christ’s return, a glimpse of the King in His royal splendor before He walks the path to Calvary. It strengthens the disciples for the dark days ahead and provides the church throughout history with assurance that our suffering Savior is also our glorious King.
The Setting: Time, Place, and Participants (Luke 9:28-29a)
Luke begins: “About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.”
The Timing: “About Eight Days”
Luke’s “about eight days” (compared to Matthew and Mark’s “after six days”) reflects different counting methods. The point is the same: approximately one week after Peter’s confession and Jesus’ teaching on discipleship, this transformative event occurs. The disciples haven’t had much time to process Jesus’ shocking predictions. Into this context of confused faith, God provides visual confirmation of truths they cannot yet fully grasp.
The Location: “Up Onto a Mountain”
Mountains are places of divine revelation throughout Scripture. Moses met God on Mount Sinai. Elijah encountered God on Mount Horeb. Mountains represent places of solitude, prayer, and proximity to heaven. While Luke doesn’t name the specific mountain, tradition identifies Mount Tabor, though Mount Hermon is also proposed. Mountains in biblical narrative are liminal spaces—thresholds between earth and heaven, between ordinary experience and extraordinary encounter.
The Participants: Peter, James, and John
Jesus selects an inner circle of three. These same three will later witness Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46)—they see both His glory and His anguish, both the preview of His exaltation and the depth of His suffering.
Peter, the spokesman who confessed Jesus as Messiah, needed to see Christ’s glory to sustain him through the scandal of the cross. He would later write about this experience: “We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:18).
James would be the first apostle martyred (Acts 12:21He killed James the brother of John with the sword,). He needed to see the glory awaiting beyond death.
John would live long enough to write his Gospel, three epistles, and Revelation. His writings are saturated with themes of glory and light, influenced by what he witnessed on the mountain.
The Purpose: “To Pray”
Luke alone notes that Jesus went up the mountain “to pray.” Throughout Luke’s Gospel, major events occur during prayer: Jesus’ baptism (3:21), the calling of the twelve (6:12), Peter’s confession (9:18), and the Transfiguration. Jesus didn’t ascend primarily to be transfigured but to pray. The Transfiguration occurred in the context of communion with the Father. This teaches us that encounters with God’s glory happen naturally in the context of prayer.
The Transfiguration: Glory Revealed (Luke 9:29)
“As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.”
The Change in His Face
Matthew adds that “his face shone like the sun” (Matthew 17:2). This is the glory of deity breaking through the veil of human flesh. The Greek word for “changed” is heteros—Jesus’ face became something other than what it had been.
This recalls Moses descending from Sinai with a radiant face (Exodus 34:29-35). But there’s a crucial difference: Moses’ face reflected borrowed glory; Jesus’ face radiated glory that was His own. Moses reflected light; Jesus is the Light. Paul contrasts these glories in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18—Moses’ glory was temporary, external, derivative. Christ’s glory is eternal, intrinsic, and self-originating.
What the disciples witnessed was the concealed glory of the Word made flesh, momentarily breaking through. The Transfiguration was a temporary unveiling of who Jesus truly is.
The Transformation of His Clothing
Jesus’ clothes “became as bright as a flash of lightning.” Mark adds “dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them” (Mark 9:3). The evangelists strain to find adequate language, reaching for comparisons that all fall short.
This radiant whiteness anticipates the vision of Christ in Revelation. In Revelation 1:13-16, John sees the risen Christ with eyes “like blazing fire” and face “like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” The Transfiguration previews the glorified Christ who will one day return in power.
The Heavenly Visitors: Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:30-31)
“Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”
The Identity of the Visitors
Moses was the greatest lawgiver, mediator of the Old Covenant, representing the Law. He had died on Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34:5-625 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, 6 and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.).
Elijah was the greatest prophet, representing the Prophets. He was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:113And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.).
Together, Moses and Elijah embody “the Law and the Prophets”—the entire Old Testament revelation. Their appearance with Jesus declares that He is the fulfillment of everything Scripture anticipated. Every sacrifice, every prophecy, every type and shadow finds its substance in Him. As Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).
Their Glorious Splendor
Luke notes they “appeared in glorious splendor” (Greek en doxē—”in glory”), not as ghosts but in glorified, resurrection-like form. This previews what awaits all believers—glorified bodies that radiate God’s presence. Their glory serves primarily to highlight Jesus’ greater glory. They appeared in glory, but Jesus is glory.
The Topic of Conversation: The Exodus
Luke alone tells us their discussion topic: “They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” The word “departure” is the Greek exodos—exodus. This is monumentally significant. Just as Moses led Israel out of slavery through the Passover lamb’s blood, Jesus would lead humanity out of slavery to sin through His blood and resurrection. What Moses did in type and shadow, Jesus will do in reality. The Passover lamb was a picture; Jesus is the reality (1 Corinthians 5:74Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.).
This exodus was to be “brought to fulfillment at Jerusalem”—in the city of David, the location of the temple, where sacrifices were offered. Jesus, the final sacrifice, would offer Himself in Jerusalem. Moses and Elijah weren’t trying to dissuade Jesus from the cross—they were affirming that the path of suffering was the Father’s will and the means of humanity’s deliverance.
The Disciples’ Response: Sleep, Awakening, and Misunderstanding (Luke 9:32-33)
“Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying.)”
The Struggle to Stay Awake
The disciples “were very sleepy”—exhausted from climbing the mountain. But their sleepiness also symbolizes spiritual dullness. They were spiritually drowsy, not yet fully awakened to the reality of who Jesus was. Yet they “became fully awake” and “saw his glory.” Sometimes God must awaken us from spiritual drowsiness to see what He’s revealing.
Peter’s Impulsive Suggestion
Peter blurts out: “Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter’s suggestion reveals:
He wants to prolong the experience. When we experience God’s presence powerfully, we want to preserve the moment, to stay in that sacred space forever.
He still doesn’t understand Jesus’ mission. Jesus didn’t come to stay on the mountain but to go to Jerusalem, to suffer, to die, to rise. Peter wants glory without suffering, exaltation without crucifixion.
He places Jesus on equal footing with Moses and Elijah. Peter is still thinking of Jesus as one among great men rather than as the Son of God who stands above all prophets.
Luke adds: “He did not know what he was saying.” Peter spoke out of confusion and excitement, not wisdom. Sometimes our most enthusiastic religious proposals are our most misguided.
The Father’s Voice: Divine Affirmation (Luke 9:34-35)
“While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.'”
The Cloud: Divine Presence
While Peter was still speaking, God interrupted. A cloud appeared—the Shekinah, the cloud of God’s manifest presence. Throughout Scripture, the cloud represents God’s presence: leading Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:215And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.), covering Sinai (Exodus 24:15-18615 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.), filling the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35734 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.), filling Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10-118And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.). The disciples were enveloped in God’s glorious presence—a terrifying encounter with absolute holiness.
The Voice: The Father’s Testimony
From the cloud came the Father’s voice: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
“This is my Son”—Not one of the prophets. He is the unique, only-begotten Son of God, echoing Psalm 2:79I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.. The Father corrects Peter’s attempt to place Jesus on equal footing with Moses and Elijah. There is the Son, and there are servants of the Son.
“Whom I have chosen”—The Father affirms that Jesus is His chosen One, echoing Isaiah 42:110Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.. His suffering and death are the planned means by which God will save His people.
“Listen to him”—This echoes Deuteronomy 18:1511The 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, where Moses prophesied God would raise up a prophet: “You must listen to him.” With Moses present, the Father declares Jesus is that Prophet. Moses’ era is complete; Jesus’ era has begun. When Jesus speaks of suffering, listen. When He calls you to take up your cross, listen. His words are true, His path is right, His mission is God’s will.
The Return to Normalcy: Alone with Jesus (Luke 9:36)
“When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.”
Moses and Elijah Depart
Moses and Elijah were gone. The Law and Prophets have served their purpose—bearing witness to Christ. Now that Christ has been revealed and affirmed, they recede. The disciples are left with Jesus alone—not Jesus plus Moses, not Jesus plus Elijah. Just Jesus. This is where the Father’s command “listen to him” leads—to Jesus as the sole, sufficient, final revelation of God.
Hebrews 1:1-2: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”
The Command to Silence
The disciples “kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time.” This silence was not permanent—Peter later wrote about it (2 Peter 1:16-181216 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. 17 For when he received honor 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,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.)—but at that time they remained silent. They were processing what they’d witnessed. The time wasn’t right for public proclamation. It wouldn’t make sense until after the resurrection. Mark’s Gospel adds that Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone “until the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9). Some experiences with God are too holy to share casually.
Theological Significance: What the Transfiguration Reveals
Confirmation of Jesus’ Divine Identity
The Transfiguration confirms Jesus is the Son of God. His divine glory, normally veiled in human flesh, breaks through momentarily. Peter later writes: “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty…We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18).
Validation of Jesus’ Mission
Moses and Elijah’s presence and their conversation about Jesus’ exodus validate His mission. This isn’t a deviation from God’s plan—it is God’s plan. Every sacrifice pointed to His sacrifice. Every prophecy finds its “yes” in Him (2 Corinthians 1:2013For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.).
Preview of the Second Coming
The Transfiguration provides a glimpse of Christ’s return. Jesus spoke about the Son of Man coming “in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). This promise sustained the disciples through the crucifixion. They knew the cross wasn’t the end. For believers throughout history, the Transfiguration assures us that our suffering Savior is also our glorious King. The One who wore a crown of thorns will wear many crowns (Revelation 19:1214His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.).
Assurance of Bodily Resurrection
Moses and Elijah, appearing in glorified bodies, assure bodily resurrection. Moses had died; yet here he appears, alive, in glory. Paul writes that Christ “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). We will be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29).
The Continuity and Fulfillment of Scripture
Moses and Elijah’s presence demonstrates Scripture’s unity. Jesus doesn’t abolish the Law and Prophets; He fulfills them. Every part of Scripture testifies to Christ. As Jesus told the Emmaus disciples, “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).
Application for Contemporary Believers
We Need Glimpses of Glory
The Christian life is hard. Following Jesus means taking up your cross daily. In the midst of trials, we need glimpses of glory—moments when we see beyond present circumstances to future hope, reminded that our suffering is “not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). God graciously grants these glimpses in worship, answered prayer, Scripture, and fellowship.
Listen to Jesus Above All Other Voices
The Father’s command remains: “Listen to him.” In our world filled with competing voices, we must prioritize Jesus’ voice. This means saturating ourselves in the Gospels, obeying His commands even when they contradict cultural wisdom, following His example even when it costs us, and trusting His promises even when circumstances suggest otherwise.
The Path to Glory Leads Through Suffering
The glory is real, but the path to permanent glory leads through the cross. We don’t skip the cross and go straight to the crown. The Christian life follows Christ’s pattern: cross then crown, death then resurrection, suffering then glory. “We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings so that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17).
Jesus Is Sufficient
When Moses and Elijah depart, the disciples are left with Jesus alone. Jesus is sufficient. Not Jesus plus religious tradition. Just Jesus. He is the full revelation of God (Colossians 1:1515He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.), the complete provision for salvation (Acts 4:1216And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.), the final word from heaven (Hebrews 1:217but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.). Everything we need comes through knowing Him (2 Peter 1:318His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[a] his own glory and excellence,).
We Await the Final Revelation
The Transfiguration was temporary—Jesus returned to His normal appearance. So it is with our glimpses of glory. They’re real but temporary. Yet we do so with hope. The Transfiguration previews the permanent revelation to come. One day, Christ will return in glory—not momentarily but permanently. One day, we will see Him as He truly is and be transformed to be like Him (1 John 3:219Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.). Until that day, we live by faith, not by sight, trusting the glimpses we’ve been given.
Conclusion: The King Who Will Return
The Transfiguration stands as one of the most spectacular moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry—a moment when the veil lifted, when heaven touched earth, when three disciples witnessed glory they could barely comprehend. Yet it was just a glimpse, a preview of glory that will one day fill all creation.
Jesus descended from that mountain to walk the path to Jerusalem, to the cross, to death, and through death to resurrection. The glory was real, but the path led through suffering. Jesus didn’t remain transfigured; He became disfigured by beatings and crucifixion. The face that shone like the sun was spat upon. The One affirmed by the Father’s voice cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
But Easter vindicated Good Friday. Resurrection glory validated the Transfiguration’s preview. The One crucified in weakness was raised in power. And He ascended to the Father’s right hand, where He sits enthroned in the glory the disciples glimpsed on the mountain.
One day—perhaps soon—that glorious King will return. The glory momentarily revealed on the mountain will blaze forth for all to see. Every eye will witness what Peter, James, and John saw. Every knee will bow before the transfigured, crucified, risen, and returning Christ.
For those who have listened to Him, who have followed Him, who have taken up their crosses—that day will be glorious beyond imagination. The glimpses will give way to the full vision. The suffering will be swallowed up in glory. The crosses we’ve carried will be exchanged for crowns. We will shine like the sun in our Father’s kingdom, transformed into the likeness of the glorious Christ we’ve followed from shadow to substance, from cross to crown, from death to eternal life.
Until that day, we hold fast to what the disciples witnessed and testified. We listen to the One the Father commanded us to hear. We trust that the glory is real, even when we walk through darkness. We believe that our suffering Savior is also our glorious King, and that the path He walked—through suffering to glory—is the path we walk as well.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Let us see Your glory as those disciples saw it, but this time permanently, fully, and forever. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Joey notes:
- The Glory of the King is revealed. Matthew 17:1-2; Mark 9:2-3.
- The Law & the Prophets. Luke 9:30-31. The “shadows” of the O.T. all point to Jesus.
- Peter’s misguided response. Luke 9:32-33. Preferring glory over suffering & sacrifice.
- The Father speaks. The Shekinah glory revealed. Luke 9:34-35. The command to “listen.”
- Luke 9:36 – Jesus is left alone, transfigured. Who is He? Rev. 1:12-16. The King of glory. The powerful God. The Judge of all. The One who reigns. The One worthy of worship. The sovereign Lord. He is to be viewed in these moments as He is and how He will come again.
Point 1: The Glory of the King is revealed. Matthew 17:1-2; Mark 9:2-3.
Pastor Joey’s observation, directing attention to Mark 9:2-320And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them., illuminates the central theological revelation of the Transfiguration: the unveiling of Christ’s inherent divine glory.
Mark’s account describes the moment with stark simplicity: Jesus “was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them” (Mark 9:2-3). This was no external illumination borrowed from proximity to God, as Moses experienced descending from Sinai (Exodus 34:29-35). Rather, this was the intrinsic glory of deity breaking through the veil of human flesh. The carpenter from Nazareth, who had walked dusty roads and shared common meals with His disciples, suddenly blazed with supernatural radiance—revealing who He had been all along.
The parallel account in Matthew adds that “his face shone like the sun” (Matthew 17:2). At the same time, Luke emphasizes that “the appearance of his face changed” (Luke 9:29). The evangelists strain language itself to capture what they witnessed, reaching for comparisons—lightning, impossible whiteness, pure light—yet all comparisons fall short. They were attempting to describe in a finite human vocabulary the infinite glory of the Word made flesh.
This revelation of glory served a critical purpose in the disciples’ spiritual formation. Just eight days earlier, Jesus had predicted His suffering and death, shattering their messianic expectations. The path to glory, He explained, led through the cross. Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah (Luke 9:2021Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”) was immediately followed by Jesus’ shocking teaching about crucifixion—a cognitive dissonance the disciples could barely process. Into this theological crisis, God granted visual confirmation: the glory Jesus spoke of was absolutely real. They saw it with their own eyes.
The Transfiguration thus becomes both validation and preview. It validates that Jesus’ path of suffering is not a deviation from God’s plan but its very center—Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and Prophets, discuss His coming “exodus” in Jerusalem with approval, not protest. It previews the resurrection glory that awaits beyond Calvary’s darkness, assuring the disciples that their suffering Savior is also their glorious King.
Pastor Joey rightly connects this moment to Revelation 1:12-16, where John encounters the risen, glorified Christ with eyes “like blazing fire” and face “like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” The Transfiguration offers a glimpse of the permanent reality: Christ enthroned in glory as King of kings, worthy of worship, sovereign Lord, and righteous Judge. When He returns, every eye will witness what Peter, James, and John saw that night on the mountain—not momentarily, but eternally.
Point 2: The Law and the Prophets: All Shadows Pointing to Christ
Pastor Joey’s observation regarding Luke 9:30-31 identifies one of the Transfiguration’s most profound theological revelations: the unity and christocentric focus of all Scripture. Luke records that “two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”
The appearance of these two specific figures is no accident of divine staging. Moses and Elijah embody the entire Old Testament revelation—Moses representing the Law as Israel’s greatest lawgiver and covenant mediator, and Elijah representing the Prophets as the foremost voice calling Israel back to covenant faithfulness. Together, they constitute “the Law and the Prophets,” the comprehensive designation for Hebrew Scripture. Their presence with Jesus on the mountain declares unmistakably that He is the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament anticipated.
What makes this scene even more significant is the content of their conversation. Luke alone among the Gospel writers reveals their topic: Jesus’ coming “exodus” (the Greek word exodos) in Jerusalem. This terminology deliberately echoes the defining salvation event of the Old Testament. Just as Moses led Israel out of slavery through the Passover lamb’s blood and the Red Sea crossing, Jesus would accomplish the greater exodus—delivering humanity from slavery to sin through His blood and resurrection. The first exodus was the shadow; Jesus’ exodus is the substance.
This perfectly illustrates Pastor Joey’s point about Old Testament shadows. The Passover lamb pointed forward to Christ, “our Passover lamb” who “has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:722Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.). The Red Sea deliverance foreshadowed baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 10:1-223For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,). The manna in the wilderness prefigured Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:31-35). The bronze serpent lifted anticipated Christ lifted on the cross (John 3:14-1524And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.). Every sacrifice, every ritual, every prophetic utterance found its meaning and fulfillment in Him.
The fact that Moses and Elijah were discussing this exodus—not attempting to dissuade Jesus from it—validates that suffering and death were not deviations from God’s redemptive plan but its very center. Heaven’s greatest heroes affirm that the cross is the Father’s will and the means of humanity’s deliverance. Everything in the Law and Prophets was moving toward this moment, toward this exodus, toward this ultimate act of salvation.
Hebrews 10:1 captures this relationship perfectly: “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.” The Old Covenant sacrifices, repeated endlessly, could never perfect the worshiper; they pointed forward to the one perfect sacrifice of Christ. The temple rituals illustrated spiritual truths but found their reality in Christ Himself, who is our High Priest, our sacrifice, and our mercy seat.
After the Father speaks from the cloud, commanding, “Listen to him,” Moses and Elijah depart, leaving the disciples alone with Jesus. This departure carries theological weight: the Law and Prophets have served their God-ordained purpose of bearing witness to Christ. Now that Christ stands revealed and affirmed by the Father, they appropriately recede. This doesn’t render the Old Testament irrelevant—Jesus later explained “everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). Rather, it establishes proper interpretive priority: we read the Old Testament christocentrically, recognizing that all Scripture testifies to Him.
As Jesus told the religious leaders who studied Scripture yet rejected Him: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39). The Transfiguration visually demonstrates this truth—Moses and Elijah literally testifying about Jesus and His redemptive work.
Point 3: Peter’s Misguided Response: Choosing Glory Over the Cross
Pastor Joey’s observation identifies a crucial moment of spiritual misunderstanding that reveals the human tendency to seek glory while avoiding sacrifice. Luke records that as Moses and Elijah were departing, “Peter said to him, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying)” (Luke 9:33).
Peter’s impulsive suggestion to build three shelters reveals his preference for prolonging the mountaintop experience rather than descending to face the reality of Jerusalem and the cross. His proposal is understandable—the glory is magnificent, the moment transcendent. Why leave? Why not establish a permanent memorial to this spectacular revelation? Peter’s instinct mirrors our own desire to preserve moments of spiritual ecstasy and avoid the hard path of sacrifice.
But Peter fundamentally misunderstands Jesus’ mission. He wants to stay on the mountain; Jesus must go to Jerusalem. He seeks glory without suffering; Jesus knows the path to permanent glory leads through Calvary. He proposes building monuments; Jesus must become the cornerstone through death and resurrection. Peter desires exaltation without crucifixion—the crown without the cross.
This misunderstanding is particularly striking given that Jesus had explicitly taught about His coming suffering just eight days earlier (Luke 9:2225saying, “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.”). Peter had even rebuked Jesus for this teaching (Matthew 16:2226And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord![a] This shall never happen to you.”), refusing to accept that the Messiah must suffer. Now, witnessing Christ’s glory on the mountain, Peter sees confirmation of messianic power and wants to bypass the exodus that Moses and Elijah were discussing with Jesus. He wants the destination without the journey, the resurrection without the death.
Luke’s parenthetical comment—“He did not know what he was saying”—gently indicates that Peter’s enthusiastic suggestion was profoundly misguided. Sometimes our most passionate religious proposals reveal our deepest spiritual confusion. We speak before we understand, we act before we’ve listened, we seek to preserve what God intends to be temporary.
Peter’s error also appears in his suggestion of three shelters—one each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah—effectively placing Jesus on equal footing with the Law and Prophets rather than recognizing Him as their fulfillment and superior. The Father immediately corrects this by declaring, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35).
The Christian life requires embracing both glory and suffering. We need glimpses of glory to sustain us, but we cannot remain on the mountain. We must descend to take up our crosses daily, trusting that the path Jesus walked—through suffering to glory—is the path His followers walk as well. The Transfiguration assures us the glory is real, but faithful discipleship means following Christ to Jerusalem before we follow Him to exaltation.
Point 4: The Father Speaks: The Shekinah Glory and the Command to Listen
Pastor Joey’s observation highlights the climactic moment of the Transfiguration when God the Father directly intervenes to correct Peter’s confusion and establish Jesus’ supreme authority. Luke records, “While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him'” (Luke 9:34-35).
The cloud that enveloped them was no ordinary meteorological phenomenon—this was the Shekinah, the visible manifestation of God’s glorious presence. Throughout Scripture, the cloud represents divine presence: it led Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:2127And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.), covered Mount Sinai when God gave the Law (Exodus 24:15-182815 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.), filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-352934 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.), and filled Solomon’s temple at its dedication (1 Kings 8:10-113010 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.). Now that the same cloud of glory surrounds the disciples, and understandably, “they were afraid.” They found themselves enveloped in the very presence of the Holy One—a terrifying encounter with absolute holiness.
From within the cloud came the Father’s voice, delivering a threefold declaration that corrects Peter’s misguided suggestion and establishes proper theological priorities.
First: “This is my Son.” The Father identifies Jesus with unmistakable clarity and authority. Not one among the great prophets. Not a teacher to be honored alongside Moses and Elijah. He is the Son—the unique, only-begotten Son of God. This declaration echoes Psalm 2:731I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. and decisively corrects Peter’s attempt to place Jesus on equal footing with the Law and Prophets. There are not three equals here; there is the Son, and there are servants of the Son.
Second: “Whom I have chosen.” The Father affirms that Jesus is His elect One, the chosen instrument of redemption. His coming suffering and death are not tragic deviations from God’s plan but the Father’s purposeful means of salvation. This echoes Isaiah 42:132Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. and validates the exodus that Moses and Elijah discussed with Jesus.
Third: “Listen to him.” This is the imperative, the command, the practical application. Don’t just marvel at Jesus—obey Him. This echoes Deuteronomy 18:1533The 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, where Moses prophesied that God would raise a prophet whom the people “must listen to.” Now, with Moses present on the mountain, the Father declares that Jesus is that Prophet. Moses’ era is complete; Jesus’ era has begun.
“Listen to him” directly applies to Jesus’ recent teaching about His suffering and the cost of discipleship. When Jesus speaks of the cross, listen. When He calls you to deny yourself, listen. When He predicts death and resurrection, listen. The Father’s command silences all competing voices and establishes Jesus as the sole, sufficient, final revelation of God.
Point 5: Jesus Alone: The King Who Will Return in Glory
Pastor Joey’s final observation brings the Transfiguration to its profound conclusion and prophetic culmination. Luke records, “When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone” (Luke 9:36). Moses and Elijah have departed, their witness complete. The disciples are left with Jesus alone—not Jesus plus the Law, not Jesus plus the Prophets, but Jesus as the sole, sufficient revelation of God.
This departure is theologically intentional. The Law and Prophets served their God-ordained purpose of pointing to Christ. Now that the Father has spoken and affirmed His Son, they appropriately recede. The disciples must fix their eyes exclusively on Jesus, for He is the fullness of God’s revelation (Colossians 1:1534He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.; Hebrews 1:1-2351 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.). Everything they need is found in Him alone.
Pastor Joey’s connection to Revelation 1:12-163612 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. is crucial for understanding the Transfiguration’s prophetic significance. John’s vision presents the glorified, risen Christ in stunning detail: eyes “like blazing fire,” face “like the sun shining in all its brilliance,” voice “like the sound of rushing waters,” and appearance so overwhelming that John “fell at his feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:14-17). This is not the humble carpenter of Nazareth but the King of glory revealed in fullness.
The Transfiguration provides a preview of this permanent reality. What Peter, James, and John witnessed on the mountain was not a temporary enhancement but a momentary unveiling—a glimpse of who Jesus eternally is. The glory they saw was His inherent divine glory breaking through the veil of human flesh. He is the powerful God (Isaiah 9:637For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon[a] his shoulder, and his name shall be called[b] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.), the sovereign Lord who upholds all things by His powerful word (Hebrews 1:338He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,), the righteous Judge before whom every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10-113910 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.).
This revelation sustained the disciples through the horror of the crucifixion. Yes, they saw Jesus arrested, beaten, mocked, and killed. But they had also seen Him transfigured in glory. They knew the cross wasn’t the end. The One who wore a crown of thorns will wear many crowns (Revelation 19:1240His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.). The One who was crucified in weakness will return in power.
For contemporary believers, the Transfiguration assures us that our suffering Savior is also our glorious King. He descended from that mountain to walk the path to Jerusalem, to the cross, and through death to resurrection. But He will return in the glory the disciples witnessed—not momentarily but permanently, not to suffer but to reign, not as the Lamb led to slaughter but as the Lion of Judah who conquers (Revelation 5:541And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”). Every eye will see Him as He truly is: the King worthy of eternal worship.
Living Between the Transfiguration and the Return
The Transfiguration calls modern Christians to live with eternal perspective in temporal circumstances. Like the disciples, we have been given a glimpse of Christ’s glory through Scripture’s testimony, yet we must descend from mountaintop moments to walk the valley paths of daily faithfulness.
The Father’s command echoes across the centuries: “Listen to him.” In our cacophonous world of competing voices—cultural ideologies, political rhetoric, religious trends—we must prioritize Jesus’ words above all others. This means saturating ourselves in the Gospels, obeying His commands even when costly, and trusting His promises when circumstances contradict them.
We cannot seek glory while avoiding sacrifice. Peter’s mistake remains our temptation—desiring the crown without the cross, resurrection without death, exaltation without humility. Yet Jesus models the path: suffering precedes glory, the cross leads to the crown, and death gives way to life.
Fix your eyes on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). The One transfigured on the mountain, crucified on Calvary, and risen from the tomb will return in glory. Until that day, take up your cross daily, listen to Him alone, and live faithfully—for the King is coming, and His reward is with Him.