On Line Bible Study - For the Week September 20-26, 2010

Lesson 458

Luke 9: ²⁸About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. ²⁹As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰Two men, Moses and Elijah, ³¹appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. ³²Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³As 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.)

³⁴While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." ³⁶When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

Herod has questioned: "Who is this?" (Luke 9:9.)
The disciples have been challenged to feed the crowds. (Luke 9:13.)
Peter has professed that Jesus is "the Christ of God". (Luke 9:20.)
Jesus has described the mission - "Deny yourself; take up your cross; follow me." (Luke 9:23.) This is the very essence of life.

Now St. Luke gives us the "Transfiguration" - Given the political unrest he is causing, the expectations placed upon his disciples, and his description of the mission - not only for himself, but for those who would be his followers - this is a good time to see a little glory! Scholars ask just what this glory symbolizes ... Is it apocalyptic, that is, does it point to the fulfillment of time? Is it royal, that is, does it enthrone Jesus? Is it prophetic, that is, does it validate the teaching and ministry of Jesus as the truth (...and is this why Moses and Elijah are present)?

Luke adds a component not found in either Mark or Matthew - in Luke, Jesus is praying as this event takes place. Another aspect peculiar to Luke is the description - not that Jesus was "transfigured" (see Mark 9:2 and Matthew 17:2), but that "...his appearance changed..." The Revised Standard Bible says his countenance was altered.

Still another aspect only Luke's gospel mentions is that the disciples were sleepy. They had to come "fully awake", or they would have missed the moment.

The story is complicated. Let's just take one facet unique to Luke's telling - that Jesus was praying. That there is a supernatural component to this story is obvious. Is Luke suggesting that prayer is something that brings about a transformation in us if we are awake enough to be so engaged? This is not to miss the point of this singular experience of Jesus, nor to diminish it in any way. Rather, it is to say that Jesus is "God with us" in ways both transcendent and incarnate. In Jesus the disciples come to believe they touch the divine, and the divine touches them.

The experience leaves them speechless. Like Mary "pondering things in her heart," the disciples are silent. In Matthew and Mark's telling, Jesus commands them to tell no one. In Luke's telling, the silence is voluntary. Perhaps it is a silence inspired by awe - prayer can do that to us.

mmm