20251019 Luke 9:28-36 The Transfiguration: “Listen to Him”

Luke 9:28-36 is about the Transfiguration of Jesus. It is a rich theological text that teaches us about the glorious Son of God whom we worship. It is what we call a Christological text. It teaches us who Jesus is so that we would respond to him appropriately.

In many ways, this text should be taken with the previous text, Luke 9:18-27. In this previous text, Jesus spoke of his suffering and what it looks like to follow him. Now, Luke 9:28-36 reminds us of the identity of the one who is asking. He is the glorious Son of God. So, Christian come after Jesus. We deny ourselves. We pick up our cross daily. We lose our lives for his sake. And all this, Jesus can ask of us because he is the glorious Son of God, as we see at the Transfiguration.

This text is an epic theologically rich meal. It is loaded with Old Testament allusions and themes to present Christ in all his glory! The allusions to the Old Testament give us old categories to understand Jesus. But the parallels to the Old Testament also serve to highlight the superiority of Christ, so that we can conclude that no one greater has or ever will come.

This text builds up to the words of God the Father to the disciples, “Listen to him” in Luke 9:35. These words are the climax of the passage. They are so groundbreaking because of the prophecy they fulfill. Many individuals have very important roles in the Old Testament. Among these, Moses stands out as the most important. In Deut 18:15, Moses tells the people, “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.” Now, at the Transfiguration, God speaks from heaven. He tells the disciples, “Listen to him.” His words are the affirmation that Jesus is the long-awaited prophet like Moses.

We will look at how this text convinces us to listen to Jesus, that we would obey and follow the suffering, Messiah. We will see that he is a greater Moses, the fulfillment of the Prophets, and has no equal.

First, we listen to Jesus because Jesus is a Greater Moses

Luke 9:28-32, 34-35

Moses is a big deal. His name occurs more times in the NT than any other name from the Old Testament. Moses is known for three things.

He is known for the Exodus, or deliverance from Egypt. He was a miracle worker. He is also a teacher. He taught God's people, God's law. Jesus is like Moses. He is a deliverer, a miracle worker, and a teacher.

In order to set up Jesus as the one we must listen to and obey, Luke presents Jesus in parallel to Moses. The parallels show how Jesus is like Moses, but also how Jesus is greater than Moses, the most influential OT character. In Moses' life, the following four events are relevant to the Transfiguration. Moses went up a mountain to hear from God. Moses’ face shone after being in the presence of God. Moses led the Exodus out of Egypt. And Moses prophesied of a future prophet like him that was to come.

So first, in Exod 24:1, Moses went up a mountain with three named individuals, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu. This is like Luke 9:28 where Jesus went up a mountain with three individuals, Peter, John, and James. When Moses went up in Exod 24:15, "the cloud covered the mountain.” Now in Luke 9:34, “a cloud came and overshadowed them.” This is the first way, Luke invites us to consider Jesus as a Moses-like figure.

Second, we have Exodus 34. According to Exod 34:29, Moses face was shinning from talking with God. Now, in Luke 9:29, Jesus’ garment and face turned white. In Exod 34:30, those who saw Moses' shinny skin were afraid. Now, in Luke 9:34 the disciples were also afraid.

The cumulative parallels between Jesus on this mountain and Moses on Mount Sinai force us to see the Jesus as a Moses-like figure. The comparison highlights their differences as well. While Moses' shiny face reflected God's glory, Jesus was the source of the glory. Jesus is like Moses and he is superior to Moses. In Exodus 34, Moses came down with the 10 Commandments. If Jesus is greater than Moses who came down with the 10 Commandments, how much more must listen to Jesus, who emanated his own glory.

The third significant and relevant element from Moses' life is the Exodus. According to Luke 9:31, when Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah, they were speaking of his departure which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. The Greek word here is Exodus. Luke’s choice of word, "Exodus," which does not appear in Matthew or Mark’s accounts stresses the deliverance Jesus’ death provides. Jesus’ delivery is superior to Moses’. In Egypt, the problem solved was the bondage of slavery. Jesus came to solve our sin problem. Our sin affects our thoughts, our desires, our actions, our words. Our sins lead to hostility within ourselves, with others and with God. Our sins make us liable to God’s just judgment. Jesus’ Exodus is our delivery out of the bondage of sin. Jesus frees us from sin, from our condemnation, and satisfies God’s Holiness against sin. This is how Jesus is a deliverer like Moses, and a greater deliverer.

Finally, the fourth relevant event from Moses’ life to the Transfiguration is Moses' prophecy about a coming prophet. Moses foretold of a prophet who would be like him who would come. In Deu 18:15, Moses says that when this prophet comes, the people must, “Listen to him.” In Luke 9:35, when the Father speaks, referring to Jesus, he tells the disciples, “Listen to him.” These words mean what they mean. We must listen to Jesus. And they mean so much more - The Father is saying, this is the Prophet who was to come.

Application

To the people of Israel in the first century, Moses was the most respected figure of the Old Testament. Now, at the Transfiguration, Jesus' disciples witness Jesus’ reliving and surpassing Moses' story. If Moses was the miracle worker, teacher, and deliverer, and Jesus was greater, who must he be? He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. He is the greatest miracle worker, greatest teacher, and greatest deliverer.

Three responses follow from these three conclusions. If Jesus is a greater teacher, we must listen to him. If Jesus is a greater miracle worker, we must entrust ourselves to him. If Jesus is a greater deliverer, we must celebrate the salvation from sin and God’s judgment that he brings.

When it comes to listening to Jesus our teacher, it is not about gaining more knowledge. It is not about understanding the Christian religion. It is not about being able to recite Bible verses knowing where things are in the Bible. Listening to Jesus is about being present in our lives' circumstances while interacting with the Scriptures. It is about walking with God, with the knowledge of his word in a way that informs how we live and relate. It is a kind of listening that leads to Jesus' words flowing out of us. It is a listening that transforms our minds so we think differently, feel differently, and live differently. Who are we listening to? God the father tells us: "Listen to Jesus."

Jesus is a greater miracle worker and a greater deliverer than Moses. Jesus' miracles and salvation are connected. It is the greatest miracle of Jesus death and resurrection that offers deliverance from sin. Jesus’ Exodus provided a greater salvation. Through Moses, God brought out the people of Israel out Egypt. It was a deliverance from bondage and slavery. Jesus’ Exodus, or his death, offers the freedom from the bondage of sin. Jesus forgives sins. He satisfies God’s justice and judgment against sin that we deserve. Jesus allows us to enjoy a relationship with God. The forgiveness of sins offers us inner peace from our inner turmoil, guilt, and shame. Based on the forgiveness we've received, we live differently with others. Flowing out of God’s love and forgiveness of us we can live at peace, confessing our sins, and forgiving the sins of others. We listen to Jesus because he is a greater Moses!

Second, we listen to Jesus because Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Prophets, he is a greater Elijah according to Luke 9:30-31)

Luke 9:30-31

Moses is not the only OT figure who is present at the Transfiguration, Elijah is as well. It is like Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the prophets. Together they represent the Old Testament that is often referred to as the Law and the Prophets. Elijah was a prominent prophet. The last book of our English Old Testament ends with Moses and Elijah. It is like they both took on representative roles.

These are the last words of our Old Testament in Mal 4:4-6, “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” A passage like Malachi 4:4-6 highlights the importance of Moses and Elijah to summarize the Old Testament

In the OT, Elijah never died. He was taken up to heaven alive. The end of Malachi sets up an expectation for his return. He was going to return and prepare the way for the Lord. In the NT, the coming of Elijah is fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist who prepared the way for the Lord. If John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord, and Jesus came after John the Baptist, must be the Lord himself.

The connection between Elijah and Jesus reveal Jesus' identity as the Lord himself. Jesus' connection to Moses and a representative of the Prophets also speaks to what he came to do. The theme of the Exodus is found throughout the Old Testament. The first Exodus was connected with Moses. This theme of the Exodus is picked up by many of the prophets. When the people of Israel were sent to Babylon, the prophets used Exodus language to anticipate a new greater Exodus out of Babylon. One example of the development of the Exodus theme is Jer 16:14-15, “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 15 but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.” The story of the Exodus out of Egypt became a paradigm to understand how God delivers his people in history. The Exodus story gave the people of future generations, hope that God would act again. It gave Israel hope that when they were in trouble, God would deliver his people. Taken together, Moses offered the prototype Exodus. The prophets applied the Exodus motif it to understand God’s rescue from Babylon.

Jesus, in continuity with the Prophets, Jesus develops the Exodus motif further. Jesus fulfills the greatest Exodus.  Christ delivered us from our sins. With the continuity of the Law and the Prophets, when Jesus gathers with Moses and Elijah, he shows that he is part of the same Redemptive Story. Jesus fits perfectly within the continuity of the OT. He came to fulfill all prophetic expectations. What the prophets foresaw and anticipated, Jesus fulfilled.

Application

With time, I have come to appreciate more and more the Good News of Jesus in light of all the Old Testament prophecies. Understand salvation in terms of fulfillment of OT prophecies offers us a fuller picture of what it means to enjoy abundant life in Christ, today.

Genesis 1-2 offers the picture of what Jesus offers us. Jesus came to bring Eden back. He came to reverse Genesis 3 that we would enjoy delight, peace, harmony, with God, others, and within ourselves. Jesus is the New Adam, he is the father of a new humanity. Jesus is the offspring of Abraham who blesses all the families of the Earth. Being a Christian means we care about blessing the world. Jesus is the descendent of Judah, and David who is the King over all people. The Christian life is one of repenting of sin and submitting to the King of Kings. Jesus is our Passover Lamb and suffering servant King who died on behalf of his people for our sins. He took the punishment we deserve.

The Christian life is one of taking sin seriously and joy in knowing God forgives us to forgive others. We still live in a world marked by sin and suffering. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament, and we still wait for his second coming to culminate all prophetic expectations. And we already today, amidst struggles with God, struggles with people, struggles with health, sin, shame, we can live differently. We already have eternal life today and enjoy hints of Eden today. Because of what Jesus accomplished and fulfilled, we already have peace with God. Jesus already reduces our shame and anxiety. On the basis of the infinite creator of the universe making peace with us, we can taste intimate relationships on this side of heaven. As we understand the depth of what Christ fulfilled, we experience a richer Christian life. We listen to Jesus, because he fulfills OT prophecies.

Third, we see Jesus has no equal in Luke 9:33-34

Luke 9:33-34

The Transfiguration presents Jesus as greater than Moses and as the fulfillment of prophetic expectations. Our text also stresses that Jesus is distinct and superior to anyone who has ever walked this earth. It is striking that this point is made when Jesus is in the presence of both Moses and Elijah who represent the OT.

In Luke 9:33, when Peter sees Jesus, Moses, and Elijah together, he says, “It is good for us to be here, let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Then, it is like he is interrupted by the cloud in Luke 9:34. The voice of God says, “This is my son whom I have chosen, listen to him.” And Jesus was found alone.” It is like Peter wanted to make three tents almost treating them as equals, but God had to interrupt him to tell him, "Listen to Jesus."

Application

The words "Listen to Him" are a powerful echo back to Deut 18:15. Jesus gathers with Moses and Elijah to show he is important like them. But, the Father's words, "listen to him" show that Jesus is superior to them. Jesus is the one we must listen to. While prophets say, “Thus says the Lord” Jesus says, “But I say to you.”

It is fascinating to me when there are religions that developed later and try to build on top of Christianity in a less glorious way. Islam claims Moses, and they claim Jesus, but Mohamed’s later revelation does not improve what we have in the Bible in any way. Joseph Smith and Mormons also add to the Bible. They add by taking away the uniqueness of Jesus and his words by changing the gospel of grace with a man-made work based religion.

The Transfiguration teaches us, listen to Jesus. We do not need a special preacher. We don’t need a new Man of God. We don't need new prophets or miracle workers who want our money. Jesus is the greatest Prophet. Jesus accomplished what the prophets anticipated. He is set apart as uniquely separate and superior. Adding to Jesus is the sin of unbelief. It is going backwards and turning our backs on Jesus. We listen to Jesus because he has no equal!

Conclusion

I think it is probably normal for us to think of the Transfiguration as that cool event when Jesus started glowing! I hope that with this study, we see that this text fits in Luke's strategy that we would be certain about Jesus to respond to him appropriately.

This text teaches us who Jesus is. He is the one we must listen to. The combination of this spectacular presentation of Jesus and the command to listen to him go together. If we want a tame Jesus, who was just a humble wise teacher, we will eventually stop listening to him. Jesus is the second person of the Trinity he is the Creator, the Sustainer of the Universe. He accomplished redemption for his people by dying on the cross. He sends us his spirit to live differently. He will return one day to Judge the World and usher in the Age to Come for those who love him to enjoy eternal bliss for Eternity. In the previous text, he announced his death and resurrection and called us to follow him in his suffering. In this text he is presented as the God of Glory. We follow him. We suffer with him. We listen to him. We worship him. Jesus went from suffering to glory, from death to life. This is what we are destined to as well as we follow in his suffering.