Luke 9:28-50 "The Glory of the Son of God" Why does the resurrection matter? The obvious answer is "because if Jesus stayed dead, we would too!" We often think of the death of Jesus as what saves us, and the resurrection as necessary but not as important as his death. The Transfiguration here in Luke 8 is a foreshadowing of the resurrection. And it suggests to us the importance of the resurrection for us! Because it is here on the mountain that the glory of Jesus is revealed. And that glory is sharply contrasted in verses 37-50 with the incompetence and ignorance of the disciples. If the kingdom is coming, If the new exodus is coming, then Jesus has his work cut out for him! Because he has a pretty pathetic bunch of followers. And if we're honest with ourselves, then we must admit that in some respects, that hasn't changed! Our ignorance and incompetence are all too obvious to ourselves, and often enough to others! But the resurrection of Jesus has changed all that! And to see how, let's start with Jesus on the mountain! 1. The Glory of the Son Revealed on the Mountain (9:28-36) We didn't talk about verse 27 last time. After telling his disciples that he would die and be raised from the dead, Jesus had called his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. He had warned them not to be ashamed of him lest he be ashamed of them when he came in his glory, and the glory of the Father, concluding that "there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." In another context, this could be taken as a reference to the coming of the kingdom in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But in this context, it is pointing us to what comes next: the transfiguration. About eight days after these sayings... The eighth day in the scriptures is the day of new beginnings. If seven is the number of completeness, then eight is the number of the resurrection. On the eighth day the child was circumcised, On the eighth day the priest entered into his holy service. On the eighth day the unclean was cleansed and restored to the worship of God. And eight days after Peter had confessed him as the Christ, eight days after he had told his disciples that he would die and be raised from the dead, eight days after he had told his disciples that some would see the kingdom of God, Jesus took Peter, John and James up the mountain to pray. We have noted from time to time the parallels between Jesus and David, as Jesus wanders in the wilderness awaiting his hour, and as Jesus calls disciples to follow him (even as David gathered to himself those who were looking for the coming of his kingdom). You may recall that of those who followed David there were three who were called his "mighty men." Even so, Jesus has the "three" Peter, John, and James. And these three are those "who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothes became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. [I know, your translation probably says "departure" like the ESV but the word there is the word "exodus"-- which is not the normal word for "departure" Exodos is used only 3 times in the NT it is used once to refer to the Exodus from Egypt (Heb 11:22) and once to refer to Peter's death (2 Peter 1:15) It can just mean "depart" but with Moses around, it definitely reminds us of the "departure" from Egypt.] Moses had led the first exodus out of Egypt, where Israel passed through death into life. And now Moses appears in glory to speak with Jesus of the new Exodus. Elijah was the prophet who had called Israel to repentance, and represents the entire prophetic movement that had spoken of the new Exodus. Now he, too, appears in glory to speak with Jesus of the fulfillment of the prophets. The Law and the Prophets gather together on the mountain with Jesus. When Peter wakes up and realizes what is happening, he sees Moses and Elijah about to leave, and he says, Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah Luke tells us that Peter did not know what he was saying. Peter is thinking of Jesus as an equal to Moses and Elijah. And in this he was like most Jews of his day. Moses had said to look for a prophet "like me." Elijah had been a prophet like Moses. But no one was really expecting the Messiah to be greater than Moses. The Messiah would restore Israel to obedience to Moses. Peter sees Jesus with Moses and Elijah, talking about a new exodus, and he says, "Yeah, I was right about Jesus! He is the one who will restore the kingdom to Israel!" Peter thinks that the coming of Jesus will result in greater glory for Moses. He did not understand. But as he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Why were they afraid of a cloud? They are on a mountaintop. What's a little fog? Remember the cloud that led Israel through the wilderness? Now that cloud settles on the mountain the glory-cloud before which Moses said, "I tremble with fear." (Heb 12) And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!" All your life, Peter, you have been listening to Moses. All your life, James and John, you have been watching for Elijah. And you have thought that Israel was "my Son, my Chosen one." But all the Law and the Prophets (Moses and Elijah) have been speaking to you of this one. Jesus is the Son of God the Elect One. Listen to him! Listen to him as Moses and Elijah fade into the mist! Listen to him because he is the Word of God incarnate. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. It was all true. God had called Israel to be his firstborn son. God had chosen Israel as his elect people. But Israel had failed. That was why God had sent Elijah to call the people to repentance. But Israel did not repent. They did not change their wicked ways. And so now God has called Jesus to be what Israel could never be: his Son, his Chosen One the one who would redeem his people from all their iniquities. Peter, John and James caught a glimpse of Jesus in his resurrection glory. There on the mountain they beheld the glory of the kingdom. We who are in Christ now share in that glory. Peter tells us in his epistle that we rejoice through various trials, because we have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. And though we do not see him now, we believe in him, and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. (1 Peter 1:3-8) Peter the same Peter who was befuddled on the mountain now sees that we have been born again through the resurrection of Jesus. He does not say, "through the death of Jesus" but through his resurrection. The death and resurrection of Jesus cannot be torn apart as though they are unrelated, but our new birth is rooted in Jesus' new birth. Our new life comes from the power and glory of the resurrected Savior. Yes, as we said last time, the call to follow Jesus is a call to suffer with him. You are to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus. And that means suffering! But even that suffering is filled with glory, because of the resurrection of Jesus! 2. The Glory of the Son Revealed in His Power (9:37-45) We also see the glory of Jesus revealed in his power over the spirits. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. (v37) You can almost imagine Peter, John and James looking at each other, whispering "did that really happen?" "You saw who it was, right?" "That really was Moses and Elijah." "Yeah, but don't tell the others they'll never believe us!" And with that vision of the glory of the kingdom, they are now brought back to the dust and heat of the day, the swarming crowds and the problems of everyday life. And a man in the crowd asks the disciples to heal his son to cast out this demon who had seized him. But they could not. The frustrations of being a disciple of Jesus called to imitate a master who is inimitable! How do you imitate the Son of God?! Friday night as we looked at the Psalms of the Cross, we came to this same conclusion: Jesus called us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him, but there comes a point where we cannot follow. We are called to follow but we are incapable of doing what he did! What prevents us? The same thing that prevented the disciples: The father says to Jesus, "I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." (v40) Jesus answered O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Who is he calling faithless and twisted? The only people in view are this man and the disciples! But Jesus associates the entire generation as faithless and twisted. In so doing, Jesus reminds us of Moses, who spoke of the generation that lived through the Exodus as a "crooked and twisted generation" (Dt 32:5). Those who fell in the wilderness were crooked and perverse. And Jesus says that this generation is no better! You are just like Israel in the wilderness. You haven't improved! How long do I have to put up with you! Jesus is about to lead a new exodus. He's just been talking with Moses about it! And now he looks around at the twelve those who will replace the 12 tribes and he comments on how some things never change! Even the 12 share in the deficiencies of the Mosaic generation. Brothers and sisters, it is true that some things never change! But in Jesus, everything changes. Paul will speak to the Philippians, reminding them of the wilderness generation, saying, "Do all things without grumbling or murmuring, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." (Phil 2:14-15) How is it that Jesus can speak to the disciples as a faithless and twisted generation, and then Paul can speak of the Philippians as "shining" in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation? Paul seems to believe that you are not part of that twisted generation anymore! That is what Jesus is doing in verses 42-45. He casts the demon out of the boy just as he will cast the devil out in his death. And all were astounded at the majesty of God. Notice that they were not astounded simply at "Jesus's majesty," but at the majesty of God that was revealed in him. The glory of God that had been revealed on the mountain was veiled, but those who had eyes to see could still glimpse the majesty of God in the power of Jesus. And while they were yet marveling, Jesus explained how he would make all things new: Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. Only through his death and resurrection could a faithless, crooked, twisted generation be transformed into children of God. And that is what we are! 3. The Glory of the Son Revealed in His Humility (9:46-50) As if to prove that they still don't get it. As if to demonstrate that they are indeed a part of that faithless and twisted generation, the twelve start bickering about which of them is the greatest. "I cast out seven demons last week!" "Well I healed a dozen lepers and you should have seen how I had them hanging on my every word!" Jesus knew the reasoning of their hearts. He knows the reasoning of your hearts. He knows how you like the pre-eminence. He knows how you don't like to take a back seat. If you can't run the show you don't even want to be involved. But Jesus took a child and put him by his side. Jesus pushes the twelve aside, and takes this little child, and says, Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great. (v48) I'm sure you've noticed the circular nature of that last statement: the one who is least is the one who is great in which case he isn't least anymore! The point is that we should not be competing for greatness. If we are to be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, then we are to be seeking for how to serve one another! How do you treat "the least of these"? How do you treat the children around you? For that matter, children, how do you treat those younger than you? how do you treat those who are weaker? Do you look for ways to serve others? Or do you want to be served? In humility, consider others as more important than yourself! Because that is what Jesus did for you. Also in Philippians 2, Paul tells us to have the same attitude the same mind that was also in Christ Jesus. Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. But the disciples don't get it yet. John had been there on the mountain. He had seen Jesus' glory. He had heard the voice that said "this is my Son, my Chosen One listen to him!" And so he figures that anyone who is not with Jesus must not be for Jesus. So when he sees someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus, he forbade him, "because he does not follow with us." Here again you see the humility of Jesus. Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you. If praise and honor are brought to the name of Jesus, then do not try to stop them! Later, in Luke 11:23, Jesus will say Whoever is not with me is against me. It might appear that these two saying are opposed. But they are actually saying the same thing: the key is Jesus. Notice the pronouns! Whoever is not with me (Jesus says) is against me. But the disciples are to have a different attitude: The one who is not against you is for you. There are only two kinds of people in this world. Those who have been born again through the resurrection of Jesus. And those who haven't. Conclusion We'll be singing a new hymn after the sermon Songbook #172, "O Wondrous Type, O Vision Fair" a 15th century hymn about the Transfiguration. A "type" is a picture or a sign like how David is a type of Christ, or the Red Sea is a type of baptism. But this medieval hymn well captures the point that because of the resurrection of Jesus, the church will share in his glory. The glory of Jesus shines forth in us. May we live as those who have the glory of Jesus shining in our hearts!