Second Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson: Luke 9:28-36

[For an explanation of what this is about and to see the first pass, go here.]

Verse-by-Verse Comments:
28Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
(1) The incident to be recounted happened, according to Luke, eight days after Peter had confessed that Jesus was "The Messiah of God" and then this:

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:21-27)

(2) these sayings: The phrase translates Luke's Greek narration, which literally is these words.

(3) According to Mark, there's a six day gap between Peter's confession/Jesus' words and the Transfiguration. I can't explain the difference.

But it is fair to point out that eight days is highly significant in the Gospels. Bryan Findlayson writes:

As with many resurrection appearances, 24:1, 13, 33, eight days symbolizes entrance into a new age, a new creation following the seventh day of God's rest.

The phrase may signal that in the midst of Jesus' passion (and predictions of it) and the weakness of the disciples, Jesus will ultimately prevail and establishing a new creation.

(4) Over the past several weeks, our Bible lessons from Luke have shown us that there were various audiences who listened to Jesus with varying levels of attentiveness and who followed Him with varying levels of devotion, for varying motives.

Last week, we talked about three different groups. They were, from the outside moving toward Jesus:

• the crowds: the curious, those desiring healing
• the disciples: the students of Jesus who are following Him
• the apostles: those disciples who have been chosen (elected) by Jesus for leadership, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in the multiplication of disciples

Now, we see that there was an inner circle among the apostles, those who were to lead the leaders: Peter, James, and John.

Jesus takes this inner circle with Him to a mountaintop. During His earthly ministry, Jesus spends the greatest amounts of time with the inner circle, the least with the crowds.

Discipleship entails moving closer to Jesus, while continuing to be in touch with the crowds, asking God's help in moving them closer to Jesus as well. This is the dual mission of the Church.

(5) to pray: Luke emphasizes that every major event or initiative by Jesus is always preceded by times of prayer. Here, Jesus' prayers come before a great epiphany (or theophany) displaying Jesus' deity.

29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
(1) Moses' face glowed when he came into the presence of God at Mount Sinai. (See here.)

30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.
(1) Moses and Elijah represent the twin pillars of the Old Testament Scriptures: the Law and the Prophets. Moses was the law-giver. Elijah was Israel's greatest prophet. Throughout the two New Testament books authored by Luke, the Gospel from which our lesson is taken and Acts, he points out that Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the new life He gives to all with faith in Him, fulfills the Law and the Prophets.

(2) Brian P. Stoffregen has this interesting insight:

Only Luke uses the phrase "two men" (vv. 30, 32). This most closely relates to the "two men" who are sitting in the empty tomb in dazzling clothes (24:4).

If you see the Transfiguration within the context of events recounted by Luke in chapter 9, it seems clear that his decision to speak of "two men" of Moses and Elijah here and of "two men" of the angels at the empty tomb, you see that he means for this account to be an oasis of hope amid the foreshadowing of Good Friday and the discussions of the demands of discipleship.

(3) We're told little of what Jesus was talking about with Moses and Elijah; we'll be given that information in the next verse. But I'm inclined to think that while the evidence in the rest of the lesson indicates that Peter, at least, listened with rapt attention to what Jesus and Moses and Elijah were saying, God will soon tell him to listen to Jesus. Many voices will contend for attention in life, some of them the voices of mentors and loved ones we revere. But disciples are to be focused on what Jesus tells us. (This theme will become more explicit as we consider the rest of this lesson.)

31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
(1) The word departure is interesting here. Both Moses and Elijah were well-known for their departures. Moses led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Elijah, according to the Old Testament, didn't die, but departed from the world on a chariot of fire.

The departure referred to here is Jesus' crucifixion.

[More tomorrow, I hope.]

[Note: The words in the graphic are in Portugese and I think can be translated, "Listen to what He says.]