AM March 19th Luke 9

March 19^th         The Transfiguration of Jesus

28: And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29: And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30: And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32: But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33: And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34: While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35: And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 36: And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Jesus delivers a young boy

37: And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 38: And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. 39: And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. 40: And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. 41: And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. 42: And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

Jesus predicts his death

43: And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, 44: Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. 45: But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Childlikeness

46: Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47: And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48: And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

Don’t forbid others

49: And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50: And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

A Samaritan village reject Jesus

51: And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52: And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53: And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54: And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55: But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56: For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Being a disciple of Christ

57: And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58: And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59: And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60: Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61: And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Peter James and John go up the mountain with Christ and suddenly Christ is transfigured in front of them. What was happening? This was the glory of God that came on the one who kept the whole law. Moses and Elijah appeared to talk with Christ but what he had come to discuss? They discussed the death which he would accomplish in Jerusalem. Did they have questions? Did they have objections? Maybe, we don’t know but they discussed his death and the cross. Peter in his confusion said let us make three tabernacles one for each of you. This was a familiar Jewish practice every year at the feast of tabernacles. As he was speaking a cloud overshadowed him and he heard the voice, ‘This is my beloved Son, hear him’. This ended the discussion with Moses and Elijah and Christ alone is left with the disciples. When they came down from the mountain they were met with a man who was very desperate. He had a child which had a demon and the demon was seeking to harm the child. He had come to the disciples but they were powerless in this case. Christ delivered him saying that this type of demon is only cast out by prayer and fasting. Later Christ sits down with the disciples to tell them about the coming cross but they could not understand him. It was hid from them. Christ put a child in the middle saying that greatness was found in childlikeness. It seems that the disciples had understood so little at times. Here they say, Should we call down fire from heaven on men? Christ firmly rebuked them. There were many who came asking that they might follow him. But the Lord explained what this would mean – homelessness. To another who wished to go home and wait for his father to die, he said, Let the dead bury the dead. All of this was in the context of the coming kingdom. And it was all in the context of Israel under Law and Christ as the Messiah called to preach the Gospel of the kingdom.