The life of Jesus – 17
Transfigured in prayer.
Luke 9:28-36 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. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spoke of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 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. 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. While he thus spoke, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.” 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 spoke to them about his kingdom and how he must suffer and how they will see the kingdom of God coming. Then eight days later he took them up on a mountain and there the transfiguration happened. There are a few things in this passage that I want us to see.
This happened as Jesus was praying. We have underestimated the power of prayer. Prayer changes things but prayer also changes us. Prayer is the key that God has given us to the super natural realm of his kingdom. Prayer is a weapon against the enemy’s lies and attacks. Prayer is knee mail for God. Jesus taught his disciples to pray. They actually asked Him to teach them because John taught his disciples to pray. Have you been disciple in prayer? We want to do evangelism and we want to do outreach but what about prayer? I think it is time for us to get back to some roots and pray again.
Prayer will change your countenance. There is something that God does with you when you spend time in prayer. This sounds like it is to good to be true but I believe that when we start praying again God will tear the veil between us and heaven and once again invade our space like He did when Jesus prayed here. I see Moses and Elijah showing up to talk to Jesus. A cloud of witnesses surrounds us. They talked to Jesus about how he was to suffer and die in Jerusalem. The spirit world is not uninformed about the plans and the purposes of God that he has set for us. I believe they came to encourage Jesus. Maybe when Jesus experienced his glorified body in this moment He realized it would not be difficult to give up his old body. He would still have the pain and the suffering but what will come would far exceed what he had.
I’m amazed that Peter and John were overcome by sleep while this was happening. How does that happen? I am glad that they woke up to see some of what was happening. I declare that in this coming season people that has fallen asleep while God was doing something, while God was revealing something they have never seen, these people will awaken and they will experience it. The enemy cannot steal what belongs to us.
I long for encounters like this. It is time for us to be in such prayer that we are transfigured by the glory of God. I can hear people say: “Don’t get weird on us.” Who care when no one says anything when sinners dabble in the darkest spiritual things but as soon as we as spirit beings pursue God who is spirit, and then we are turning weird. There are realms for us to discover in God that we have not discovered yet.
What we also need to learn from this s the fact that while both Moses and Elijah showed up only Jesus was left once it was over. Moses represented the law and Elijah represented the prophets. In Jesus it all is consummated and swallowed up by Grace. He is the fulfillment of both the law and the prophets. Peter wanted to build a place for them to stay. God overshadowed them with a cloud and then speaks to them. A cloud of witnesses that speak as God spoke to them surrounds us. Jesus is coming in the clouds and as the Bible states it, He is coming in the saints and He is coming for the saints. Those that have gone on before us will come with Jesus to meet us in the air. What a glorious day awaits us. We are invited now to enter into that realm through prayer.
Lastly God commands them to hear what Jesus is saying. Don’t listen to the law or the prophets. Listen to Jesus. Do we ignore the law and the prophets? Not at all but Jesus is the fulfillment and the expression of God’s love for us. The law was to point to sin. The prophets was to judge sin. Jesus points us to the Father. Listen to Him!
