Glory – Luke 9:28-36

In the Old Testament, when God appears to people, He is often appearing in light.  He appears to Moses in a burning bush.   He appears to Moses in the tent of meeting and Moses comes out face shining.  When the tabernacle was completed the glory of Yahweh filled it.  Paul says God dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16).  Light and glory are the signs of God.

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.  (Luke 9:28-36 ESV)

Jesus had said that some standing there would not taste death until they had seen the kingdom of God, and here Peter, James and John, Jesus’ inner circle, are present when he is “altered” in his face (they see his “glory”) and his clothes become dazzling white.  The glory of God has always been perceived as light (recall how Moses’ time spent with Yahweh resulted in his face glowing).  Moses and Elijah have been dead but they come and speak with Jesus about his death and somehow the disciples know it is them (recognition in the kingdom will not be merely a matter of physical appearance).  This whole experience overwhelms the senses of the disciples and they get sleepy for awhile (like babies fast asleep in a noisy room).

When they become more alert to what is transpiring in front of them Peter makes an attempt to acknowledge it but doesn’t really know what he is saying.  Then the cloud which is also associated with Yahweh’s glory overshadows and terrifies them.  The Father’s voice and message make it clear that despite the fact that two icons of Judaism are standing in front of them, the most important person there is Jesus.  He is the one who should be listened to.  Peter later refers to this event as one that made the word of prophecy Jesus spoke all the more sure (2 Peter 1:16-21).

Why does Jesus only allow a few of his disciples to experience this?  Why not appear this way to the Pharisees and Sadducees and the Romans?  This is what Israel hoped for.  But if they can’t receive him for his teaching and miracles their hearts are not ready for him in his glory.  This is the only time that Jesus’ divine nature is allowed to show.  He has ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit, not his own deity, but for this brief moment his glory is revealed.