Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
(New Revised Standard Version)

28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus[a] took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake,[b] they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings,[c] one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen;[d] listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39 Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he[a] shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astounded at the greatness of God.


Some Thoughts on Today’s Reading—Pastor Pam

In these verses in Luke, God makes it clear Jesus is his son. God also tells the disciples Peter, James and John, to listen to Jesus. “This is my son, my Chosen; listen to him!” God states.

The story starts out with Jesus taking the three disciples to the mountaintop to pray. While he is praying, Jesus begins to change. His face looks different and his clothes become “dazzling white.” Two men appear and they are Moses and Elijah who speak to Jesus. The disciples want to stop everything they are doing and build dwellings to honor Jesus and these two great Old Testament prophets. They want to memorialize the moment and maybe even stay there. We don’t know exactly what they wanted to do, but God tells them to listen to his son…not Moses…not Elijah…but Jesus who brings the new covenant to all people with a reach beyond the Old Testament.

The next day, Jesus and the disciples leave the mountain and Jesus is met by a great crowd. A father is there seeking healing for his son. No one else has been able to heal the boy but Jesus does.

A take-away from Luke is that mountaintop moments can fill us with amazement but leave us unable act even when Jesus calls us out into community in healing mission and transformation. We can forget that God very clearly singled out Jesus as the one to listen to…the Son of God who would do and demonstrate God’s will. Jesus would bring something new that went beyond the prophets of old.

So, do we listen to Jesus as God instructed? Or, do we sometimes become frozen ready to remain in places of a certain time and perspective and not listening to the Son of God who calls to us in new ways.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Pam

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