²⁸ Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white.
³⁰ And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli'jah,
³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.
³² Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
³³ And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah" --not knowing what he said.
³⁴ As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
³⁵ And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"
³⁶ And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

• (v.28) Luke tightly connects the transfiguration to Jesus' teaching in the previous verses 23-27. The event occurs several days after Jesus "said these words:" "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me ... For whoever would save his life will lose it."
• (v.28) Jesus begins His ministry with a prayer and ends his ministry with a prayer. Jesus prays while performing miracles. He teaches his disciples to pray. The transfiguration occurs as a prayer experience. As Jesus teaches in 11:13, the Holy Spirit is given in response to prayer.
• (v.29) White garments are symbols of joy and celebration. The angels who appear at the resurrection (and later in the ascension) wear dazzling, white clothes.
• (v.30) Moses and Elijah are 2 figures from the Old Testament. Moses was the giver of God's Law, and Elijah was the great prophet through whom God spoke to his people. Their appearance is a sign that the road which Jesus is taking is a fulfillment of the law and the prophets, i.e., a fulfillment of God's will.
• (v.31) Moses and Elijah talk to Jesus about his "departure," or death in Jerusalem. In the middle of this vision of glory is an image of suffering.
• (v.33) Peter wants to make a tent for Jesus. Peter indeed does not know what he is saying, for "the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands" (Acts 7:48).
• (v.34) Cloud is a symbol of God's presence.
• (v.35) "This is my Son, my Chosen one, listen to him." God reveals who the Son is: the one who returns to God via the cross.

Listen to Jesus, and follow him. The road to everlasting life must pass through suffering.

1. "Listen to him." In what way am I listening to Jesus? What do I hear? How do I know it's Jesus' voice? What will help me more easily to recognize his voice?
2. When I do not do my will (what I like, what I want), I suffer. Recall the instances that led me to bad consequences because I follow my will (my impulses, job choices, relationship choices, decisions about money, etc.) instead of listening to a wiser person.

Enter Reader's Response or View Reader's Response this week
A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community