Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Luke 9:28-36
“And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35)
Throughout the book of Luke, we see a question begging to be answered, “Who is Jesus?” From the beginning of the book, we get glimpses of Jesus’ extraordinary virgin birth. We hear the songs of Mary and Zechariah. We see angels who rejoiced at His birth. We witness the testimony of Simeon and Anna, who testified that Jesus was the long-awaited Saviour of Israel and the Gentiles.
At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus interpreted the Scriptures and claimed the verses, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim and year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19) was about Himself.
After that, we witness all the many miracles that Jesus did. The crowds interpreted these in different ways. Some said He was the returned Elijah. Others said He was John the Baptist. Yet, when Jesus was praying alone with His disciples, He asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answers, “The Christ of God” (Luke 9:20). Here is the first explicit Word about Jesus. Upon this statement, Jesus built His church (see Matthew 16:13-20).
Yet, eight days later, we see the transfiguration. As Jesus prayed with Peter, John and James, His appearance was altered, and His clothing became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, representing the Law and the Prophets. Yet, Jesus shone more gloriously than the other two revealing how His glory was far superior to the Old Testament.
When the disciples’ eyes were opened and they became fully awake, they saw Jesus in His full glory. A cloud overshadowed them, filling them with fear, and a voice came from heaven, “This is my Son, my Chosen One, listen to him!”. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, the question, “Who is Jesus?” gets an explicit answer from God the Father, confirming Peter’s earlier statement, Jesus is “The Christ of God”.
Notice what Jesus spoke of with Moses and Elijah — Jesus’ departure. As we progressively see more and more who Jesus is, we see that HIs glory is fully revealed on the cross. He was the sinless man who became sin for us. He was the holy one who took away the sins of the world. He is our God and our King. Come and behold His glory!
Lord, open our eyes to see more and more of Your glory. Show us who You really are in Christ. Only when we see Your glory will our lives be changed. Have mercy on us because our lives are blinded by the world. May we grow to know You in Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.