Real Conversations (Luke 8-10)Sampel

Have you ever been invited to a birthday party where a few people stayed to spend the night after everyone else left? Had Jesus been hosting a party, Peter, James and John would likely have been on the sleepover list. As it stood, they were chosen to be a part of something more extraordinary than a sleepover. Jesus chose to take them atop a mountain to pray and be captivated by His revealed glory.

The three disciples were not the only ones invited to what was later understood as the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus and foretold of His soon departure. Moses and Elijah were not equal with God, but they were faithful men who served Him and pointed to the ultimate Savior of the world. This mountaintop moment harkens back to Malachi 4, where the Israelites were told to remember the Law of Moses and look for Elijah before the Day of the Lord. And there they were, right before Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world.

However, Peter and the others needed help understanding. In fact, they were ready to set up camp and stay on the mountaintop, when the voice of God broke through the chasm of heaven and earth and declared Jesus was the holy and set-apart Son of God. The three disciples breathed in this experience and did not tell anyone what they saw until after Jesus had Resurrected.

Questions

1. What are some Scriptures in the Old Testament in which you’ve observed prophetic references to Jesus?

2. Have you ever, in thought or practice, placed something equal to God in your life?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You are so kind to reveal Yourself to us in Scripture and through the work of Christ. Help us not to put anything before You or equal to You.