Luke 9:28-36

Luke 9:28-36

[28] And  it came to pass  about  an eight  days  after  sayings,  he took  Peter  and  John  and  James,  and went up  into  a mountain  to pray.  [29] And  as  he  prayed,  the fashion  of his  countenance  was  altered,  and  his  raiment  was white  and glistering.  [30] And,  behold,  there talked  with him  two  men,  which  Moses  and  Elias:  [31] Who  in  glory,  of his  decease  which  he should  accomplish  at  Jerusalem.  [32] But  Peter  and  they that were with  him  heavy  with sleep:  and  when they were awake,  his  glory,  and  the two  men  that stood with  him.  [33] And  it came to pass,  as  they  departed  from  him,  Peter  said  unto  Jesus,  Master,  good  here:  and  let us make  three  tabernacles;  and  Moses,  and  Elias:  not  knowing  what  he said.  [34] While  he  spake,  there came  a cloud,  and  overshadowed  them:  and  they feared  as  entered  into  the cloud.  [35] And  there came  a voice  out of  the cloud,  saying,  This  Son:  hear  him.  [36] And  when the voice  was past,  Jesus  was found  alone.  And  they  kept it close,  and  told  no man  in  those  days  any  of those things which  they had seen. 

What does Luke 9:28-36 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This event is a climax of the "identity of Jesus" motif in all the Synoptics. Here three disciples saw and heard who Jesus really was. Luke"s particular emphasis was the sufferings of Jesus that were coming. This comes through in his description of Jesus" conversation with Moses and Elijah ( Luke 9:30-31) and his interpretation of what the heavenly voice said ( Luke 9:35). The whole scene recalls God"s appearance to Moses on Mt. Sinai ( Exodus 24), and it anticipates the second coming of Christ. There is a recurrence of the three themes of Jesus" identity ( Luke 9:20), His passion ( Luke 9:22), and glory ( Luke 9:26) from the previous pericope but in reverse order ( Luke 9:29-30; Luke 9:35). These are the main points the reader should identify as significant in Luke"s narrative.