Read the Passage: Luke 9:27–50

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Luke 9:27–50

Christ is Transfigured (9:27–36)

Luke 9:27–36 narrates one of the more well-known events in Jesus’ ministry—that is, His transfiguration. This event, which occurred just before Christ departed Galilee to head towards Jerusalem, happened about a week after Jesus had taught His disciples that some of them would “see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:27). The transfiguration is a fulfillment of this promise, as the term “kingdom” can also be translated “royal splendor.” Luke records that Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, ascended a mountain to pray. While on this mountain, three things happened: (1) Christ’s appearance was transfigured, (2) Moses and Elijah appeared, and (3) they all discussed Jesus’ impending death. These events apparently occurred while the apostles were sleeping. When the disciples all awoke, Jesus’ splendor bewildered them, prompting Peter to suggest the construction of three tabernacles.

The Synoptic Gospels, and the book of 2 Peter, each narrate Jesus’ transfiguration. While all of the accounts are complementary, they are also each unique. For example, among other distinctives, only Matthew records that the cloud which enveloped the disciples was bright; only Mark compares the whiteness of Jesus’ robe to snow; only Luke mentions that the apostles were sleepy; and only Peter labels the mountain as holy. Yet, one fact that each of the accounts of the transfiguration reports is the Father’s voice from heaven, which declared, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:35). While it would be nice to know more details about the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, given that God’s declaration of Jesus’ Sonship is the one fact which is repeated in each of the accounts of the transfiguration, it seems that this is the detail upon which the Holy Spirit would have us focus.

A Child is Healed (9:37–42)

Each of the Synoptic Gospels record that when Jesus came down from the mount of transfiguration, he met a man with a demon possessed son. Matthew notes that the boy also had epilepsy (cf. Matt. 17:15), and Mark reports that the son was deaf and mute, as well as the fact that the demon had repeatedly tried to kill him. What makes this encounter so unique is that the disciples had tried to heal the child but were unable to do so. The recurring theme in the Gospel narratives of this event is faithlessness, as the disciples had insufficient faith (Matt. 17:19–21), the father had weak faith (cf. Mark 9:24), and the crowds had no faith (cf. Luke 9:41). Nevertheless, in His mercy, Jesus healed the child, whom Luke notes, was the only son of this desperate father. The other Gospel writers teach that this kind of demon only comes out “by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21; Mark 9:29).

The Disciples are Instructed (9:43–50)

In addition to His mercy, perhaps another reason why Jesus healed the demon possessed child was simply to display “the majesty of God” (Luke 9:43). Indeed, sometimes Christ did not do many miracles on account of a lack of faith (cf. Matt. 13:58); other times Jesus performed miracles because of the presence of faith (cf. Luke 8:48); and yet, on other occasions, Christ worked miracles to foster faith (cf. John 2:11). However, it seems in the present narrative that Jesus healed the son in order to focus the apostles’ attention on this teaching, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men” (Luke 9:44). While Christ had earlier predicted His own death (cf. Luke 9:21–22), and would do so again (cf. Luke 18:31–34), this teaching did not grip the minds of the disciples. Jesus’ death was months away, but He still worked to prepare the disciples for His departure.

It is ironic that immediately after Jesus taught about His own humble death, the disciples began to pridefully argue about which one of them was the greatest. In response, and by way of rebuke, Christ sat down with a child and taught, “For he who is least among you all will be great” (Luke 9:48). With this teaching Jesus was appealing to the trusting and dependent character of children, not to their immature and self-centered nature. Since Jesus had just cited the example of a child to teach about who would be accepted, and perhaps by way of self-justification, John mentioned one whom the disciples had not accepted—that is, a man who was not a follower of Christ and yet had been casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Surely John and the other apostles were surprised to hear Christ’s response, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side” (Luke 9:50).

Application Questions:

1. Given the miraculous nature of the event, why do you think Jesus only allowed Peter, James, and John to witness the transfiguration?
2. Why did Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain with Jesus during His transfiguration? What is the Kingdom of God?
3. What is faith? Given the lack of faith by everyone who was present, why did Jesus still heal the child?
4. Why was it hard for the disciples to accept Jesus’ teaching that He would soon be put to death?
5. In what ways are children a model of faith? Do most churches rightly value ministry to children?