The Transfiguration: What is the significance of the transfiguration of Jesus, when he changed in appearance and spoke with Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop? This mysterious event reveals the glory that Jesus had from before the creation of the world, and the glory he would again possess after his resurrection. Recorded on Mar 6, 2022, on Luke 9:28-36, by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of The Supremacy of Christ sermon series. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead.

Sermon Transcript

This year, the annual theme which unites all of our sermon series is The Greatness of God. Today, we’re starting a new sermon series called The Supremacy of Christ. And here’s the big idea of this series: the Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? The answer, as we’ll see, is absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead. And if we fail to get this vision of Jesus, high and lifted up, supreme over all, then we will have all sorts of problems in our life of faith. But with this proper view of reality, and the supremacy of Christ, all sorts of other problems are solved. Today, in the story of the transfiguration, we’ll consider the eternal glory of Jesus and what this has to do with our future. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Luke 9:28.

Luke 9:28–36 (NIV), “28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.”

So the gospel of Luke is the first of a two-part series in the Bible written by a man named Luke. Luke was a physician who became a Christian through the ministry of the Apostle Paul, probably in/near the city of Ephesus. Luke was sponsored by a man named Theophilus to do a careful investigation into the person and work of Jesus by interviewing eyewitnesses of his life and teaching and, ultimately, his death and resurrection from the dead. The gospel of Luke is the first half of this work and the book of Acts is the second, which explores what happened next. What happened after Jesus rose from the dead. In two weeks,