Luke 9:27-36

(We are returning to our studies in Luke.  The last one was published March 28 of this year.  There are references to commentaries from time to time.  We will publish a bibliography after the last study in this section of Luke.)

Earlier in Luke 9 Jesus’ training of the Twelve advanced significantly when He gave them power and authority and sent them out to preach.  The “transfiguration” (the subject of today’s reading) takes three of His disciples even further.  This is a major event!

Let us begin our study asking what Jesus means in v27?  All three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) include this verse after the promise of Jesus’ coming and before the transfiguration.  It may sound like it is simply tied to v26 but it actually is a bridge from v26 to v28-36.  In what sense will they see the kingdom of God?  A. T. Robertson (ATR) gives five possible answers:

·        Jesus is referring to the Transfiguration.  What the three (the some Jesus refers to) saw was a glimpse of the reigning Jesus.

·        Jesus is referring to His resurrection.

·        Jesus is referring to the coming of the Spirit on the great Day of Pentecost.

·        Jesus is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD.

·        Jesus is referring to His second coming and judgment.

Another suggestion (from JFB) is that Jesus is referring to the work of salvation within some of them.  D. A. Carson (DAC) suggests it might refer to Jesus’ own ministry and mission or in the church.

I would suggest along with many (Wycliffe, JMac, KJV, WWW) that it refers to the transfiguration.  It fits the fact that each Gospel writer ties Jesus’ words to the story of the transfiguration.  Further it explains why, in each Gospel, there is a reference to a definite time (Luke says about eight days after these sayings) after Jesus’ words and the event.  Almost certainly this is what Peter referred to in 2 Peter 1:16 as the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ being, as he says, eyewitnesses of His majesty.

We should also note that while Luke says about eight days after the other two (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2) both say after six days.  If Luke includes both the day Jesus spoke the words of v27 as well as the day it happened then Luke is certainly correct in saying about eight days.

Only three of the Twelve accompanied Jesus.  It is interesting, as Wiersbe notes, that the three occasions when Jesus included these three fits well with Philippians 3:10.  There was this occasion when they had a special opportunity to know Him.  They had been with Him in the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:51ff), an opportunity to know the power of His resurrection.  And they would be with Him in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-46) when they would join Him in the fellowship of His suffering.  

Given the power and majesty of this event it is fitting that we spend another day meditating on it so we will do that tomorrow.