“But Who Do You Say That I Am?”

Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen. Luke 9:35-36

Luke’s view of the transfiguration of Jesus is quite unique. Compared with the other two Synoptic Gospels Luke provides the greatest detail into this incredible event. However one cannot simply read the event of the transfiguration apart from the context of the narrative preceding it. Earlier, Jesus alone with his disciples asked them an important question. v.18 And it happened that while he was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?” We all know their answers, maybe John the Baptist, maybe Elijah, or maybe one of the prophets of old.

In verse 20 Jesus asks them a more pointed question, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter who always was quick with an answer, ready to speak on behalf of the disciples replies, “The Christ of God.” But did he really understand what he had just said? Did he truly understand the meaning of the term Christ?

Peter thought he knew what the Messiah was all about, but his focus was blurred. It is the same for us today. Sometimes the world around us screams so loudly about what Christianity is supposed to be that we replace truth with tradition or something much worse, all the while believing we are looking at the real deal. Jesus begins to focus the disciples spiritual eyes on Truth in vv. 22-27 telling them that first, Christ must suffer, die and be raised from the dead. Second, that those who will follow him will suffer as well.

However, it took something more for the disciples … an event of Biblical proportions. Taken up on a mountain with Jesus; Peter, John, and James were witnesses to an incredible glimpse of glory, and it left them literally speechless. Half asleep, yet seeing clearly enough to identify two men they have never seen before—Moses, and Elijah—Jesus begins to correct their vision. In the midst of Peter’s dialogue concerning the building of earthly tents for glorified beings, God the Father arrives in a cloud obscuring everything. And when they are absolutely alone, blinded from the world, prophets of old removed … they hear the voice of God, and see clearly.

“This is My Son, the Chosen One; Listen to Him!” v. 35

When the cloud lifts, there is no Elijah. There is no great prophet of old. Just a voice clearly ringing in their ears, and Jesus the Christ, alone.

Sometimes our spiritual vision gets out of focus, and we just like the disciples need a mountain top experience to remind us what serving Jesus is really all about. Remember, the mountain isn’t where life is lived. It is in valleys, where most often we will encounter suffering and pain for the cause of Christ.

How is your vision?

Study to know Him,