Listening to Jesus: The Call of the Transfiguration

Devotional

Day 1: The Transfiguration as a Divine Convergence

The Transfiguration is a moment where Jesus' divine nature is revealed, symbolizing the convergence of the Law and the Prophets in Him. This event highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament. As Jesus stands with Moses and Elijah, it becomes clear that He is the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets. This revelation invites believers to see the bigger picture of God's work throughout history, recognizing Jesus as the central figure in God's plan for salvation. The disciples' presence at this event underscores their role in witnessing and carrying forward this divine revelation. [49:05]

"For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" (John 5:46-47, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets change your perspective on the Old Testament? How can this understanding deepen your faith journey today?

Day 2: Listening to Jesus in a Noisy World

In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, the call to listen to Jesus becomes increasingly vital. The voice of God during the Transfiguration, declaring Jesus as His chosen Son, emphasizes the importance of prioritizing Jesus' teachings above all else. Lent offers a unique opportunity to quiet the noise around us and focus on Jesus' voice, allowing His words to guide our actions and decisions. By intentionally creating space to listen to Jesus, believers can find clarity and direction in their spiritual journey. [44:06]

"And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!'" (Luke 9:35, ESV)

Reflection: What are some specific distractions in your life that prevent you from hearing Jesus' voice? How can you create intentional space to listen to Him this week?

Day 3: Intentional Listening and Being Fully Awake

Listening to Jesus requires more than mere acknowledgment of His identity as the Messiah; it demands intentionality and full awareness of His presence. The Transfiguration challenges believers to be fully awake to Jesus' guidance, cutting through the noise of the world. This active listening is the essence of discipleship and sanctification, as it involves not only hearing Jesus' words but allowing them to transform our lives. As we journey through Lent, we are called to be vigilant and attentive to Jesus' voice, ensuring that His teachings shape our actions and decisions. [56:15]

"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:14, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself spiritually asleep? What steps can you take to become more fully awake to Jesus' presence and guidance?

Day 4: The Power of Jesus' Words

Jesus' words, though few, possess the power to shape kingdoms, movements, and eternity. They are not merely historical utterances but living words that continue to transform lives today. The Transfiguration serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of Jesus' teachings, inviting believers to engage with His words actively. By allowing Jesus' words to penetrate our hearts and minds, we can experience transformation and renewal in our spiritual journey. [52:55]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: How have Jesus' words impacted your life recently? What specific teachings of Jesus can you meditate on this week to experience transformation?

Day 5: The Heart of Discipleship

Discipleship involves more than following Jesus; it requires allowing His voice to be the primary influence in our lives. This means cutting through the noise of the world and attuning our hearts to His guidance. The Transfiguration challenges believers to live fully awake in Jesus' glory, embracing His teachings as the foundation of our faith journey. By prioritizing Jesus' voice, we can navigate the complexities of life with clarity and purpose, ensuring that our actions align with His will. [59:00]

"If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him." (John 12:26, ESV)

Reflection: What does it mean for you to allow Jesus' voice to be the primary influence in your life? How can you ensure that your daily actions align with His teachings?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound event of the Transfiguration as recounted in Luke 9:28-36. This moment in Jesus' ministry is not just a story but a pivotal revelation of His divine nature and mission. As Jesus ascended the mountain with Peter, James, and John, His appearance was transformed, and He was joined by Moses and Elijah. This event symbolizes the convergence of the Law, represented by Moses, and the Prophets, represented by Elijah, with the fulfillment of both in Jesus Christ. The disciples, representing the future church, witnessed this divine meeting, underscoring the continuity and fulfillment of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

The voice of God from the cloud, declaring, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him," is a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to Jesus above all other voices. In our modern world, where we are bombarded with countless voices and distractions, the call to listen to Jesus is more relevant than ever. Lent offers us a time to turn down the noise and focus on the voice of Jesus, allowing His words to shape our actions and guide our lives.

Listening to Jesus requires intentionality and being fully awake to His presence and guidance. It's not enough to acknowledge Him as the Messiah; we must actively listen and follow His teachings. This is the essence of discipleship and sanctification. As we journey through Lent, let us strive to be fully awake, cutting through the noise of the world, and attuning our hearts to the voice of Jesus. His words are not just historical utterances but living words that continue to shape and transform lives today.

Key Takeaways

1. The Transfiguration as a Revelation: The Transfiguration is a profound revelation of Jesus' divine nature, where the Law and the Prophets meet their fulfillment in Him. This event underscores the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament, inviting us to see the bigger picture of God's redemptive work throughout history. [49:05]
2. Listening to Jesus in a Noisy World: In a world filled with countless voices and distractions, the call to listen to Jesus is more crucial than ever. Lent is a time to turn down the noise and focus on His voice, allowing His words to guide our actions and shape our lives. [44:06]
3. Intentional Listening and Being Fully Awake: Listening to Jesus requires intentionality and being fully awake to His presence. It's not enough to acknowledge Him as the Messiah; we must actively listen and follow His teachings, allowing them to transform us. [56:15]
4. The Power of Jesus' Words: Jesus' words, though few in number, have the power to shape kingdoms, movements, and eternity. His words are not just historical utterances but living words that continue to transform lives today. [52:55]
5. The Heart of Discipleship: Discipleship involves listening to Jesus and allowing His voice to be the primary influence in our lives. This requires cutting through the noise of the world and attuning our hearts to His guidance, leading us to live fully awake in His glory. [59:00]
** [59:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction and Announcements
[03:15] - Opening Prayer
[05:00] - Introduction to the Transfiguration
[08:30] - Reading from Luke 9:28-36
[10:45] - The Significance of the Transfiguration
[14:00] - The Call to Listen to Jesus
[18:20] - The Challenge of Modern Distractions
[22:00] - The Importance of Being Fully Awake
[26:30] - The Power of Jesus' Words
[30:00] - The Heart of Discipleship
[34:00] - Closing Prayer
[36:00] - Invitation to Join the Church Community
[38:00] - Closing Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What significant event occurs in Luke 9:28-36, and who are the key figures involved in this event?
How does the appearance of Jesus change during the Transfiguration, and what is the significance of Moses and Elijah appearing with Him? [49:05]
What does the voice from the cloud declare about Jesus, and how do the disciples react to this divine encounter? [40:42]
According to the sermon, how does the Transfiguration symbolize the convergence of the Law and the Prophets with Jesus' mission? [49:05]

Interpretation Questions

Why is the Transfiguration considered a pivotal revelation of Jesus' divine nature, and how does it connect the Old and New Testaments? [49:05]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that listening to Jesus is more crucial than ever in our modern world filled with distractions? [44:06]
How does the sermon describe the importance of being "fully awake" to Jesus' presence and guidance in our lives? [56:15]
What does the sermon imply about the power of Jesus' words and their impact on history and individual lives? [52:55]

Application Questions

Reflect on the distractions in your life that may prevent you from listening to Jesus. What practical steps can you take during Lent to minimize these distractions and focus on His voice? [44:06]
The sermon emphasizes the need to be "fully awake" to Jesus' presence. What are some ways you can cultivate a more attentive and intentional relationship with Him in your daily routine? [56:15]
Consider the significance of the Transfiguration as a revelation of Jesus' divine nature. How does this understanding influence your perception of Jesus and His role in your life? [49:05]
The voice from the cloud instructs us to "listen to Him." How can you prioritize Jesus' teachings in your decision-making and interactions with others this week? [40:42]
The sermon highlights the power of Jesus' words to transform lives. Identify a specific teaching of Jesus that has impacted you, and discuss how you can apply it more fully in your life. [52:55]
How can you actively engage in discipleship by listening to Jesus and allowing His voice to guide your actions and relationships? [59:00]
Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually "asleep." What changes did you make to become more spiritually awake, and how can you maintain that awareness moving forward? [56:15]

Sermon Clips

"Lent is a time, you know, where we try to go away from all those voices clamoring for our attention, and we try to pay attention to one voice, and that is the voice of Jesus. But sometimes we have our favorite voices. You know the ones. The ones we feel like we have to listen to or else we really don't know what's going on in the world." [00:44:55] (22 seconds)

"Do you know, in our reading, that we just heard that God spoke through this cloud, the voice of God, through a cloud, said, this is my son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him. Do you know how many times that happens, that God speaks in the Gospels? Three times. Three times. Three sentences." [00:45:33] (29 seconds)

"And the one we're going to talk about today is right here in chapter 9 of Luke. So Luke begins the story by saying, telling us eight days after Jesus' previous conversation. Eight days after his previous conversation. Well, what does that mean? What does that mean? And so he takes Peter, James, and John up to this mountain to pray." [00:46:21] (24 seconds)

"He says, who do you think I am? Who do you say that I am? And Peter, always quick to speak, standing up, speaking for the crowd, declares, you are the Messiah, the Son of God. You are the Messiah. This was a significant, a significant revelation in Jesus's ministry, because that is what gives us gateway towards the transfiguration." [00:47:43] (32 seconds)

"When really, if you can look deep at this, it's a much bigger picture and a much bigger message for us today. You see, Moses represented the law, the first commandments that he gave to his people of Israel, the covenant that he made with the people of Israel that God made via Moses." [00:49:05] (21 seconds)

"And Elijah represents the prophets, all the prophets, the words of the prophets. Because a lot of times people used to, especially in these days, they referred to the Old Testament as the laws and the prophets. And so here we have Moses and Elijah representing the laws and the prophets." [00:49:29] (23 seconds)

"Then something more overwhelming happens. A cloud descends over them. Because keep in mind that in the Old Testament, every time the cloud spoke of God's presence, whether he was leading people in the desert, whether he was, other times, his cloud was a symbol of the presence of God." [00:51:31] (26 seconds)

"And he says from the cloud, this is my son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him. Not look at him. Not admire him. Not acknowledge that he's the Messiah. But listen to him. It's interesting to me. Like I said, three sentences in all of the Gospels is what God speaks. And this is one of them." [00:52:15] (28 seconds)

"God isn't just asking us to add Jesus to one of the influencers in our life that we listen to a lot. He's commanding us to make his voice, the voice of Jesus, be the primary voice that we follow. The primary voice that we lean into and follow. It's interesting." [00:53:17] (27 seconds)

"As we walk through Lent, we have this simple invitation from God. I also think that if we have to really look at that clearly, we have to go back to the very first words of St. Luke. He says, Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory." [00:55:30] (28 seconds)

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