Conversation Points for Luke 9:28-43a

Study Format:
1. Read passage aloud. What did you notice in the reading? What words or phrase caught your attention?
2. Read passage aloud a second time. What questions would you ask the text?
3. Read passage aloud a third time. What do you hear God calling you to do or be in response to this text?

Interesting Ideas to Consider:
• Culpepper describes the transfiguration as “a composite of the whole Gospel tradition. In one scene we hear echoes of the baptism of Jesus, Jesus’ passion predictions, Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law and prophets, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and his ascension and future coming.”
• Luke places Peter and John together in the list of disciples to join Jesus, foreshadowing their role in preparing for the Passover supper in Luke 22:8, and their combined mission in Acts 3:1-10; 4:1-22; and 8:14-25.
• Just like at Jesus baptism, a voice comes from a cloud and affirms Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, and the Chosen One.
• Clouds in Luke and Acts often function as a manifestation of God. In Acts 1:9, Jesus is taken up to heaven in a cloud.
• The change of Jesus’ appearance seems to mirror the change that would come over Moses’ appearance after he would converse with God.
• The change in Jesus’ appearance could also be a foreshadowing of his death and resurrection. At Jesus ascension, two men in white robes appear (Acts 1:10).
• The location of the mountain is not described in any of the Gospels. The appearance of Moses and Elijah seem to suggest that the importance of the story is as a parallel of the experiences of Moses and Elijah on Mt. Sinai and Mt. Horeb, instead of the location of this event itself.
• After Moses and Elijah leave, Peter suggests building three booths, a reference to the Jewish Feast of Booths which celebrated the end of the Jews wandering in the desert. By doing this, Peter signifies he does not fully understand the event. He wants to hold time, but faithful following of Jesus requires going from this place to the cross.
• Immediately following the transfiguration, Jesus healed a boy with an unclean spirit.

Works Sourced:
Culpepper, R. Alan. “The Gospel of Luke.” The New Interpreter’s Bible Volume IX. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995.