Good News From the Mount of Transfiguration
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Finding the Gospel in the descent from the Mount of Transfiguration.
Text: Luke 9:37-42
Date: 03/05/2023, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 97
Description:
On the day after the fantastic display of Christ's divine glory at the top of the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus descends the mountain with His three apostles to find a full-blown confrontation with evil at the bottom. A man has brought his demon-possessed son to be healed and the nine apostles waiting at the base of the mountain have failed miserably to do so-- even though they had been given full power and authority. What was wrong? We will analyze these and other questions that arise as we make our way through the text. But in the end we will step back and look at this event in conjunction with the amazing revelation at the top of the mountain and realize that this is another of the great "living parables" of the Gospels, revealing the mission and purpose of the Incarnation and how Jesus came to consummate Redemptive History. But we will also analyze the apostles' part in this, both at the top of the mountain with Peter's blunder and at the bottom with failure of the "nine". Ultimately we will celebrate the glory of God's Redemptive Plan in the Gospel, and the integral part that we as Christ's evangelists in this fallen world play in sharing the Good News from the Mount of Transfiguration.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 9:37-42.
A. Context
1. The development of multiple themes.
2. The Transfiguration, Heb. 1:1-2, Luke 9:35.
B. Trouble at the base of the mountain.
1. The descent, vs. 37.
a. Setting the scene.
i. The "next day".
ii. A host of omissions.
iii. A great crowd.
b. A powerful comparison, Mark 9:14.
2. A father's plea. vs. 38.
a. The only child. Luke 9:35.
b. Inviting God's gaze, Rev. 6:15-17, Ex 20:18, Psa. 139:23-24.
3. The condition of the son, vs. 39, Mark 9:22,29.
4. The failure of the apostles, vs. 40.
a. Describing the failure, Luke 9:1-2, Matt. 17:20.
b. Analyzing the failure.
i. The lesson of the apostles lack of faith.
ii. Applying the lesson, Acts 19:15-16.
5. Jesus' frustration, vs. 41.
a. Determining who Jesus is referring to.
i. Defining "generation".
ii. Describing the people-group.
b. The root of the problem.
i. The meaning of "faithless".
ii. The meaning of "twisted", Heb. 11:6.
iii The deeper issue, Eph. 2:10.
c. The vexation of holiness.
i. Living in the sewer.
ii. Words that should be heeded.
1) Talking about the Jews, Matt. 5:20.
2) Talking about the apostles.
3) Talking about us.
d. Asking for the son, Park 9:22-24.
6. The exorcism, vs. 42.
a. One last injury.
b. Outmatched by the Lion of Judah, Luke 4:18, John 1:5, Mark 9:26.
c. The "Healer with a Heart".
III. Application
A. The Gospel Story, Matt. 17:15, Mar 9:24.
B. The work of the disciples.
IV. Conclusion
