Luke 9:36
After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.
After the voice had spoken
This phrase marks the conclusion of a divine revelation. The "voice" refers to the voice of God, which had just declared Jesus as His chosen Son. In the Greek, the word for "voice" is "φωνή" (phonē), which can also mean sound or tone. This divine voice is reminiscent of God's voice at Jesus' baptism (Luke 3:22) and serves to affirm Jesus' identity and mission. Historically, such divine pronouncements were rare and significant, often marking pivotal moments in biblical narratives.

Jesus was found alone
The phrase emphasizes the return to normalcy after the extraordinary event of the Transfiguration. The Greek word for "alone" is "μόνος" (monos), indicating that the heavenly visitors, Moses and Elijah, had departed, leaving Jesus as the sole focus. This underscores the unique and singular role of Jesus in salvation history. Theologically, it highlights the sufficiency of Christ; He alone is the mediator between God and humanity.

And the disciples kept this to themselves
This phrase suggests a period of reflection and perhaps confusion among the disciples. The Greek verb "σιγάω" (sigaō) means to be silent or to hold one's peace. This silence could be due to the overwhelming nature of the experience or a divine instruction to withhold the revelation until the appropriate time. In a historical context, this reflects the Messianic Secret theme in the Gospels, where Jesus' full identity and mission were not to be revealed until after His resurrection.

and did not tell anyone at that time
The phrase indicates a deliberate choice to withhold information. The Greek phrase "ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις" (en ekeinais tais hēmerais) translates to "in those days," suggesting a specific period when the disciples refrained from sharing their experience. This silence can be seen as a period of preparation and maturation for the disciples, as they grappled with the implications of what they had witnessed. It also reflects the unfolding nature of divine revelation, which is often revealed progressively and in God's timing.

what they had seen
This final phrase refers to the vision of the Transfiguration, where Jesus' divine glory was revealed. The Greek word "ὁράω" (horaō) means to see or perceive, indicating not just a physical sight but a deeper spiritual insight. Theologically, this vision was a foretaste of the glory of the resurrected Christ and the coming Kingdom of God. It served to strengthen the disciples' faith, preparing them for the trials ahead and the eventual proclamation of the Gospel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
Central figure in the passage, the Son of God, who is revealed in His glory during the Transfiguration.

2. The Disciples
Specifically Peter, James, and John, who were chosen to witness the Transfiguration.

3. The Voice
The voice of God the Father, affirming Jesus as His chosen Son.

4. The Transfiguration
A significant event where Jesus' divine nature is revealed to the disciples.

5. The Mountain
The location of the Transfiguration, symbolizing a place of divine revelation.
Teaching Points
The Revelation of Jesus' Divinity
The Transfiguration serves as a powerful revelation of Jesus' divine nature, affirming His identity as the Son of God.

The Importance of Witness
The disciples' role as witnesses to the Transfiguration underscores the importance of bearing witness to Christ's glory and truth.

The Call to Silence and Reflection
The disciples' initial silence about the event invites us to reflect on the mysteries of God and the appropriate timing for sharing spiritual experiences.

The Voice of God
The voice from heaven emphasizes the authority of Jesus and the necessity of listening to Him, aligning with the call to heed God's Word.

Transformation through Encounter
Just as the disciples were transformed by witnessing Jesus' glory, believers are called to be transformed by encounters with Christ through prayer and Scripture.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the Transfiguration reveal the divine nature of Jesus, and why is this significant for our faith?

2. In what ways can we bear witness to the glory of Christ in our daily lives, similar to the disciples' experience?

3. Why do you think the disciples were instructed to keep silent about the Transfiguration initially, and how can this inform our approach to sharing spiritual experiences?

4. How does the voice of God during the Transfiguration reinforce the authority of Jesus, and how should this impact our obedience to His teachings?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "mountaintop" moment with God. How did it transform your faith, and how can you use that experience to encourage others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 17:1-9 and Mark 9:2-10
These passages provide parallel accounts of the Transfiguration, offering additional details and perspectives.

Exodus 24:15-18
Moses' encounter with God on Mount Sinai parallels the divine revelation experienced by the disciples.

2 Peter 1:16-18
Peter reflects on the Transfiguration, emphasizing its significance in affirming Jesus' divine nature.

Hebrews 1:1-3
Highlights Jesus as the radiance of God's glory, connecting to the revelation of His divine nature during the Transfiguration.
The Saviour's Secret RevelationsR.M. Edgar Luke 9:18-36
A Bore the CloudW. M. Taylor, D. D.Luke 9:28-36
Arguments in Favour of Hermon as the Scene of the TransfigurationArchdeacon Farrar.Luke 9:28-36
Arguments in Favour of Tabor as the Scene of the TransfigurationVan Oosterzee.Luke 9:28-36
Christ's TransfigurationT. Manton, D. D., T. Goodrich.Luke 9:28-36
Christ's TransfigurationBishop Hacker.Luke 9:28-36
LessonsF. Jacox.Luke 9:28-36
Lessons from the TransfigurationH. M. Grout, D. D.Luke 9:28-36
Luminous HoursH. W. Beecher.Luke 9:28-36
Modern TransfigurationsLuke 9:28-36
Our Lord's TransfigurationW. B. Wright.Luke 9:28-36
The Beauty of Jesus ChristCanon Body.Luke 9:28-36
The Countenance as an IndexW. F. Crafts.Luke 9:28-36
The Irradiation of Our Lord's RaimentCanon Body.Luke 9:28-36
The Mountain Where the Transfiguration Took PlaceCanon Body.Luke 9:28-36
The Prayers of ChristB. Wilkinson, F. G. S.Luke 9:28-36
The Redeeming Majesty of the Son of GodA, J. Morris.Luke 9:28-36
The TransfigurationR. H. McKim, D. D.Luke 9:28-36
The TransfigurationStopford A, Brooke, M. A., D. Moore, M. A.Luke 9:28-36
The TransfigurationT. M. Herbert, M. A.Luke 9:28-36
The Transfiguration of ChristT. S. Evans, D. D.Luke 9:28-36
The Transfiguring LookE. H. Chapin, D. D.Luke 9:28-36
The Transforming Power of Communion with GodJohn Christian, D. D.Luke 9:28-36
Thoughts on the TransfigurationT. Binney.Luke 9:28-36
Transfiguration During PrayerBishop Hacker.Luke 9:28-36
We Must Climb If We Would See ChristBishop Hacket.Luke 9:28-36
Why a Mountain was Chosen for the TransfigurationBishop Hacket.Luke 9:28-36
A Cloud of ProtectionBishop Hacker.Luke 9:34-36
Christ, the Great Prophet, Must be HeadT. Manton, D. D. Luke 9:34-36
Entering the CloudW. M. Statham, B. A.Luke 9:34-36
Keeping a SecretHomiletic MagazineLuke 9:34-36
Man and MysteryU. R. ThomasLuke 9:34-36
The CloudBishop Hacker.Luke 9:34-36
The Cloud a BlessingJ. Parker, D. D.Luke 9:34-36
The Cloud and the VoiceBishop Huntington.Luke 9:34-36
The Lord Jesus as MediatorT. Manton, D. D.Luke 9:34-36
The Overshadowing Cloud, and the Voice that Comes from ItR. Newton.Luke 9:34-36
People
Elias, Elijah, Herod, James, Jesus, John, Peter
Places
Bethsaida, Galilee, Jerusalem, Road to Jerusalem
Topics
Alone, Anyone, Anything, Close, Declared, Disciples, Held, Kept, Nothing, Past, Peace, Quiet, Reported, Silence, Silent, Spoken, Themselves, Voice
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 9:36

     5950   silence

Luke 9:28-36

     2580   Christ, transfiguration

Luke 9:35-36

     5196   voice

Library
Self-Denial Versus Self-Assertion.
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.--LUKE ix. 23. We might naturally have thought that if there was one thing in the life of the LORD JESUS CHRIST which belonged to Him alone, it was His cross-bearing. To guard against so natural a mistake, the HOLY GHOST has taken care in gospel and in epistle to draw our special attention to the oneness of the believer with CHRIST in cross-bearing; and also to prevent misunderstanding as to the character
J. Hudson Taylor—A Ribband of Blue

January 30 Morning
Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.--HEB. 12:1,2. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.--Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.--Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness. Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 1 Evening
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.--LUKE 9:23. By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report.--All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.--The offence of the cross. If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye: but let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 15 Evening
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.--JAS. 1:8. No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.--Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.--What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

October 26 Evening
Take heed to your spirit.--MAL. 2:15. Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he . . . rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun . . . answered and said, My
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 11. "Whosoever Will Save his Life Shall Lose It" (Luke ix. 24).
"Whosoever will save his life shall lose it" (Luke ix. 24). First and foremost Christ teaches resurrection and life. The power of Christianity is life. It brings us not merely law, duty, example, with high and holy teaching and admonition. It brings us the power to follow the higher ideal and the life that spontaneously does the things commanded. But it is not only life, but resurrection life. And it begins with a real crisis, a definite transaction, a point of time as clear as the morning dawn.
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

January 20. "Ye Know not what Manner of Spirit Ye are Of" (Luke ix. 55).
"Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of" (Luke ix. 55). Some one has said that the most spiritual people are the easiest to get along with. When one has a little of the Holy Ghost it is like "a little learning, a dangerous thing"; but a full baptism of the Holy Spirit, and a really disciplined, stablished and tested spiritual life, makes one simple, tender, tolerant, considerate of others, and like a little child. James and John, in their early zeal, wanted to call down fire from heaven on the
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Lord that Healeth Thee'
'He healed them that had need of healing.'--Luke ix. 11. Jesus was seeking a little quiet and rest for Himself and His followers. For that purpose He took one of the fishermen's boats to cross to the other side of the sea. But the crowd, inconsiderate and selfish, like all crowds, saw the course of the boat, and hurried, as they could easily do, on foot round the head of the lake, to be ready for Him wherever He might land. So when He touched the shore, there they all were, open-mouthed and mostly
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Prayer and Transfiguration
'And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered.'--LUKE ix. 29. This Evangelist is especially careful to record the instances of our Lord's prayers. That is in accordance with the emphasis which he places on Christ's manhood. In this narrative of the Transfiguration it is to Luke that we owe our knowledge of the connection between our Lord's prayer and the radiance of His face. It may be a question how far such transfiguration was the constant accompaniment of our Lord's devotion. It
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ Hastening to the Cross
'And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He stedfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.'--LUKE ix. 51. There are some difficulties, with which I need not trouble you here, as to bringing the section of this Gospel to which these words are the introduction, into its proper chronological place in relation to the narratives; but, putting these on one side for the present, there seems no doubt that the Evangelist's intention here is to represent the beginning of our
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Bread from Heaven
'And the apostles, when they were returned, told Him all that they had done. And He took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city, called Bethsaida. 11. And the people, when they knew it, followed Him; and He received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 12. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto Him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Cross and Ours
'And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him; and He asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am I 19. They answering, said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. 20. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering, said, The Christ of God. 21. And He straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; 22. Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

'In the Holy Mount'
'And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.'--LUKE ix. 30, 31. The mysterious incident which is commonly called the Transfiguration contained three distinct portions, each having its own special significance and lesson. The first was that supernatural change in the face and garments of our Lord from which the whole incident derives its name. The second was the appearance by His
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Following "Whithersoever"
One day as Jesus was passing along the highway, a man said to him, "I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest" (Luke 9: 57). This man no doubt was greatly impressed by the wonderful works and noble character of Christ. He thought that companionship with such a man would be full of blessing and richness. Just to see and hear would be worth any man's time and effort--to hear the gracious words that came from His lips would enrich mind and heart; to see the mighty works done would inspire. To him
Charles Wesley Naylor—Heart Talks

Gethsemane: the Strange, Lone Struggle. Matthew 26:36-46. Mark 14:32-42. Luke 22:39-46. Hebrews 5:7.
The Pathway in: messengers ahead--Jesus felt the cross drawing near--the look of His face, Luke 9:51-55.--His disciples afraid, Mark 10:32.--indignation against sin, John 11:33, 38. marginal reading American Revision.--the Greeks, John 12:20-28. The Climax of Suffering: the darkest shadow--why the struggle is strange--shock of extremes--His purpose in yielding--separation from the Father--Matthew 27:46. Mark 15:34 margin.--the superlative degree of suffering. Alone: a full evening, Matthew
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke ix. 57, Etc. , Where the Case of the Three Persons is Treated Of, of whom one Said, "I Will
1. Give ye ear to that which the Lord hath given me to speak on the lesson of the Gospel. For we have read, that the Lord Jesus acted differently, when one man offered himself to follow Him, and was disallowed; another did not dare this, and was aroused; a third put off, and was blamed. For the words, "Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest," [3246] what is so prompt, what so active, what so ready, and what so fitly disposed to so great a good, as this "following the Lord whithersoever
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Self-Denial
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23 1. It has been frequently imagined, that the direction here given related chiefly, if not wholly, to the Apostles; at least, to the Christians of the first ages, or those in a state of persecution. But this is a grievous mistake; For although our blessed Lord is here directing his discourse more immediately to his Apostles, and those other disciples who attended him
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Comer's Conflict with Satan
There are four points for our consideration this morning. That you may easily remember them I have made them alliterative: the devil's doings, designs, discovery, and defeat. I. First, THE DEVIL'S DOINGS. When this child came to Christ to be healed, the devil threw him down and tare him. Now this is an illustration of what Satan does with most, if not all sinners, when they come to Jesus to seek light and life through him; he throws them down and tears them. Allow me to point out how it is that the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

The Broken Column
"Lord, I will follow thee: but--." How remarkably does Scripture prove to us that the mental characteristics of mankind are the same now as in the Saviour's day! We occasionally hear stories of old skeletons being dug up which are greater in stature than men of these times. Some credit the story, some do not, for there be many who maintain that the physical conformation of man is at this day just what it always was. Certainly, however, there can be no dispute whatever among observant men as to the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Heb. 4:14 Our Profession
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."--Heb. 4:14. A CAREFUL reader of the Epistle to the Hebrews can hardly fail to observe that the words "let us" are found no less than four times in the fourth chapter. In the first verse you will read, "let us fear,"--in the eleventh verse, "let us labour,"--in the fourteenth verse, "let us hold fast,"--and in the sixteenth verse, "let us come boldly to the throne
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

Self-Denial.
And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.'--St. Luke ix. 23, 24. Christ is the way out, and the way in; the way from slavery, conscious or unconscious, into liberty; the way from the unhomeliness of things to the home we desire but do not know; the way from the stormy skirts of the Father's garments
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

The Transfiguration.
"And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James and went up into the mountain to pray."--LUKE ix. 28-36. The public life or our Lord falls into two parts; and the incident here recorded is the turning point between them. In order that He might leave behind Him when He died a sure foundation for His Church, it was necessary that His intimate companions should at all events know that He was the Christ, and that the Christ must enter into glory by suffering
Marcus Dods—How to become like Christ

Alone with God.
This life of ours will never be all that it should be unless we are much alone with God. Only those who are oft alone with him know the benefit that is derived therefrom. You can not be like God unless you are much with him, and you can not live like him unless you are like him. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus departed into the mountain to be alone with the Father and that he was often "alone praying." When Jesus had anything of great importance to say to his disciples, he always took them aside
C. E. Orr—How to Live a Holy Life

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