LIFE OF JESUS

SESSION 9: THE TRANSFIGURATION

Jesus asked his disciples what they thought about his identity. Read Peters response and a
conversation that followed afterward.

Peters Confession
Matthew 16:16-17 (NIV)
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you,
Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

Peters Rebuke
Matthew 16:21-23 (NIV)
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many
things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on
the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said.
"This shall never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a
stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Do you see any contrasts between Peters two responses to Jesus?

In what way did Peter have in mind the things of men?

In what ways might we similarly lose perspective about what our lives should focus on?

How does having the mind of men sometimes cause us to miss out on what God wants to
accomplish through our lives?

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 LIFE OF JESUS
SESSION 9: THE TRANSFIGURATION

Jesus Transfiguration
Luke 9:28-36 (NIV)
About eight days after Jesus said this [Peters confession of Jesus being the Christ], he took Peter, John
and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face
changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31
appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure [exodus], which he was
about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they
became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up
three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) 34
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the
cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." 36
When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and
told no one at that time what they had seen.

What do you think was the point of this whole experience?

Why did Jesus appearance change?

Moses & Glory

Exodus 34:29-35 (NIV)
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he
was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and
all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But
Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he
spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands
the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.
33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered

the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came
out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant.
Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

What are some similarities and contrasts between Moses radiance and that of Jesus?

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 LIFE OF JESUS
SESSION 9: THE TRANSFIGURATION

What was the significance of Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus on the mountain?
What was unique about the ministry of these two men?

Moses:

Moses is representative of the

Elijah:

1 Kings 18:21 (NIV)

Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If
the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."

Elijah is representative of the

Matthew 5:17 (NIV)

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to
abolish them but to fulfill them.

God authenticated both of these mens ministries through miraculous signs.

What was the topic of Jesus conversation with Moses and Elijah?

Departure:

Why did Luke refer to Jesus departure as an exodus?

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 LIFE OF JESUS
SESSION 9: THE TRANSFIGURATION

Hebrews 10:1 (NIV)

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this
reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those
who draw near to worship.

Colossians 2:17 (NIV)

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

What are some ways the story of Moses and the Israelites exodus foreshadowed Jesus
ministry and our spiritual journey?

If you had been there with Peter, James and John on that mountain, how do you think you might
have reacted?

Luke 9:33 (NIV)

33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up

three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)

Why do you think Peter blurted out his response about building shelters for Jesus, Moses and
Elijah? What was wrong with his response?

Why did the Father speak at this point in time?

Have there been times when you felt you needed to instruct God on what he should do? Share.

At these times when we want to give advice to God, what does he recommend we do and why?

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 LIFE OF JESUS
SESSION 9: THE TRANSFIGURATION

Lets return to the question of why this scenario needed to have been played out? What was the
point?

What role did this experience play in Jesus ministry?

John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling [tabernacled] among us. We have seen his glory,
the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

2 Peter 1:16-18 (NIV)

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory
from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son,
whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven
when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

How do you think this experience might have impacted Peter, James and John?

If we had an experience such as this, how would it change our life?

Have any of you had powerful, personal experiences with God? How did it affect and change your
life?

Why do encounters with God always seem to have an impact on mission and how we reach out to
others?

"This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him

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