Stop, Look, and Listen

GETTING STARTED

When learning to drive, I remember the stern admonitions I received from my parents to heed all safety warnings and to stop, look, and listen before crossing a railroad track. Their instructions, indelibly stamped into my brain, were intended to snap me to attention and out of my complacency at potentially dangerous intersections. In today’s passage, three of Jesus’ closest followers stopped, saw, and heard an extraordinary event with God that profoundly changed their lives.    

  • When did you last stop to look and listen to Jesus, and what were the results?

READ THE WORD: LUKE 9:28-36 (ESV)

28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. In what ways did Jesus’ appearance change and what did this represent (vs. 29)? 
  2. What did Jesus discuss with Moses and Elijah and why was this important (vs. 31)?
  3. What does Peter’s desire to build three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah suggest about Peter’s understanding of who Jesus was?
  4. What information and instruction did God give in verse 35?
  5. What would you need to change in your life in order to listen to Jesus? What would the result be?

RESPOND TO GOD

Prior to this event, Jesus explained to the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and that he would suffer and die at the hands of the spiritual leaders. The significance of the event for the disciples and for Jesus was immense. Imagine how Jesus must have felt to receive God’s affirmation, and imagine the disciples’ awe and wonder upon hearing God’s spoken words, “This is my Son, my Chosen One.” God’s confirmation of Jesus helped to prepare him for his impending death, and his emphatic directive to “listen to him” impressed upon the disciples the importance of turning to Jesus for answers and strength in the turmoil they would soon endure.

  • Ask God to remove any doubt about Jesus’ identity and authority, and ask him to help you listen to Jesus.