A Follower's Life- Listen to Him
A Follower’s Life-Listen to Him
Luke 9:28–36 (and 9:51–56)
Recap
On the mountain, everything becomes clear. Jesus is transfigured—his glory revealed—and suddenly Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and the Prophets. The entire story of Scripture is standing there with him. And then the voice of God breaks through: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
And just like that—it’s over. The cloud lifts. Moses and Elijah are gone. Only Jesus remains. Because that’s the point.
If you want to know what God is like, if you want to know how to read Scripture, if you’re tryin to discern what the right thing to do is…listen to him.
And then, almost immediately, we see what happens when the disciples don’t. They’re rejected by a Samaritan village, and James and John ask, “Do you want us to call down fire from heaven?”
They didn’t come up with this idea on their own. This is something that Elijah had done in 2 Kings chapter 1. Three times he called down fire to burn up the soldiers of the king of Samaria. This moment from the story of scripture is what James and John have in mind, but Jesus rebukes them. Just because its biblical doesn’t mean it’s Christian.
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Go a Little Deeper
Why Moses and Elijah?
Moses represents the Law. Elijah represents the Prophets. Together, they symbolize the entire Hebrew Scriptures.
This moment is not just a supernatural experience—it’s a theological statement: Everything that came before is pointing to Jesus. N.T. Wright puts it this way: the Transfiguration is a moment where “heaven and earth overlap,” revealing that Jesus is the climax of Israel’s story—not just another character in it.
But notice what happens next: They disappear. Because Scripture is not the destination—Jesus is.
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Peter’s Mistake (and Ours)
Peter wants to build three shelters—one for each figure. It sounds flattering. It sounds reverent. It’s completely wrong. Why? Because Peter is trying to put Jesus on the same level as Moses
and Elijah. But God interrupts him. “Listen to him.” Not “listen to them.” Not “honor all three equally.” Listen to him.
We do this too. We elevate systems, traditions, politics, or preferences right alongside Jesus. And God’s word to us is the same: No—him. Listen to him.
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“You Don’t Know What Spirit You Are Of”
In Luke 9:55 (in some manuscripts), Jesus rebukes James and John with these words: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.” Even if those exact words aren’t in every manuscript, the idea is crystal clear in the story.
They just saw Jesus revealed in glory…and now they want to burn people alive.
Why? Because they think they’re right. This is one of the most important insights in the whole passage: You can be passionate about truth and justice, you can quote Scripture, you can feel justified, and still be animated by the wrong spirit.
A spirit of anger. A spirit of superiority. A spirit of fear. A spirit of revenge. The question is not just, “Am I right?” The deeper question is: “What spirit is animating me?”
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Discussion Questions
What stands out to you most from the Transfiguration story? Why?
Why do you think God says, “Listen to him”? What does that mean practically?
Where are you most tempted to put something on the same level as Jesus (opinions, politics, traditions, etc.)?
Have you ever been right about something but handled it with the wrong spirit? What did that look like?
When you think about your life right now—what spirit do you feel is most often animating you?
What would it look like for you this week to intentionally “listen to him”?
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Suggested Practice
Interrupt the Reaction
This week, when you feel the urge to: correct someone, get sucked into an argument post something reactive, vent about someone. Try this: Delay your response by 10 minutes.
In that space, ask:
· What would it look like to respond like Jesus here?
· What would love require of me right now?
You may still say the same thing. But you’ll say it with a different spirit.
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Closing Prayer
Jesus, You are the clearest picture we have of God. The voice we are meant to follow. The life we are meant to live.
Slow us down. Quiet the noise. Help us to recognize the spirit that is shaping us.
And give us the courage to lay down every other voice, so that we might truly…
listen to you.
Amen.