Pathway to Victory

Guest (Male): Hello podcast listeners. Thanks for streaming today’s podcast from Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory is a non-profit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. Our mission is to pierce the darkness with the light of God’s Word through the most effective media available, like this podcast. To support Pathway to Victory, go to ptv.org/donate or follow the link in our show notes. Now, here’s today’s podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Dr. Robert Jeffress: Hi, this is Robert Jeffress, and I’m glad to study God’s Word with you every day on this Bible teaching program. On today’s edition of Pathway to Victory, once again, these disciples begin to doubt who Jesus is. And so Jesus is going to display to them once and for all His true identity. He takes the representative leaders of the 12 apostles—Peter, James, and John—and takes them up to a mountaintop for an experience they will never forget.

David J. Mullins: Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress. Few people can say that they’ve experienced a genuine miracle. But every once in a while, God makes something amazing happen to remind us that He is still in control. Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress looks at one of the most miraculous events ever witnessed: the Transfiguration of Jesus. But first, let’s take a moment to hear some important ministry updates.

Dr. Robert Jeffress: Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. Before we begin the message, I’m extending a personal invitation to you and your loved ones. I’m speaking about the Pathway to Victory cruise to Alaska. I’ve tried describing Alaska to people, but words simply don’t do it justice. You have to see the great frontier for yourself.

Imagine seven magnificent days sailing from Vancouver through the legendary Inside Passage, witnessing God’s creation in ways that will leave you speechless. And you’ll experience it all in complete luxury. Every sumptuous meal prepared for you, world-class service attending to your comfort, and the freedom to simply soak it all in without a care in the world. The fellowship, the worship, the conversations over meals with like-minded friends; it all comes together to create an extraordinary vacation. Don’t just hear about Alaska’s majesty; come experience it with the Pathway to Victory family. All the details are at ptv.org.

If you joined yesterday for Pathway to Victory, you know that I wrapped up my teaching series on spiritual warfare called The Divine Defense. And if you intended to request my book by the same title, it’s not too late. Just after my message, we’ll explain how you can receive a hardbound copy. But right now, we’re going to begin an intentional sequence of messages, and all of them will help you focus on the centerpiece of the resurrection of Jesus. After all, Easter Sunday is coming soon. So, let’s turn our attention to Luke chapter nine, where we find the disciples alone with Jesus. I titled my message "A True Mountaintop Experience."

How certain are you that God really exists? How can you know for sure that the truths of Christianity we talk about every week are not just myths manufactured to make us feel better about what really is just a random universe? Can you point to one or two events in your life that can only be explained by the supernatural work of God? How certain are you that all of this stuff is real?

Supernatural experiences, by definition, are rare. But they are sometimes necessary to confirm our faith in an invisible and sometimes seemingly distant God. Today, we’re going to look at a supernatural experience that three of the apostles had. In fact, it was the greatest supernatural experience they would have outside of the resurrection of Jesus Himself.

As we look at this event, we’re going to discover some principles for our own lives as well. If you have your Bibles, turn to Luke chapter nine as today we talk about a true mountaintop experience. Luke chapter nine. Now, I’ve heard many sermons, like you have, about the birth of Jesus, about the death of Jesus, and about the resurrection of Jesus. But I don’t recall ever hearing a sermon about the most supernatural event in Jesus’ life outside of the resurrection.

It’s an event that’s recorded in all three of the synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is an event that we commonly refer to as the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. In the few moments we have this morning, we’re going to do four things. First of all, we’re going to look at the timing of this event; that’s crucial. Secondly, we’re going to look at the details of the event. Third, we’re going to talk about the purposes of this event. And finally, we’re going to glean some timeless truths from this event for us today.

First of all, let’s look at the timing of this event. It’s found in verse 28 of Luke chapter nine. Luke says, "And some eight days after these sayings..." Now let’s stop there for a moment. This event that we’re looking at takes place eight days after the sayings we talked about last week in which Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

The reason I stopped here is to point out something I bet you’ve heard before. How many of you have heard before that there are all these contradictions in the Bible, especially in the Gospels, and that’s why you can’t trust the Bible? Some people point to this verse as one of those contradictions. They say, "Now Mark says it happened six days after these sayings and now Luke says eight days. How do you reconcile that?"

Well, first of all, Luke says "some eight days." That’s like saying "approximately eight days." Mark says six days. It also depends on how you count time. If I were going to talk about an event that was going to happen next Sunday, how many days is that away? If you count every day, it’s eight days—next Sunday from this Sunday to two Sundays—or if you want to look at just the six days in between, Monday through Saturday, that’s six days. So don't get hung up on that. Luke is just giving an approximation. He said, "Approximately eight days after these sayings, it came about that Jesus took along Peter, John, and James and went up to the mountain to pray."

Let’s remember what had happened eight days before this event. Jesus was having a Q&A with His disciples. Remember He said, "Who do the masses say that I am?" They said, "Well, there's a diversity of opinion out there, Jesus. Some say you're John the Baptist risen from the dead. Others say you're Elijah. Others say that you're one of the prophets."

Jesus said, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and he said, "You are the Christos, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said, "Bingo!" Well, not exactly, but almost that. He said, "You got it right. And upon this foundation, this proclamation, this confession, I am going to build my church."

From that point on, the Bible says Jesus began to instruct His disciples how He must go to Jerusalem, how He must suffer at the hands of the chief priests and the elders, how He must be crucified and rise again on the third day. From that point on, Jesus talked about His impending death. And then He added these words. Remember He said, "And if any man wishes to come after me, he must do what? Deny himself."

That is, surrender his right to rule over his life. He must take up his cross, that is, put to death any desires we have that conflict with God’s desires. And He said, "Finally, he must follow me, obey me in every part of his life." Then Jesus says something odd in verse 27. This is the hinge verse between that event and the event we’re going to look at today: "But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God."

That’s a strange statement. Most of us are going to have to die until we see the kingdom of God. We can’t see the kingdom of God until we die. Only then will we see Christ in His glorified state. But Jesus said, "Some of you listening to me right now, you’re not going to experience death before you see the kingdom of God. That is, you’re going to see me in all of my glory before you go through the experience of death." And of course, He was pointing to this event we’re going to look at today.

After Jesus said those things, after that great declaration of who He was, eight days elapsed. I imagine during those eight days the disciples started to think to themselves, "Wait a minute. If Jesus is going to suffer in Jerusalem and we’re following after Jesus to Jerusalem, we’re going to be suffering as well. And we’re not sure we’re into that suffering stuff. And not only that, come to think of it, that doesn’t fit our theology. Our theology is Messiah is supposed to deliver us from the Romans, not suffer at the hands of the Romans."

Once again, these disciples begin to doubt who Jesus is. And so Jesus is going to display to them once and for all His true identity. He takes the representative leaders of the 12 apostles—Peter, James, and John—and takes them up to a mountaintop for an experience they will never forget. Now, let’s look at the details of this event. We looked at the timing of it; it was when the disciples were starting to doubt again who Jesus was.

Let’s look at the details of the event in verse 29: "And while Jesus was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming." "Became different"—underline that in your Bible. In Matthew and Mark, the words are "He was transfigured." Here it says "He became different," but in all three synoptics, it’s the same word in Greek. It’s the word we get our word metamorphosis. He changed.

Now listen to this. He didn’t change in essence. He didn’t suddenly become the Son of God while He was praying there. It wasn’t a change in essence; it was a change in His appearance. That’s what changed. You see, Jesus is God. And when Jesus came to Earth, Philippians two said He did not give up His attributes to come to Earth. The Bible says even though He existed in the form of God, He did not regard His equality with God a thing to be grasped, held onto, but He emptied Himself and took the form of a bondservant.

What did He empty Himself of when He came to Earth? He did not empty Himself of His attributes. You can’t give up your attributes. Jesus was equal to God. He was omniscient, that is, He was all-knowing. He was omnipotent, all-powerful. He could be omnipresent, all-present in all things. He was God. And so when He came to Earth, He did not give up being God. Now, here’s what He did do. He surrendered His rights as God.

He surrendered His rights, and He allowed His divine attributes not to be diminished in any way, but to be veiled. Let me explain it this way. Imagine a lamp that has a 100-watt bulb on it. It puts out 100 watts. Now, what happens when you put a lampshade on that lamp? Does it diminish the output, the lumens of that lamp? No. It veils the output of that lamp. That’s what happens with a lampshade; it veils, it doesn’t diminish the light.

When God, in the form of Jesus Christ, came to Earth in human flesh, His fleshy body did not diminish His deity; it simply veiled parts of His deity. Isn’t that what we sing at the Christmas time, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"? "Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see." When we look at the Godhead, we see Him veiled in flesh. Jesus didn’t change when He came to Earth. His light, His deity was not diminished in any way, but it was veiled.

What we have taking place at the Transfiguration is the taking off of the lampshade. Seeing Jesus for who He really is. Matthew 17:2 gives us even further details about this event: "And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light." His face was so bright that they illuminated His clothes. I think Peter probably thought to himself as he watched this miraculous display of Christ’s divinity, he thought to himself, "I never knew how right I was last week when I said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"

If that was not enough, notice what else happened in verse 30: "And behold, two men were talking with Jesus, and they were Moses and Elijah." From heaven came two divine visitors: Moses and Elijah. Why these two guys? We’ll see in a moment. The most probable explanation is what they represented. Moses represented the law. Elijah represented the prophets. The law and the prophets were the two main divisions of the Old Testament. And so Moses and Elijah came to visit with Jesus on the mountain.

I don’t want to get sidetracked here, but there is an important principle here that I think you’ll find encouraging. Moses and Elijah had been dead for hundreds of years. They were in heaven. But guess what? When they came back, they were still Moses and Elijah. Their names remained the same. You know, we saw this in our series on heaven. People have a funny idea about heaven. They think that when we die and go to heaven, we become somebody else. No, we don't become somebody else.

Who we are in heaven is who we were on Earth. There is a continuum between this life and the next life. Hundreds of years later, Moses and Elijah were still Moses and Elijah. They were distinct. They were the unique people God created them to be. And not only that, there was a continuum between this life on Earth and our life in heaven. A lot of people have this idea that once we go to heaven, everything we’ve ever done on Earth is completely erased and is of no significance. Not at all.

Let me show you what I mean by that. Why is it God sent these two back, Moses and Elijah? Because what they had done on Earth hundreds of years ago was still important today. Look at verse 31: "Who," talking about Elijah and Moses, "appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." They were talking to Jesus about His departure.

That is the Greek word Exodus. Isn’t that a great word to describe what happens when we die? If you’re a Christian, when you die, you don't go off into nothingness. You don't go into darkness. Your death is nothing more but your departure, your Exodus from this world to a better world. And they were talking to Jesus about His Exodus, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

What do you think they were talking to Jesus about? What could they tell Jesus that He didn’t already know? I don't think they were giving Jesus new information. They were there to encourage Jesus. I’ll say this again in a moment. Jesus was not looking forward to the experience of the cross. Not only for the physical suffering, but because of the spiritual suffering He would go through. And so God knew His Son needed encouragement and He sent Elijah and Moses back.

I think Matthew 5:17 gives us some insight into why, again, it was Moses and Elijah. Remember what Jesus said? He said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the law or the prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." Jesus said, "I came to fulfill everything that had been prophesied in the law and in the prophets hundreds of years before." Now, here is Jesus facing His death.

What did Moses and Elijah, who represented the law and the prophets, come to tell Jesus? They came to remind Jesus that what He was about to experience was all part of God’s plan. All of this had been prophesied. "Jesus, what you are doing is fulfilling the will of the Father from before the foundation of the world." Jesus needed encouragement and God provided that encouragement by Moses and Elijah.

Just think of what Peter and James and John saw. They saw this miraculous display of Christ’s divinity. They see Moses and Elijah. No wonder Peter made the proposal he did in verses 32 and 33. "Now Peter and his companions had become overcome with sleep." Their first response to a prayer meeting was always to sleep. Anything over five minutes, they’re out. Some of you can relate to that, right? This is Peter, James, and John.

I think this is hilarious. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And it came about as they were parting from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here, and let us make three tabernacles." What does he mean, three tabernacles? He doesn’t mean a big structure. A tabernacle was just a little booth for one person. It’s what the Jews built at the Feast of Tabernacles and lived in to commemorate God’s care for them in the wilderness.

He said, "Let us make three little booths, three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He wasn’t really realizing what he was saying. Now, here’s the usual application of this verse. I bet you’ve heard it a dozen times before. It’s the last night of youth camp. It’s been a great week. The kids are all standing around the bonfire on that last night.

And the youth minister says, "We’ve had such a great week here fellowshipping with God. We’ve seen so many supernatural things take place. Many of you have been saved, many have rededicated your life. And we would like to stay here and have this mountaintop experience. But tomorrow, we have to go back into the valley of everyday life. We can’t stay on the mountaintop forever." How many of you ever heard something like that before? I’ve heard it. I’ve used it before. And there’s nothing wrong with that application. There’s a certain amount of truth to that.

But that wasn’t Peter’s major mistake here. His mistake was not in wanting to prolong this experience. You know what the mistake he made was? It’s found in his words when he said, "Let’s make three tabernacles: one for you, one for you, and one for you. We’re going to make a tabernacle for you, Moses, a lawgiver. For you, Elijah, a prophet. And for you, Jesus, another prophet."

Peter still didn’t get it. Jesus was not just another lawgiver. He was not just another prophet. He was the unique Son of God. You say, "Now Pastor, you’re reading a lot into that. How do you know that’s the correct interpretation? That was the mistake Peter made of equating Him with Moses and Elijah?" I’ll tell you how I know. It's what happened in the next verse. Look at verse 34.

"And while Peter was saying this," while he was saying "let’s build a booth for each of you," a cloud formed and began to overshadow them. And they were afraid as they entered the cloud. What is this cloud that overcame them and made them frightened? This cloud was the Shekinah. The Shekinah. The word Shekinah is a Hebrew word that’s not found anywhere in the Bible. Did you know that? There’s no reference in the Bible to the Shekinah glory of God.

It’s an extra-biblical word used by Jewish writers to describe the presence of God. And the cloud throughout Scripture was a symbol of the presence of God. As one writer says, this cloud, this cloud right here was the same cloud that led the Israelites out of Egypt. It was the same cloud that led them miraculously through the Red Sea.

This was the cloud at the front of the tent of the meeting when Moses and God met together. This was the cloud that surrounded the shepherds on that hill in Bethlehem when the angel announced that the Messiah had come. This was the cloud above the Mount of Olives into which Jesus ascended when He said, "I am coming back again." And I believe that this cloud is the very same cloud that a generation of Christians, perhaps you and I, will ascend into one day when we shall be raptured to meet the Lord in the air. This is the cloud, the presence of God.

David J. Mullins: An amazing moment in history when the very appearance of our Lord was transformed. And this is the Savior we celebrate, not only at Easter time, but every day of the year. Can you imagine standing on the Mount of Olives watching Jesus ascend into the air? Can you imagine hearing the voice of God declaring the deity of His Son? Wow, what a moment. And it’s so comforting that as believers who have placed their trust in Jesus, we carry this eternal hope.

Look, you and I know that our world is in chaos and people have endured so much tragedy and darkness this year. Flash floods have washed entire communities down a river. Our nation is embroiled in endless political battles, and citizens of our nation are divided in two. Well, at Pathway to Victory, we have not lost hope. And we’re confident that God has positioned our ministry for such a time as this.

So, would you please join us in bringing the hope of the resurrection story to a world caught in desperation? Your generosity empowers us to unleash the good news of Jesus here in North America and around the world. And with your financial help, we’re committed to shine the light of God’s Word as never before, piercing the darkness until He returns.

When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory, we’ll say thanks by providing my best-selling book on spiritual warfare. It’s called The Divine Defense: Learning to Fight and Win Your Toughest Spiritual Battles. It could prove to be the most impactful study you’ll engage in this year. Here’s David to explain how to request my book today.

David J. Mullins: To request your copy of the best-selling book by Dr. Jeffress called The Divine Defense, contact Pathway to Victory with a generous gift. It also comes with a copy of the Equipped for Battle brochure. To request these resources, call 866-999-2965 or visit online at ptv.org.

Another convenient way to give is to text PTV to 78800. And when your gift is $100 or more, you’re also invited to request the audio and video discs for this month’s teaching series, the companion study guide, and also the book written especially for children called Suit Up for Kids. This book is designed to help you share these powerful strategies with the kids and grandkids in your life.

These resources can be yours today when you call 866-999-2965 or visit online at ptv.org. You could write to us at PO Box 223609, Dallas, Texas, 75222. Again, that’s PO Box 223609, Dallas, Texas, 75222. I’m David J. Mullins. Join us again Thursday when we continue this message called "A True Mountaintop Experience," here on Pathway to Victory.

Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.

Guest (Male): You made it to the end of today’s podcast from Pathway to Victory, and we’re so grateful you’re here. Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. One of the most impactful ways you can give is by becoming a Pathway Partner. Your monthly gift will empower Pathway to Victory to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and help others become rooted more firmly in His Word. To become a Pathway Partner, go to ptv.org/donate, or you can follow the link in our show notes. We hope you’ve been blessed by today’s podcast from Pathway to Victory. Oh, and one last thing before we go. Have you reserved your spot yet for the 2026 Pathway to Victory cruise to Alaska? You’ve been hearing me and Dr. Jeffress mention it, so what are you waiting for? Just picture yourself on the deck of Holland America’s elegant Koningsdam and stepping out on deck to witness nature’s grandeur. It’s beautiful. These moments in God’s creation will deepen your faith in powerful ways. It really will. Experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms, and visiting iconic ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. We’re also bringing along our own Christian entertainment; you’ll love it. Seats are filling up, so book your spot today at ptv.org.