EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
10/27/2026 8:35 PM
My
Worship
Time
Focus: PT-3 “Previewing the Second Coming”
Bible
Reading &
Meditation
Reference: Luke 9:27-36
Message of the verses: “27 But I say to you
truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death
until they see the kingdom of God.” 28 About eight days after
these sayings, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the
mountain to pray. 29 And while He was praying, the appearance
of His face became different, and His clothing became white and
gleaming. 30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and
they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who, appearing in glory, were
speaking of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now
Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully
awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him. 33 And
as these two men were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is
good that we are here; and let’s make three tabernacles: one for You, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying. 34 But
while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them;
and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And then
a voice came from 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 reported to no one in those days any of
the things which they had seen.”
“Still, scoffers question why anyone should believe
Jesus’ promise to return. After all,
nearly two thousand years have elapsed since His death. ‘Where is the promise
of His coming?’ they demand, ‘For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all
continues just as it was from the beginning of creation’’ (2 Peter 3:4). The same skepticism faced the Old Testament
prophets when they predicted events in the distant future. But they also predicted near events, which
dispelled skepticism when they came to pass, giving evidence that their future prophecies
would also be fulfilled.
“In this section Jesus followed the
pattern of the Old Testament prophets.
Having promised His glorious return in v. 26, which would not come in
their day, He promises an event to happen immediately to verify His
believability. He told His hearers, ‘But
I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here (identified
in the next verse as Peter, John, and James) who will not taste death (a
Hebrew colloquial expression for dying) until they see the kingdom of God.’ The preview glimpse they would receive of
His divine nature to be fully revealed
at His return was a gift to encourage their weak faith. Thus some eight days after these sayings,
He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to
pray. (Matthew (17:1) and (Mark 9:2)
place the transfiguration six days after the Lord spoke these words. There is no contradiction between their
accounts and Luke’s; the latter merely bookended the six days by adding the day
Jesus made this statement the actual day of the transfiguration.”
(Matthew (17:1)
“1 ¶ And after six days Jesus took with him Peter
and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.”
(Mark 9:2)
“2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter
and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was
transfigured before them,”
“Jesus took along Peter and John
and James since those three men, along with Andrew, made up the innermost
circle of the apostles (8:51; Mark 14:33).”
(8:51; Mark 14:33)
“51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no
one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and
mother of the child.”
“33 And he took with him Peter and James and
John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.”
“Jesus’ choice
of three men reflects the law’s requirement that ‘on the evidence of two or
three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed’ (Deut. 19:15; cf. Matt. 18:16; 2
Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19; Heb. 10:28).”
(Deut. 19:15; cf. Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor.
13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19; Heb. 10:28)
“15 "A single witness shall not suffice
against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense
that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three
witnesses shall a charge be established.”
“16 But if he does not listen, take one or two
others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of
two or three witnesses.”
“1 ¶ This is the third time I am coming to you.
Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
“19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except
on the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
“28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies
without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
“The
apostles had been devastated by Jesus’ prediction of His death (9:21-22) and
the possibility of their own martyrdoms (vv. 23-24).”
(9:21-22)
“21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to
tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son
of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests
and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
(vv. 23-24)
“23 And he said to all, "If anyone would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever would save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
“Matthew (16:22-23)
and Mark (8:32-33) tell us Peter rebuked Jesus for even suggesting such plans,
for which he was severely rebuked by his Lord.”
(Matt.16:22-23)
“22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke
him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get
behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind
on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Mark (8:32-33)
“32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him
aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But
turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me,
Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the
things of man.”
“It was
extremely difficult to reconcile those unexpected and undesired predictions with
their messianic views and the Lord’s promised glory (v. 26).”
(v. 26)
“26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words,
of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory
of the Father and of the holy angels.”
“The
amazing event that Peter, John, and James were about to witness was designed as
a help to reinforce their faith in Jesus’ glory and kingdom promises.
“They had been waiting and hoping
for the coming of the promised kingdom since they first began to follow
Jesus. They had seen the power of the
kingdom every time the King cast out demons, demonstrated control over nature,
healed the sick, or raised the dead.
They had also experienced divine power operating through them (9:1).”
(9:1)
“1 ¶ And he called the twelve together and gave
them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,”
“But what Peter,
James, and John were about to experience would go beyond merely observing the
signs that point to the kingdom; they would actually briefly enter the kingdom
itself.
“In preparation for this glorious
event, Jesus took the three apostles with Him and went up on the mountain to
pray. On that unnamed mountain in
Galilee, in the greatest revelation in His lifetime of who He truly is, Jesus’
glory was manifested in four ways: the
Son’s transformation, the saint’s association, the sleepers’ suggestion, and
the Sovereign God’s revelation.”
10/27/2026
9:17 PM
