Luke 9:28-36: Wakey, Wakey.(please click here for todays passage)

The theme of prayer yet again surfaces. The subject of Jesus praying is again brought to our attention. Bear in mind that prayer is one of Luke’s ‘big’ themes spanning both The gospel and Acts.

Here are two things that happened to Jesus when He prayed that, I believe, will be replicated in the lives of those who pray in Jesus’ Name:

a.) Jesus was transformed/transfigured (29). I understand the Greek word is essentially ‘metamorphosis’.- the process by which a caterpillar is changed into a butterfly. I understand that the same word/ idea reappears in 2 Corinthians 3:16. As we keep our eyes on the Lord in prayer; as we look at Him and to Him; as we worship Him, so we are transformed more and more into His likeness – people who shine with the glory of God in this dark world.

b.) The Lord had an experience of the spiritual realm, seeing and hearing wonderful things (30, 31).He had a vivid encounter with eternity, we might say. Never forget that hearing from God lies at the heart of prayer. It is not merely about a monologue on our part (35). By the way, the word translated ‘departure’ in verse 31 is actually ‘exodus’. Jesus, by His death and resurrection which He had only just foretold, was going to bring about the greatest rescue of all – a deliverance the like of which the exodus story was only a shadow. He was going to make possible freedom from the slavery of sin.)

It seems to me that in Jesus you have a picture of the ideal prayer life, and its effects. But we also see in the disciples a reflection of what we so regularly find in the church regarding prayer/prayer meetings. We are often dopey and dozy and only half awake (32).We need a slap around the chops from the Holy Spirit. The sleepiness regarding prayer seems to me to be one of the saddest and greatest failings of the contemporary church. But it’s not all bad news, for it is possible for the disciples to become ‘fully awake’ (32) and see the glory of Jesus, and enter into deep spiritual realities. I pray this day for such an awakening.