Then There Were Three

Then There Were Three

Luke 9:27-28, NKJV

“But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.” 28Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

Setting the Scene

When Luke mentions “eight days” passing, he connects Jesus’ previous statement in verse 27 that foreshadows the Transfiguration. Although Luke has the shortest account of Jesus’ revealed glory, he is the only one of the three synoptic Gospel writers who links Jesus’ first public words about his death (Luke 9:22) with this foreshadowing. Since the original manuscripts of the New Testament do not include chapter, verse, or paragraph breaks, some translations will even include Luke 9:27 as part of the account of Jesus’ trip to the mountaintop. This is partly because there seems to be a shift in perspective after Luke 9:26, where Jesus first makes a broad “whoever is ashamed of Me” statement that points to all those throughout history who refuse to recognize Christ. Then Jesus’ next words in 9:27 sound much more immediate and directed, not at the course of history but to the anticipated experience of his audience that day: “But I tell you truly, there are some standing here . . .” The three disciples Jesus took with him up the mountain were certainly standing “there” that day.

Peter, James, and John emerge as a core group within the twelve disciples. Matthew points out that two of the men were brothers. Earlier in Luke 8:51, and later on the night when he was betrayed, Jesus singled out these three to be special witnesses. As we will see, both Peter and John indicate that they had unforgettable firsthand knowledge of Jesus’ glory—2 Peter 1:16-18 and John 1:14 obviously refer back to this event on the mountaintop.

Because these three are mentioned by name, we might conclude that they were receiving special privileges. Did Peter, James, and John exhibit greater character so that Jesus decided to give them special attention? We have plenty of evidence throughout the Gospels that a pecking order was on the minds of all the disciples (see Mark 9:33-41). Given the actual track record of these three disciples, however, it might be equally fair to say that Jesus singled them out for remedial work! The special experiences Peter, James, and John shared with Jesus were not rewards but additional responsibilities. Jesus chose them to bear an added weight.

With hindsight we see that each of these “works in progress” grew into a particular role in God’s plan. Peter eventually became the leader of the Twelve. John became the scribe of the Twelve, second only to Paul in the quantity of writings included in the New Testament. And James became the first of the apostolic martyrs, dying during the early days of the church. It is interesting that one of Jesus’ postresurrection experiences includes a conversation between Jesus, Peter, and John (John 21:15-23). Part of that discussion involved the ongoing roles of Peter and John. James’s absence is highlighted by Jesus’ words about John, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:22, NKJV). Jesus took these three up the mountain, but he had a particular role in mind for each. Likewise, we can count on his purposeful plans for our lives.

Getting Personal

In hindsight, what experiences in your past clearly show that God was at work in your life?

What relationships have had significant long-term effects in the direction of your life?

God’s plans may seem clearer (and even enviable) in other people’s lives, but his Word makes it clear that his plans for us are personal. We must faithfully follow as Jesus leads the way.

Talking to God

The Father knows where you are and who you are—even more clearly than you do. Thank him for that personal care and for his plan for your life, which he has chosen with care for you. Ask God for his wisdom as you move ahead, step by step.