What does "This is My Son, whom I have chosen" reveal about Jesus' divine nature in Luke 9:35? Canonical Text and Immediate Setting “Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.’ ” (Luke 9:35) The declaration occurs during the Transfiguration, roughly eight days after Jesus predicted His death and resurrection (Luke 9:22). He ascends a mountain with Peter, John, and James; His appearance becomes radiant, Moses and Elijah converse with Him about His impending “exodus” at Jerusalem, and a luminous cloud—an Old Testament mark of Yahweh’s presence—envelops them. The Father speaks audibly; the disciples fall silent in fearful awe. Grammatical Force of “This Is My Son” Luke’s Greek reads: οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἐκλελεγμένος (“This is the Son of Me, the Chosen”). The articular ὁ υἱός (“the Son”) is emphatic and exclusive; it distinguishes Jesus from every other “son of God” metaphor applied to angels or Israel (Exodus 4:22; Job 1:6). The possessive μου (“of Me”) is personal ownership, not adoption. In concert, the Father asserts ontological Sonship—sharing the same nature (Philippians 2:6)—not merely functional representation. The Title “Chosen” and Servant-Messiah Links Ὁ ἐκλελεγμένος (“the Chosen One”) recalls Isaiah 42:1, “Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one, in whom My soul delights.” Isaiah’s servant is simultaneously kingly (Isaiah 52:7) and sacrificial (Isaiah 53:7-12). Luke sutures these servant prophecies to royal Sonship (Psalm 2:7), revealing a cohesive Messianic profile that combines sovereignty with redemptive suffering. Triune Self-Disclosure The scene unveils all three Persons distinctly yet harmoniously: • Father – Voice from heaven. • Son – Visible, incarnate, transfigured. • Spirit – Manifest in the shekinah-like cloud (cf. Exodus 40:34; Luke 3:22). The simultaneity rebuts modalism and grounds the orthodox confession of one God in three Persons. Continuity with Torah and Prophets Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) appear as legal witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). Their presence affirms Jesus as fulfillment of both dispensations (Luke 24:27). The Father’s command, “listen to Him,” supersedes the old covenants while upholding their authority, pointing to Jesus as the definitive revelatory Voice (Hebrews 1:1-3). Echoes of Psalm 2 and Royal Enthronement Psalm 2:7, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father,” was an enthronement formula for Davidic kings. By re-applying it here, the Father proclaims Jesus’ messianic kingship and anticipates His resurrection vindication (Acts 13:33). The enthronement “today” ultimately occurs at the empty tomb and ascension, yet the Transfiguration previews that glory. Pre-Incarnate Divinity and Creative Agency John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16 ascribe creation to the Son. The Transfiguration’s dazzling metamorphosis (Luke 9:29) momentarily lifts the veil on that pre-incarnate glory (John 17:5). Scientific observation of finely tuned cosmological constants (e.g., strong nuclear force, cosmological constant) coheres with an intelligent, personal Logos active in creation, aligning empirical data with Johannine Christology. Patristic Affirmation Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3.16.5) cites Luke 9:35 to oppose Gnostic demotions of Christ: “He is shown both to be one and the same, from the Father, His only Son.” Origen, Athanasius, and later Nicene formulations relied on this pericope when articulating homoousion—“of the same essence.” Historical Plausibility of the Event While supernatural, the setting coheres with 1st-century geography. Mount Hermon or Mount Tabor both fit Luke’s travel chronology. Jewish expectations of a glorified Moses (Deuteronomy 34:5-6 traditions) and an Elijah who never saw death (2 Kings 2:11) make their appearance contextually intelligible, not arbitrary. Legal-Historical Testimony Structure 1. Heavenly Voice (Father). 2. Earthly witnesses (Moses, Elijah). 3. Human witnesses (Peter, John, James). This three-level corroboration meets ancient juridical standards (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16) and is later appealed to in 2 Peter 1:16-18: “we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” Practical Evangelistic Appeal A panoramic cloud once hid divine glory; skepticism may still cloud modern minds. Yet the voice speaks through Scripture: “This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.” Examine the manuscript evidence, evaluate the resurrection data, contemplate the finely-tuned cosmos, and hear the summons. Turn, believe, and behold the glory that saves and satisfies forever. |
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