Rev. Dr. George Mark Fihavango
Bishop of ELCT – SD
JESUS REVEALS HIS GLORY.
Psalm 21:1-5; Revelation 22:18-20; Luke 9:28-36
Welcome to today’s Bible Study
PSALM 21
Psalm 21 is a response to the prayers contained in Psalm 20. Psalm 20 stands as a prayer before battle while 21 is a thanksgiving after victory. Psalm 21 is a royal psalm of thanksgiving and victory. It is primarily viewed as a Psalm concerning King David or another king of Israel who returned victorious from battle. But from the perspective of the fulfillment of the scriptures this is a Messianic Psalm looking to Christ as the King whose victory is eternal.
Psalm 21 can be divided into two main parts:
(a) 21:1-7 Joy and thanksgiving for God’s blessings upon the king.
The king rejoices in the salvation of the Lord. It says, the king will rejoice in your strength and your salvation will make him exceedingly glad (21:1). The source of the king’s joy is not weapons or tactics but the strength of the Lord and His salvation. That is why in Psalm 20:7 he said these mention chariots and horses but we mention the name of the Lord. You have given him the desires of his heart (21:2), he had prayed, now he has been answered (Psalm 20). He has brought blessings of happiness and crowned him (21:3). He asked for life and it was given, length of days forever and ever (21:4). Jesus experienced death and God raised him alive forever and ever. The king’s glory is great because of the salvation of the Lord.
(b) 21:8-13 Victory over the enemy and the glorification of the Lord.
God’s victory over the king’s enemy. The king’s enemy is the enemy of God himself. Taking this Psalm for our lives and ministry:
- The source of a pastor’s joy is not the number of believers, the many offerings, the large buildings, the qualities of the minister or the qualities of the congregation but the salvation of the Lord (21:1).
- Our ministry stands in prayer, the Lord answers what we ask of Him (21:2). What appears as success in our ministry is often the result of our humble and secret efforts.
- Being crowned, being praised is only a grace, not a right (21:3). Jesus said that if we do all these things, in the end we should be called unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10).
REVELATION 22:18 – 20
Revelation 22 is the concluding chapter of the entire Bible. This chapter not only carries the end of the Bible but also the end of the story of our salvation. The story extends from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-3) to the city of God (Revelation 21-22). We encounter restored life, unquenchable light and the final voice of Christ to his church. In this chapter we encounter:
- The River of Life and the Tree of Life (22:1-5). This is a picture of the New Eden and the culmination of hope.
- The Sureness of the Words and the Urgency of Christ’s Coming (22:6-11). These words are faithful and true and he says, I am coming quickly. This is not a vision of imagination but faithful and true.
- The Promise and Final Call of Christ (22:12-17). Christ himself speaks of coming quickly with reward, and he is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Jesus is the beginning and the end of history and is also the judge.
- The Last Warning and the Prayer of the Church (22:18-21). At the end of the Book or Bible we are given serious warnings. Do not add, do not take away because they are the words of God himself.
Jesus says, I am coming quickly, as the Bridegroom, and the Church as the Bride responds, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
LUKE 9:28 – 36
This is our lesson for the sermon and its detailed explanations that I sent yesterday. In Luke every major event of Jesus is preceded by prayer:
Baptism (Luke 3:21)
Choosing disciples (Luke 6:12)
Peter’s confession (Luke 9:18)
Transfiguration (Luke 9:28).
Jesus went up the mountain to pray with Peter, James and John. It was while praying that he was transfigured. The light of Christ arises from his relationship with the Father. And his radiance is the result of prayer. Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus talking about his exodus:
- His death
- His suffering
- His resurrection and ascension.
His glory was built by the cross and its brilliance proved that the path of suffering to Jerusalem is not a defeat but a victory and a plan of God.
The disciples are asleep. They may have been overtaken by some of the things that were going on. How often do we sleep and thus miss some of the Things? At the time of Jesus’ birth, I am tempted to think that the Angels looked for those who were awake that night to give them the News and found the priests asleep, the scribes asleep except the shepherds who were on duty at night (Luke 2: 8-15).
When Peter woke up from his sleep, he did not even know what to say: It is good for us to remain here so I will make three tents: One for Jesus, Another for Moses and the third for Elijah.
- Where would the three of them stay?
- Do you think Jesus’ tent and the other two should be the same?
- Which tent would Peter build that would be suitable for Jesus?
What exactly did Peter want to do?
- Remain in glory on the mountain.
- Make a dwelling on the mountain.
But he did not know what he was saying:
This reminds us that man can desire glory but God leads us through the cross.
Do you think that on Peter’s head on the mountain He saw: The cross of Jesus? He saw the suffering of Jesus. He wanted them to remain without suffering or worries.
A heavy cloud intervened and a voice came out of the cloud: this is my beloved Son, listen to him (akouete autou). That means keep listening to him, not just once. It is not a command for a small event on the mountain but a call for a lifetime.
It is no longer Moses or Elijah but now listen to Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2). In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets, now he speaks to us in his son.
Who do we listen to?
- Our vision
- Our thoughts
- Our guts
Jesus appeared alone
The law and the prophets are silent, Jesus remains alone as the final Word of God to man.
Revelation 22
It means watch, listen and obey the Words of Jesus without adding or taking away.
Compare the three lessons with the glory of Jesus
Psalm 21:1-5; Luke 9:28-36 and Revelation 22:18-20
Psalm 21:1-5 gives us the promise of the King of Glory. The King exalted by God. He has been given power, crowned and has eternal life. Considering the Old Testament this is David or the king of Israel but with the eyes of the New Testament we see the Messiah. The glory of Jesus exceeds the limits and ideas of man. We receive the promise of the radiance of the King of God.
Luke 9:28-36 The radiance of Jesus is the revelation of the glory of the king. Here is the fulfillment of Psalm 21. Glory passes through the midst of suffering.
Revelation 22:18-20 we encounter the glory that is now bound up in His word. It is not necessary to add or subtract a word.
SUMMARY
Jesus is the king spoken of in the Psalms.
Jesus is the one who shines on the mountain.
Jesus is the one who closes with the last word in the Bible.
Amen
Bishop Dr Fihavango 22 January 26
@2026