11-28-21 “There is great hope for your future ” (The Prophecy Candle)

Scripture      Luke 1:39-44

 

APOSTLES ARE EYEWITNESSES TO PROPHECY FULFILLED

2 Peter 1:16-21
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."  We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
          And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
 

PROPHECY: JESUS SAID THE O.T. IS ABOUT HIM

John 5:46
"If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me."
Luke 24:44
Jesus said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
Luke 24:27
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
 

WHAT ARE THE BIRTH PROPHECIES ABOUT JESUS?

THE PLACE OF HIS BIRTH

Matt 2:1-6
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
 
Mic 5:2             (700 years before Christ Micah prophesied that the eternally existent one would be born in Bethlehem)
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
(Why Bethlehem? It literally means "House of Bread" Jesus said, John 6:48-51  I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.)
 

THE PEOPLE OF HIS BIRTH

Matthew 1:22-23
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
Isaiah 7:13-14
Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
          The most important person in the birth narrative is Mary. Joseph, Herod, the shepherds, the angels, the wise men are all important, but Mary conceived in her the absolute Son of God. Not since Adam and Eve has anyone been this close to God (and maybe not even them). Two things caused God to choose Mary for the most important task ever known:            1) she was a virgin.
                                 2) she loved God in a way that made her the right person to bear God's son.
          But why was he born of a virgin? The virgin birth highlights that salvation is a work of God. In the Old Testament, God often raised up mighty heroes to deliver his people in miraculous ways. Some of the greatest Old Testament savior types were born to mothers who had difficulty conceiving.
Sarah was barren before she conceived Isaac       (Gen 11:29-30).
Rebekah was barren before she conceived Jacob (Gen 25:21-26).
Rachel was barren before she bore Joseph           (Gen 30:22-24).
Samson’s mother was barren before she bore him  (Judges 13:2).
Hannah was barren before she conceived Samuel  (1 Sam 1:1-2).
God worked against the odds to demonstrate his power and glory. It’s only fitting that the savior of all would be born against all odds, to a virgin! The impossibility of the virgin birth exhibits the divine entrance of Jesus into the world, and prepares the way for the expectation that he would be the ultimate deliverer of God’s people.
 

THE PURPOSE OF HIS BIRTH

Genesis 3:15
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
 
 
Hebrews 2:14
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil.
Colossians 2:13-15
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
 
HIStory about the prophet JTB and his father Zechariah!
Luke 1:39-44
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy."
 
Luke 1:67-79
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

 

God knew Zechariah's future. God knew Elizabeth's future, God knew Joseph's future, God knew Mary's future, God knew Jesus' future…GOD KNOWS YOUR FUTURE!
 
Jeremiah 1:4-5
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
 
Jeremiah 29:11
The Lord declares, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

11-21-21 “10 went away healed, only 1 came back made well”

Scripture      Luke 2:25

Mark 1:40-45 (also in Matthew & Luke)

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"  Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."  Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Moses' instruction for the person who is cleansed of leprosy

Leviticus 14:1-20

God spoke to Moses, "These are the instructions for the infected person at the time of his cleansing. First, bring him to the priest. The priest will take him outside the camp and make an examination; if the infected person has been healed of the serious skin disease, the priest will order two live, clean birds, some cedar wood, scarlet thread, and hyssop to be brought for the one to be cleansed. The priest will order him to kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot. The priest will then take the live bird with the cedar wood, the scarlet thread, and the hyssop and dip them in the blood of the dead bird over fresh water and then sprinkle the person being cleansed from the serious skin disease seven times and pronounce him clean. Finally, he will release the live bird in the open field. The cleansed person, after washing his clothes, shaving off all his hair, and bathing with water, is clean. Afterwards he may again enter the camp, but he has to live outside his tent for seven days. On the seventh day, he must shave off all his hair — from his head, beard, eyebrows, all of it. He then must wash his clothes and bathe all over with water. He will be clean. (And we thought wearing a mask in public, keeping 6' apart and using hand sanitizer was a lot to ask)

          10 "The next day, the eighth day, he will bring two lambs without defect and a yearling ewe without defect, along with roughly six quarts of fine flour mixed with oil. The priest who pronounces him clean will place him and the materials for his offerings in the presence of God at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The priest will take one of the lambs and present it and the pint of oil as a Compensation-Offering and lift them up as a Wave-Offering before God. He will slaughter the lamb in the place where the Absolution-Offering and the Whole-Burnt-Offering are slaughtered, in the Holy Place, because like the Absolution-Offering, the Compensation-Offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. The priest will now take some of the blood of the Compensation-Offering and put it on the right earlobe of the man being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Following that he will take some oil and pour it into the palm of his left hand and then with the finger of his right hand sprinkle oil seven times before God. The priest will put some of the remaining oil on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, placing it on top of the blood of the Compensation-Offering. He will put the rest of the oil on the head of the man being cleansed and make atonement for him before God.

"Finally the priest will sacrifice the Absolution-Offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness, slaughter the Whole-Burnt-Offering and offer it with the Grain-Offering on the Altar. He has made atonement for him. He is clean.

 

Luke 17:11-19 (only in Luke)

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him — and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"  19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

 

seswken = NT:4982 sozo (sode'-zo); from a primary sos; to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):

To save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic delivererance, - from the punitive wrath of God at the last day. Rom 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! This is a salvation that begins in this life - in deliverance from moral impurity with a pardon of sin and receiving a blessed peace having been reconciled to God - but on the visible return of Christ from heaven will be perfected in the consummate blessings of eternal life.

 

This has become a life story for me. I have not always done well at saying thank you - to people or to God.

          I now say, I never want to be one of the 9, I want to be that one that daily gives thanks to God for all He has done for me.

          THANKS is different than PRAISE. Praise is Thanksgiving for who God is - His attributes (ie. Love, faithfulness, grace, mercy, power, etc.) Thanksgiving is giving Thanks for the things God has done or has given us.

Psalm 100:4    Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

BIG QUESTION

“What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?”

 

Consider how much God has done for you - for everyone - for the world since creation till today.

In light of that thought - hear this story that may relate to how often God is thanked compared to how often he has blessed us.

 

Remembering to Thank People

One day in the early thirties, William Stidger and a fellow pastor sat in a restaurant talking about the worldwide depression—the suffering people, rich committing suicide, the jobless. The pastor said, "In two or three weeks I have to preach on Thanksgiving Day. What can I say?"

Stidger said it was like the Spirit of God answered that question: "Why not thank those people who've been a blessing in your life and affirm them during this terrible time?" He thought of an English teacher who had instilled in him a love of literature and verse, affecting all his writing and preaching. So he wrote to her.

In a matter of days he got a reply in the feeble scrawl of the aged. "My Dear Willy: I can't tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and like the last leaf of autumn lingering behind. You'll be interested to know that I taught in school for more than 50 years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received. It came on a blue, cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has done in many years." 

 

          What happens when we don’t thank God for His blessings - much like our parents who may rarely get thanks for all they do for us…they will keep on blessing us even as God does. However, like the Samaritan leper, when he returned to give thanks to Jesus, he received so much more than all the others, he not only received physically healing, he received eternal life. We don’t thank God to get more, but when we thank God, He does seem to give more. Thanking God for His blessings gives us more in the act itself - it reminds us of how much we are loved by God!

 

          When my heart, mind and mouth are full of Thanksgiving to God, I no linger have space to complain about anything and so fulfill the scriptures that encourage us to speak only words of blessing to others and to God.  "Fritos Scoops - Life ain't so bad"

 

May we all not be like the 9, instead, be like the one who came back to give thanks to Jesus!

 

People give their thanks

11-14-21 “The missing story!”

Scripture   Luke 2:25

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

    There are Christians who do not allow any part of the Christmas season into their homes that is not directly related to the Bible. I understand that. Part of faith development for me with my kids was when they could articulate the major difference between Santa Clause and God.

I love that the world, knowingly or unknowingly celebrates Christ coming into the world. I love the evergreens that symbolize eternal life, the candles and colorful twinkling lights that symbolize Christ as the light of the world, and the gift giving that symbolize the wise men presenting gifts to the Christ child as well as revealing God's greatest gift to the world through the incarnation of Jesus! I always loved Christmas but in 1974, my first Christmas knowing Jesus, everything took on a whole new meaning.

          But why talk about Christmas? We are a few weeks from advent. Next week is Thanksgiving Sunday, but I wanted to tell one of HIStories that I have never told before. It is a story based on scripture but is not found in the Bible. It serves as a precursor to Advent and Christmas. It is a part of God's story I have never preached. How can it be based on scripture yet not be found in the Bible? Exactly! The Old Testament ends with the prophet Malachi and the work of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and reestablishing Jerusalem as the central place for Jewish worship and life.

          The New Testament begins with the Gospels in a world that was not familiar to Nehemiah and Malachi. The language has changed, the landscape has changed, the political powers and social way of living have all changed. When did that happen? Have you ever wondered why the NT is in Greek (written primarily by Jews) instead of Hebrew like the OT?

          Everything changed during what is commonly referred to as the "400 silent years"

. From Malachi & Nehemiah to the birth of Christ was a time period of 400 years and there are NO prophets speaking on God's behalf, until John the Baptist shows up and there are no new writings that would become scripture. It appears as if God left for a 400-year vacation -in  light of eternity, that really isn't all that long. "400 silent years"

          To assume God was silent and not working would be a completely false assumption. Those who have been participating in The Story study have a new way of understanding that all of us need. Every week we look at what God is doing in the upper story related to what is happening here in the lower story. In other words, the upper story is God's activity in and from heaven that we don’t see, the lower story is the visible tangible world in which we live. Our life with God is when ever the upper story invades or affects our lower story.

          During this time period , "400 silent years" God was very busy, unseen and not heard from in the upper story, working unobtrusively in the events of the lower story for one reason - he was preparing the world to have everything perfectly in place for the coming of Christ.

          If you are sending your child off to college, you work hard to make sure they have everything they need for success and make sure all the plans for the trip are in place. God took 400 years - not because He is slow, but that is how long it would take the events of the lower story to transpire to have everything ready to send His son to earth. Imagine if you lived during this time as a Jew. You would think God has left for good. They did not get what we got when Jesus returned to heaven. We got His spirit in His place. They only had old stories. Hard to have faith in that.

You turn one page in your Bible from Malachi to Matthew but there is a great disconnect. Let's see if we can connect them today and see what God was doing behind the scenes in the upper story.

Rulers

Persia

At the end of the OT Persia is in power in Israel/Judah. Persia’s rule is going to last to about 331 BC. When they conquered Babylonia and take over the land, they establish a new foreign policy. When Assyria conquered Israel, they scattered all the people all over the empire. When Babylonia conquered Judah, they took many of the people out of Judah and took them into Babylonia and went to work to make them Babylonians. Persia lets the conquered people go home and let them rebuild the temple. However, many people decided not to go back. In the upper story, God will want Christianity to spread, so he allows these events to unfold that have spread His chosen ones across the known world.

Greece

Eventually Alexander the Great conquers this area beginning in 331 BC and he and the Greeks are going to last to about 164 BC. Greece allows the people to continue ruling over themselves for the most part. The Greeks form the Sanhedrin to handle the civil law in the nation. They create Greek educational systems among the Jews. Greek philosophers have a huge impact on Jewish society. The most significant thing they will do is introduce a language. Because Greek becomes the language of commerce, the Jews begin to speak and read Greek as well. Over time, the Greeks become less favorable to the Jews.

Independence

A priest named Mattathias leads a rebellion against the Greeks in 164 BC, which is called the  Maccabean revolt. This results is the Jews having a period of Independence and rule themselves until about 63 BC.

During this time things that are lost begin to get re-introduced.

Such as re-introduction of monotheism (One God). And the people gain Hope that God will again come and dwell with His people. They begin looking forward to the coming of the Messiah that they learned about from the scriptures (OT) being reintroduced. Unfortunately the leaders here also deteriorated over time.

Rome

Toward the end of this period one of two sons will become the next Jewish leader. They can't decide which one it will be so they ask Rome, a powerful nation of the day, to help them settle the conflict. Rome settles the conflict by simply taking over. So that ends independence and in 63BC Rome becomes the ruling power over the Jews. God may have been silent, but He was accomplishing His upper Story purpose in the midst of the lower story. Rome will rule through the time of Christ and the early church until 135 AD.

Rome brings peace in the land if you pay your taxes and don’t betray them. If you want to rebel, you will pay a huge price for it.

They construct many roads (a massive highway system) and commerce systems that make travel easier and more commonplace. God will want the word of Christ to spread and everything the Romans put in place will help. They continue to use the Greek language and adopt much of its culture.

During all this time, there is also developed the Pharisees and teachers of the Law that did not exist 400 years earlier. Zealots rose up who were waiting for a Messiah to come and overthrow the oppression of Rome. Jews began working for the government against their own people as some became Tax Collectors. It was not the right time for Christ to enter the world 400 years earlier or anytime after the time he did come. He came at the exact moment God had everything in place.

          God seemed silent but was at work through the Persians, the Greeks, The Maccabees/Jews, the Romans. Galatians 4:4-5  But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

          In light of all this, another scripture should take on new light as you now understand why this old man in the temple was so looking forward to the coming of Christ.

CONCLUSION

Luke 2:25-32

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:  "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

ILLUSTRATION:

Mitchell Dillon wrote, "On the eve before my daughter was to leave for college, she interrupted my television time to ask if we could spend the evening watching the "really old family movies." I moaned at the request. Getting that old projector out and threading each of the two-minute 8mm reels was not something I looked forward to. But for reasons that alluded me, she was insistent.

After the last reel was over, I was glad to have spent our last evening together this way. My daughter was about to embark on the biggest challenge of her life and needed a reason to feel confident. Sitting with us and watching the old family films was the perfect way for her to be reminded of how much she was valued and loved. Until that night, I didn't realize that the family archives were replete with SCENES & STORIES of not just romping and wrestling, but of amazing expressions of affection, of hugging and kissing. This was more than a visit to the past. My daughter got just what she needed. A reminder of how much she was loved.

During the 400 Silent Years Jesus was getting what he needed from the Father.

When you are feeling like God is silent in your life, it would be good to sit down with Him and relive those moments when you knew God was close to you and active in your life. For those who don't know God personally yet, you can read stories about how much He loves His children all through the scriptures and HIStory will become real until you begin experiencing your own personal experiences with God as you live in the lower story, He promises to come from the upper story and live with you, even eating at your table.

Rev 3:20-21

 Look at me. I stand at the door of your heart. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you and one day you will come and sit down to supper with me.

John 14:2-3

 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

11-07-21 “Pay attention to the man behind the curtain!”

Scriptures   Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:1-13, Luke 9:28-36

 

MARK 17:1 BEFORE
And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
          Who is he talking about and what is he talking about. (This is like, "one of you will betray me." "Is it I Lord?" You didn't want to be the one chosen for that…This one, "I hope it is me!!!"
"see the kingdom of God come with power" What does that mean? How many of you would want to "see the kingdom of God come with power"? 3 of them are about to win the lottery and find out exactly what Jesus means. But first, let's get a little background to the actual writing down of this story…
 
3 of the gospels tell this story, All 4 gospels are written from a different perspective that are helpful to know:
Matthew presents Jesus as the heir of David and the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham. He has come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets and usher in God’s kingdom.
Mark shows Jesus as the Son of God, with authority to teach, heal and cast out demons. He is also the Son of Man, the true representation of what it means to be human.
Luke presents Jesus as the prophet who has come to suffer for His people. He is a friend to sinners & tax collectors. He has come to save the lost and the outcast, who brings comfort to the suffering and oppressed.
John presents Jesus as the Word made flesh—God present since the beginning of time. He is the Son of God who reveals the Father. Jesus makes bold claims about Himself that require bold faith from His listeners.
 

THE TRANSFIGURATION

(UNABLE TO FORMAT PROPERLY HERE: These 3 gospel accounts would be set in 3 columns and then read #1 in each and comment - # 2 in each and comment, etc through #9. Point out the differences and how one adds to another creating a fuller picture of the story.)

Matt 17:1-13
1 After six days
2 Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 3 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 4 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
6 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
7 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid."  When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 

8 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
9 The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
          Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."  Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
 
Mark 9:1-13
          1 After six days
2 Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. 3 There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
6 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
7 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
 8 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.
9 And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
          Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

Luke 9:28-36
    1 About eight days after Jesus said this, 2 he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
3 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 4 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
5 Peter & his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)
6 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." 7 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.
8 The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
9 (nothing)

Single most important thing about the TRANSFIGURATION: JESUS!

 
Moses & Elijah were everything to the Jews up to this point - "THE LAW & THE PROPHETS" The written word. When they are placed next to Jesus - they simply fade away. That is how important Jesus is - he supercedes everything that has come before or will come after him.
 
For us, that is putting Jesus next to the Old & New Testament - the Bible. This is the bedrock of our salvation. This includes everything we believe in. But put the Old & New Testament (the written word) next to Jesus (the living word) and it simply fades away in comparison to Jesus - he is the reason we even have a Bible.
 
This is what we don’t get. Knowledge (Biblical knowledge) is important but not if it is not lived out.
Dick Riley story.
That man's Bible knowledge did not translate into his life. Jesus says he comes into us - it is him living through us. You know Jesus - the one who said, If someone strikes you on the right cheek, offer him your left as well" If someone steals your shirt, give them your coat as well" If someone asks you to go one mile with them, go with them two" Jesus, who commented, "You have heard it said, "Love your friends and hate your enemies, I say love your enemies too." Jesus who said, don't forgive someone only 7 times but 70 times 7.
Jesus who gave his word through Paul and said as I live in you by my spirit, the visible-active fruit of your life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
If you know these things and do not put them into practice you are like a person who built there house on sand - when the storm hits - it will not stand and will fall with a huge crash.
John 15:5-8     I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
 
We have to change the way we think - and think the way he thinks
We have to change the way we live - and live the way he would live through us.
 
Romans 12:1-2…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transfigured by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
 
Jesus' transfiguration on the top of that mountain was a real event in HIStory & history, but it also serves as a mighty symbol that we must be transfigured in the valley, into the person who has Jesus living through us so that all the world can see him.
 
As Toto pulls back the curtain, will people see the real you - if they see the real you, then they can't help but also see Jesus!