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.
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.
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!
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.
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 17:1-131 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."
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)
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.
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