See and Hear Jesus

You've said, as I have said on the night sky, overwhelmed by the innumerable points of light. You look westward to the setting sun, watching the sun paints a beautiful kaleidoscope of color in the western sky and that these breathtaking experiences impact is on the and the impact us in deep and sometimes indescribable ways they elevate our thinking. They winding our perspective and help us to deal with sometimes a trivial things of life, as well as the difficult things of life. Some of you saw just for a few moments this morning the sunrise was the viewer embedded right but just for a few moments. Around 6 o'clock was a beautiful sunrise and pointed to my wife, who did get up a little later than I did. And by the time she saw it. It had gone to these beautiful sites weathers the stars at night weathers the setting sun of the rising Sun. These are wonderful experiences but they don't really last duty this morning we been thinking about something much more beautiful sunrise and sunset. Even greater than the innumerable stars in the night sky.

We have been putting our thoughts.

Yes, our eyes and their souls on God's message to see and to hear Jesus.

That's what I want this morning as you, I wanted to see Jesus is not sure what that means. Just I can explain.

I want you to hear from Jesus because remember, we believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is alive and that Christianity is not just following some rules and regulations is aware is not just coming to church and go through doing some procedures. We believe that this a living Christ who conquered death is alive forevermore and we will on his followers. We are told we going to see him face to face can really imagine what that's going to now we see him as Paul would say through a glass dimly is difficult sometimes to see the Lord.

We want to. Every day we get up and we wanted our eyes on Jesus, but is difficult is that things around us and what is the disappointments the tragedies the ups and downs of life and even the joys of life in the mountaintop experience of experiences of life. They to give rise of Jesus can't find it difficult.

I find it difficult sometimes every day to get my eyes on Jesus to see him every day to hear him, but that's what we want and in our study of Matthew, we come to Matthew chapter 17 I wanted to open your Bibles. There couple of weeks ago we thought of the claim of Jesus at the closing verses of Matthew 1600. Jesus said if anyone wishes to come after me, anyone here want to follow Jesus and want anyone want to sign up to follow Jesus. Many of us would say yes all right for Jesus you want to follow me is what you must do, you must deny self rule is a real want to deny self deny self, take up your cross and follow me. If you try to find your life you loser but says Jesus. If you lose your life for my sake and for the Gospels, you'll find what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul, it so easy isn't it to be shaped by our culture and a desire to be: the desire for people to think well of us for the culture around us displeases squeeze us into its mold very easy to pamper ourselves to make life as comfortable as we can put ourselves and in that way we in fact lose our lives. Jesus is going to help us see in Matthew, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God gives us this marvelous passage so that we would see and hear Jesus to follow Jesus to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all of these other things fall into place. Let's read Matthew chapter 17 as we see Jesus. Are you ready to see and hear Jesus the heavens declare the glory of God.

As I watch the sunrise this morning for 10 minutes was absolutely spectacular and you understand something of the glory of God through a sunrise with think of this to truly see the glory of God, not just a look at a sunrise that is to look at God himself. Matthew chapter 17 verse 6:01 days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and led them up to a high mountain by themselves and he was transfigured before them at this face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light and bold appeared to them, Moses and Elijah, talking with them and Peter said to Jesus, Lord is good that we're here if you wish, I'll make she tends here one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah was still speaking is a divine interruption.

He was still speaking when both hold a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. The disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them certain rise and have no fear, and when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus but is a good writer. We want first of all to see the Lord Jesus, Peter, James and John, this incredible experience of witnessing the Transfiguration of Jesus] verse 28 of chapter 16 chapter 16 verse 28. Truly I say to you that are some standing here is what he saying there's some standing here who will not change that until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom that would next and that made some say this reverts to the resurrection of Jesus or his ascension of Pentecost on the spread of the gospel through these disciples as they extend the kingdom of God.

But I think the way that Matthew has laid out his material makes it pretty clear I think that verse 28 the first of the Transfiguration, which in turn is a foretaste of foreshadowing of the second return of Jesus Christ. So Peter and James and John. Here they are.

They are to use the words of verse 28. There, standing here and then about to see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom, not the full display of it but a can we say a sneak preview foretaste of foreshadowing of the greater most glorious event when the pilot in glory and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ will be evident to all, as he returns as King of Kings and Lord of lords about group says that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Could you imagine this world filled with the glory of God was going to happen at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, the disciples had struggled with this idea that the Messiah would die.

We saw that in chapter 16 verse 21 from that time. That's after Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God. After that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised disciples, a crucified Messiah doesn't make sense but they had to understand that before the coming of his glorious kingdom of God and his full manifestation of the power and brilliance and majesty of this holy God that would been saying about before. That's going to happen, the Messiah, God incarnate, is going to die on a cross. But now, after explaining to the disciples that he is going to die, that he must suffer. Of course he must sever, there is no other way for your sins to be forgiven. He must suffer. But first, before the coming glory. There must be because Jesus graciously gives his disciples this foretaste of his coming glory. There is a cross that is true. Jesus is saying, but there's coming glory. First, the cross and then the glory and he's going to give them this case, the sneak preview preview of the coming glory of the Lord protect size here and there's one that it was a high mountain.

We don't know what my Internet is traditionally been my table which is not particularly high-minded, and there's mind, present-day Syria. Others might note on those other high mountains. We don't know. The point is because of dry mountain and then he is transfigured, transfigured, it's a strange organism is a translation of the Greek word metamorphosis metamorphosis as as a little caterpillar metamorphosis into a butterfly change into another farm. Here there is in the Transfiguration.

A temporary notice that it's a temporary manifestation of the glory and majesty of God himself. When Jesus was announcing this information was his glory always manifested to everyone. Was it. No, it wasn't. We saw the Lord Jesus didn't have a pillow over his head, even of a bright light shining on him and find Isaiah says regarding the Messiah. Isaiah 53 verse two he had no former majesty that we should look on him and no beauty that we should desire him. There was nothing in the physical features of our Lord Jesus Christ and his humanity that she looked at him you thought there is God, but I do those with eyes to see those through the ears to hear. As he begins to teach as he begins to touch the little children as he begins to touch the leper as he performs his various medicals. There them is a manifestation of the glory of the Lord. But that glory is normally veiled but no in the Transfiguration is being revealed the splendor.

The lights, the brilliance of his deity. Remember Jesus is God.

Luke says that the appearance of his face changed. Matthew writes here verse two that his face shone like the sun difficult understand the these three disciples are seeing something of the glory and majesty of Jesus's clothes become quite as light think of white light, his face shining like the sun is close like bright light look records and Luke nine he says they saw his glory. Years later, Peter writes in the second epistle chapter 1 he says we were eyewitnesses of his Majesty was referring to Peter's referring to this occasion on the Mount of Transfiguration Verde Saul they had this wonderful privilege. These three disciples of seeing something of the glory and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ and this Transfiguration is a confirmation that yes Jesus is going to be killed. He is going to suffer on the cross that is true, but he will be victorious over death and one day he's going to return in glory when evidence of that disciples. It was the Transfiguration. Look at me with taste of the coming glory of the Lord.

If you're familiar with your Bible you know that when they tabernacle I was completed annexes 40 and when the temple was completed in the second Kings and first Kings. Rather, chapter 8. On both occasions it says that the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The glory of the Lord filled the temple that there is the sign that Moses and Solomon had done exactly as they had been instructed and they build the very house of God. And when is completed, the glory of the Lord is revealed God is there is a visible sign of God's presence here on the mountain God is declaring the uniqueness of his son. Notice only Jesus is transfigured. Moses and Elijah were great figure some of the outstanding man of God in the Old Testament, but is it is only Jesus who is transfigured. Moses on the mountain. That said, the God show me your glory. I just saw back the glory of God and even that remembers, he came down the money turned his face was shining because he been talking with God, but no, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glory of his deity is not just being reflected as a wasn't Moses. It is being manifested. Jesus does not merely reflect the glory of God. Yes, he is the image of the invisible God, but he is God, and it is only God who can truly manifest his own glory. But either Weber says regarding our Savior that he is the radiance of the glory of God is that that interesting.

John was that to do with me what I want you to see the Lord Jesus is allowed on the on the mention of Transfiguration.

I know that this is given to us without instruction that we want to see something not in his fullness. Here we are mortal people with all of the distractions of our life trying to follow Jesus and work so easily knocked off course underway with to be still and know gardens. We are to be still and see the Savior. This is why were studying Matthew's gospel so that you would see Jesus as you see Jesus there is the supernatural transformation that we are becoming more like him. And we see Jesus and as we study the word of God were going to see Jesus in a moment, as we bring Brad in the very origins of communion we see Jesus and the fellowship of his people. How wonderful it is to see you with all your masks on other are some people I was I was told I look better with my mask on. As always, encourages in church and that may be true, but it's off.

But seriously, as we see one another as we interact with one another as the people of God is wonderful when you see something of Jesus and the brother or sister in that act of kindness, and that act of encouragement in their patients and their love and their care and their desire for truth that we see something of our Lord Jesus Christ get away from this book we get away from the corporate gatherings of these people. If we neglect the ordinances of the church. What happens we drift drift and drift and we find ourselves. That would becoming more like the ungodly world than our Savior ever find yourself in that situation you wake up and you realize in my life that has been spiritual in John 20 when the disciples see the risen Christ it says. John says the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord was going to make us joyful was going to keep us strong. It is seeing Jesus to see Jesus is to be transformed is to be changed this to me, strengthened Paul sets that are so beautiful in second Corinthians 3 is a talks about us looking at Christ and becoming more like him being transformed into his image to see Jesus when we come to call Richard Ms. Davis. Our goal is not to entertain. Our goal is not so that you can feel good about yourselves some kind of psychological it's inspiring situation where you feel good about yourself. You notice that Peter Peterson is good to be here God in a sense interrupts six people is not about you it's about my son, this is my well beloved son civil John is in the good that would here and we enjoy one another's company.

Of course it is very important that last week as we think of the church, but the priority is not for you to feel good. The priority is not for you to be entertained are priorities, not to engage in some kind of Christian cheerleading is not the time the sanctuary into a nightclub at a rock concert on a political action center.

It is not, I repeat, it is not to bring the world into the church. It is to bring heaven into the church member we get enough of the world. Only when I come with the people of God. The last thing I want is some church trying to see how closely can get to the world the opposite member of the old song heaven came down in glory filled my soul. When the taste of heaven. I want as our worship leaders directed us this morning so powerfully I want this to be a whole God. I want us to see our Lord Jesus Christ to Calvary is the house of God. Why was the tabernacle built.

Why was the temple built God says let them make it make me a sanctuary that I may dwell in their midst. Wonderful that the eternal God wants to dwell in our midst. And as we leave today. Goal is not for you to see one of these positions were absolutely tremendous. They are absolutely determined is not to say dominoes a great picture was of no focus is our focus is to say that when we came here. We believe that God was here that use the words of Paul in first Corinthians 14 God is really among you until leaves seeing saying to some extent this is true, my eyes have seen the glory of the Lord when I keep my eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ change.

I see the world I see my priorities.

I see my values change to bring them in line with the will of God. Procedures not only are we to see Jesus were to hear and obey the Lord Jesus, did you notice that, rather than listening to Jesus spoke sign familiar. We were saying we still find it difficult to be still in silence underway bombarded with noise and opinions.

Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the law and the prophets and their talking with Jesus using what were they talking about Matthew doesn't really tell it like this looks as that were talking about the departure of Jesus Gordon Creek is Exodus. Second, the Bible is Exodus Y axis Exodus is a leading ugly thing out of the people there were talking. Imagine a conversation between the Lord Jesus and Moses and Elijah and their talking about his departure. The disciples don't want to hear about the cross about Moses and Elijah with Jesus are talking about because this disciples have to understand that central to the mission of Jesus is the cross.

These two Old Testament saints are talking with Jesus about the death of the Messiah for the sins, Moses and Elijah themselves have unique debts. Moses is a leader from Egypt feelings of people running to the very borders of the promised land. He looked sides of the siege article and helix West End very calm and see the Mediterranean Sea looks to the north and he looks to the south, and he sees this line flowing with milk and honey.

But he never gets into the land Lord buried him in the land of more but no one knows the place. The Bible says the place of his burial. To this day got bullied where we don't know is on the point guard buried Elijah as one of two men who never died, Elijah IDG leave this world will he left it with Charlie Sophia is pretty impressed with what someone in the parking lot. Charlie, Sophia and the horses going up to so Elijah did a strange entrance into heaven. We we all would like that. It's as I figured I think of the raptors and going into the presence of God without that that was Elijah.

Through this commitment, and rather than listening to the conversation, Peter speaks look says in Luke 933 not knowing what he said your something wonderful's going on. And instead of listening you speak talking about yourself would be good to be here Peter stop stop stop.

God tells the disciples is telling you and me.

What does he say this is my beloved son, with whom I am well please listen to him stop talking be sterile and listen to God, to those following Jesus out of humble attitudes listening. We still have humble actions, overbearing Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.

One of the important characteristics of the authentic follower of Jesus Christ is that we listen to his voice, listen, listen, take timeout switch off the television switch of your food will really switch it off or walk down under a tree, get out in the porch whenever there's a quiet place and open your Bible and listen to Jesus do that to most of us like Peter, we speak too much and too quickly, we need to improve our listening skills, listening to God. You come here today with a desire to hear God. We believe that God speaks to us through this book. Question is, are you listening you come to see the Lord to come to listen to him to God's truth is what you think are I think is not what you feel alive feel is what God says in his inerrant word of God is speaking is the young boy Samuel under the mentorship of Eli, the old priest in the Tabernacle in Shiloh and God speaks to Samuel, but Samuel doesn't recognize God's voice is a conversation with Eli and Eliza's not that happens again. I want you to say this, speak, Lord, for your servant hears up this morning to take your Bible and read a few verses of chapter could you say Lord for your servant hears. Here's a sense of being here I am Lord I'm a very tough situation. Don't know if I can get another through another day.

I need your help. I need your strength and whenever feel that I've been feeling this I don't I can get through another day.

This is hard. This situation is hard as some of you are dealing with a terminal illness. Some of us some of your dealing with a very difficult family issue. Some of you are writing to go to work tomorrow because you got an impossible situation or your business is falling down on you think I don't know if I can go on yes you can. If you stop and say speak Lord for your servant hears today. Lord, I want to do your will.

Today through your spirit through your word.

I want to get my eyes on Jesus. When the season when the so look back to the text when learning that is no glory of the kingdom of God without the cross. There is no glory without suffering first. The cross than the current first the suffering and then the glory first, the humiliation and then the exaltation to Peter once glory, but he does on the cross. Once we need to invest for to make 3/10 three little tabernacles, one for each of them, but he needs to be reminded us the father reminds him no. My son is unique. This is my well beloved son great lawgiver Moses great prophet Elijah that they are no peers to my son that is none like him, nor will there ever be anyone like him.

No one can share the glory of the Lord Jesus. It is as we read in verse eight Jesus make tabernacles for interesting John and John one verse 14 uses this word for tabernacle worked for 10 when he describes the Lord says that they word became flesh and tabernacle dwelt, pitched his tent to say more discontent that when our Lord Jesus Christ come game. He dwells with us and Peter is looking for this glorious kingdom to be set up immediately on but before the exaltation on the return in glory. First, Jesus must suffer read with me know very quickly in verse nine and as they were coming dynamite. Jesus commanded them, tell no one. The vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead and the disciples asked the men why the scribes say that first Elijah must, like I said that Malachi chapter 4 like the comfort for the Lord to understand this you are you talking about your coming in glory but I just got the comforts he answered. Elijah does come and he will restore all things.

But I tell you that Elijah has already come and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they please, so also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at the hands that we have it again. Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. Yes, the long promised Messiah must suffer first. He must go the way of the cross the road of glory, says one commentator leads through the valley of stands for the gospel means the Lord Jesus Christ. Why must he suffer. Why was it essential that Jesus Christ must die on the cross because there is no other way for your sins to be forgiven. We are guilty men and women before a holy God were singing, holy, holy, holy. You think you could go into the presence of God by yourself is a well-liked limit. I've been a member of the church for 30 years. In fact, I have imprisoned an elder batch mean God is impressed by these things. Good things. None of us however good in human terms. However zealous however faithful to our responsibilities. Not one of us by ourselves could stand before a holy God. We need a mediator.

We need someone who has atoned for arson. We need someone to stand between a holy God and ourselves, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man is the perfect peacemaker, the bridge maker so that with all of my sin. I come to Christ. Good who died, was buried, and rose again and I receive them as my Savior and know the Bible says and clothes with his righteousness, and I come before God, not say well actually I was as a pastor for several years. Lord, that's good to come from something your your sinful man. I know your heart. I know every word that you said I know all your passenger forgotten about. I know no leap, leaving one argument is that Jesus died for me to come in his righteousness, and after this mountaintop experience.

The disciples are confused and asked Jesus about Elijah who should've come and Jesus saying like I just come in the person in the form and spirit of John the Baptist and that is what they did to him. The two coffee said so I don't want you to tell others about this until after the resurrection verse nine is going to suffer and therefore is not all that surprising that he calls us to deny self, take up your cross and follow and sometimes that involves suffering.

I've known people who come to saving faith in Jesus Christ as they started to follow Christ life was much more difficult for them now than it was in the past by the friends want to bring them back into into that party attitude. The family sometimes things are strange are the friends at work. Say what you you're not as much fun as you as you used to be in those sometimes persecution and to follow Jesus Christ doesn't mean that you're going to have a problem free, comfortable life, not at all were witnessing in the minute that so man of sorrows name is Matt Soros is the one who was acquainted with grief to follow a climbing doing you're going to follow someone with a kind of Pollyanna, no this is the realism of the gospel that you follow Jesus Christ. It often involves suffering but be assured you have eternal life, and that is absolute certain glory. There is no way that all of the forces of death and hell stop our magnificent Lord Jesus Christ coming back for his bride catching us up with her through the ranchers or dad to be forever with him. Meantime, he deserved. Your total allegiance. Your obedience and worship looking to Jesus with it on your on the mountaintop with you. See you obey him, follow him.

Be prepared to suffer for him glory is coming. Our hearts are glad for. We have seen the Lord. The living Lord victorious from the great majority to see him joy to hear his word, our Lord and Master strong to bless and say something to this morning, Jesus saying to listen to and if you have never known them as your Savior come to him and receive you, he'll forgive you. He'll give you the gift of eternal life, and you will have the wonderful joy of following our Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior as your friend is your Redeemer and the one with whom we shall spend all of eternity sing that song man of sorrows, and then for those of you in life's remember so appreciative of you being with us will at the lifestream broadcast and the rest of us here are going to have the great joy of seeing the Lord in the very breaking of bread, father, we thank you for this passage. We realize were only touching the fringes of his garment as we think of your glory as we think of the magnificence and brilliance of our matchless Lord Jesus Christ with thank you that when you came to this world. He didn't come to condemn us is all glorious, is a holy but he came to save a seat he dwell with us.

He pitched his tent with us so that we may be redeemed for their sins may be forgiven that we would be adopted into your family and that we would become more and more like Jesus. As we way that great day when we shall see him, and will be like him for will see him as he is.

Meantime father helpless.

Strengthen us that Christ