The Transfiguration of Jesus - Part 2

Christian when Jesus underwent his friends were derisive, but was misunderstood by Peter admittedly continue to miss the point of this crucial event, even though Jeremiah sheds light on what the Transfiguration meant to those who witnessed it on the mountaintop and still me believers here and now is the conclusion of this message Transfiguration of Jesus while were studying the book of Mark today were in the ninth chapter in the first 10 verses travel Bible that will help a lot. You can follow along as we go through the Scriptures. This series is called in search of the Savior we are studying the last section of the book of Mark, and the life of Jesus which is so wonderfully told by Mark and Peter in this gospel, so will get to our discussion of the Transfiguration of Jesus in just a moment later this week were going to talk about the unbelieving belief and who is the greatest all of this from the Gospel of Mark today were finishing up what we started on Friday as we conclude our discussion of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. When Jesus was born in Beckley have. He did not cease to be God he was God in the body. He was God taking flesh upon himself.

The Bible says he tasted flesh became a part of us and through his whole earthly life, he never ever arbitrarily used his duty to his own advantage. The Bible says that he voluntarily limited himself from demonstrating that he was gone. He walked around as a man, he suffered the things you and I and he never ever you know in a moment when he was under pressure and almost wanted to see who I am and then revealed himself only wants to do it and it was on the Mount of Transfiguration, and on that day, day, never to be forgotten by those who were there, the Lord Jesus revealed himself to his disciples was first miracle. But if you read the story carefully you will discover that there was the miracle of Christ's appearance and the miracle of his associates says in verse four and Elijah appeared to them with Moses and they were talking with Jesus.

All of a sudden, in the light that surrounded Jesus, Peter, James and John looked again, and Jesus was standing there with two other people.

Elijah gone for 900 years and Moses had been gone for 1400 years are standing there having a conversation with Jesus in the light that surrounded him and we might ask why Elijah and Moses. I want to think like a good Jeremiah got me in on that doesn't seem right. Why Elijah and Moses. Why were they chose and why not Abraham or Ezekiel, and of course, only God knows the ultimate answer to that question, but here are some thoughts about first of all, both Moses and Elijah had already seen a little taste of the glory of God in the Old Testament on a mountain Moses on Mount Sinai and Elijah on Mount Laurel. They had seen a little of the glory of God. So this was kind of a reprise if you will for them.

Both Moses and Elijah had made famous departures from this earth.

The Bible says that when Moses died, God buried him and didn't tell anybody where the grave was somebody said God kissed him on Mount Pisgah and nobody knows where he is to this day somebody said why would God do that. I don't know all the reasons except he sure did shut down the concession stand and Israel give me can you imagine go to Israel. One day the tour takes you to the burial place of Moses. I don't know all the reasons the other side of that is that Elijah went to heaven in a chariot of fire. So in essence, Moses illustrates what happens when you go to heaven by means of death and Elijah illustrates what happens when you go to heaven by means of the rapture, Moses was the great lawgiver. Elijah was the great prophet.

Often times when you read about the Old Testament in the Scriptures, they talk about the law and the prophets in a general statement and here are the two key figures from the law and the prophets, Moses was the founder of Israel's life and Elijah was the restorer of Israel's life together.

Moses and Elijah pictured the continuity and the completeness of the Old Testament and Moses and Elijah are standing together with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James and John had just awakened. See this incredible site can you get into this. Can you see it in your mind's eye. Now that brings us to the misunderstanding of the Transfiguration and one of the most strange and interesting moments in the Bible. The me just put it this way if you were there. If you were Peter, James and John and you're on the mountain and all of a sudden you see Jesus and his glory is revealed. And then look again and you hear Moses and Elijah having a conversation with Jesus in your spellbound wouldn't you think that would be a moment when you would know what to say and you would just be silent not Peter Gunn say something the Bible says, listen to this, but Peter answered and said to Jesus, Rabbi is good for us to be here and let us make three tabernacles one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah not notice what it says because he did not know what to say.

You know, there are some people who talk because they have something to say and there are others who talk because they have to say something. Peter was the latter look as he had not known what to say. I would just make a suggestion here that when you don't know what to say. Keep your mouth shut. Let people think you're ignorant don't open it and remove all doubt. Poor Peter he could not help himself. What was he saying he was saying, in essence, Lord. This is really great is good for us to be to get over that.

Yeah I guess so you you on the Mount of Transfiguration Peter I guess is good to be here, but what he was really saying it's good for us to be here and must only believe this bill is a little shrine for all three of you and will just hang out up here for a long time. He didn't realize that the very purpose of the mountain was for them to leave them out and go to Jerusalem, so that the sacrifice of the cross could take place.

The Bible says, he said, Lord, good for us to be here. In essence what he did without really thinking was he put Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. Let's build three shrines for the three of you. So even though Peter has just seen the glory of the Lord in the Transfiguration.

He's just witness the Lord demonstrating who he is. He still has this issue in his life. In fact, we will get to this, but as you go down to the end of the section in chapter 9 it says that as the disciples were coming down off the mountain. They were talking about the resurrection trying to figure out what it meant. While the misunderstanding concerning the Transfiguration that brings us to the key thing that I want to share with you an update as quickly. That is why do I think this is the most important event between the birth and the death of Christ to say quickly. It's the only time during his earthly life were Jesus ever manifested his glory in such a way so the first thing that I take away from this is that the Transfiguration is a presentation of Christ's glory in the Old Testament, a cloud was a sign of the glory of God the Shekinah glory. We are told, was in a luminous cloud.

It was this cloud that led the Israelites through the wilderness.

Remember, a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. This was the cloud that set her down over the temple in Ezekiel where McLeod showed up.

This was God. This is the cloud it Mount Sinai and on this day the glory of the Lord came down to mount Herman in looking back on this moment. It was John who said we be held his glory. According to Matthew.

In that moment he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Luke adds the appearance of his face was altered, and his role became white and glistening with the three gospel writers express is not some light shining down on him, but a light that came from within him a translucency of light that came from his interbeing that was so bright that he came out of his body and caused his clothing to become white. It was a picture really of the Jesus who would come out of the tomb. Three days after his death. It was a picture of the Jesus who would come in the clouds and great glory to set up his kingdom on this earth. It was a picture of the future.

Triumphant Christ Almighty God wanted these three men to see it. He wanted them to know the guy had a great plan for their future. We see in our lives today many challenges and many obstacles and if we do not cultivate the ability to look ahead with the faith we have in the word of God. We can become very discouraged. Can we not if this is all there is not know God has a great plan for you if you know him. It is a plan that will enable you to get through the difficulties you're facing in your life. Transfiguration was a presentation of Christ's glory. Secondly, it was a proof of his deity. While all this was happening. We are told in verse seven of the ninth chapter, the cloud came and overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son hear him now.

That's reminiscent of what happened at the baptism of Jesus to remember. It's almost the same statement back in Mark chapter 1 in verse 11 we read that a voice came from heaven saying to Jesus as he was being baptized. You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased at the Transfiguration. It's almost the same with the words are changed a little bit at the Transfiguration. For Peter, James and John we read in verse seven, a cloud came and overshadowed them in a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son hear him in the first statement it was made to encourage Jesus you are my beloved son, in this statement was made to encourage Peter James and John. It was as if God in heaven was saying you three I want to have any doubt about what's going on here.

This one who's just revealed himself you are you listening this is my beloved son hear him. The disciples have been so slow to learn.

Like the blurred vision of the blind man that Jesus healed. I can only see a little bit.

They believe that Jesus was the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah, but at this point they still do not understand that Jesus Christ is God and Almighty God through the pillar of cloud the word from heaven through the demonstration of the deity of Christ in their visual perception. They have to understand this, Jesus is the son of God. This Jesus is God walking around body course that makes all the difference in the world doesn't. If the one you're being asked. The following is just a good man, just a great teacher just guy who can do some miracles.

That's pretty good, but if the one you've been asked to follow and submit to and deny yourself for is the son of God is not more motivation and that is Matthew says that when the three heard the voice from heaven, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid which is the normal response people have when they see a vision of God and Jesus touched them and said do not be afraid. Transfiguration is a presentation of Christ's glory and approve of his deity. Here's one you will never pick up by just reading the book of Mark, but I want to share it with you. Transfiguration is a preview of Christ's glory to look back with me at the fourth verse in the ninth chapter and notice that when the three disciples got to the mountain and Jesus is standing there, that Elijah appeared to them with Moses and they were talking with Jesus and wonder if you like me on what they were talking about what is a man who's been gone for 1400 years in a management gone for 900 years have to say to the living son of God, who's down here walking around in the body from heaven, and Mark doesn't tell us.

But Luke does Luke says, and behold, two men talked with Jesus, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his decease which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem were talking about Moses and Elijah and Jesus were talking about Jesus impending death in Jerusalem and we know Peter, James and John were listening and we remember that when Jesus tried to tell them what he was going to do. He was going to go and suffer and be killed, and be risen again. They didn't like it and didn't believe it and Peter rebuked Jesus for saying it. Say you can do that.

That's not what Messiah does. And now Peter, James and John are standing on the mountain if they don't get it. Now there's no hope because Almighty God brought somebody back from 1400 years, another from 900 years and have the Lord Jesus Christ show himself in his glory and their having a discussion about the coming death of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem and you want to say God and I need to tell you, not quite. Can you imagine the impact of this conversation on these three men, at least for a moment Jesus and Moses and Elijah talking about the importance of the death of Christ to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament and provide redemption for all mankind want a moment.

That was and then the Transfiguration is also a picture of Christ exclusivity after Peter made his obnoxious statement about the three tabernacles.

The Bible says suddenly when the three looked around they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. As soon as the thought of any kind of equality between Jesus, Elijah and Moses was raised to the surface. Elijah and Moses went back 1400 years and 900 years to where they started out and Jesus is standing there all by himself. Remember, the question Jesus asked his disciples, who do men say that I am, and some of them said you are Elijah, and some say you're John the Baptist.

Some say your profit. Perhaps Moses from the Old Testament and then Jesus said to Peter, who do you say I am and he said you are the Christ. Here is a out flowing of that statement.

Elijah and Moses are gone and Jesus is standing there by himself because in Jesus alone is salvation in Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the father except through me. He didn't say myself, Moses and Elijah are the ways he said I am the way the exclusivity of Jesus and then one final note, I cannot tell you the encouragement that this particular thought is given to me. Transfiguration is a promise of Christ's victory to give you a little background to this mountain, some of this I read in the book that someone gave me by a man named Robert Stearns who was the president of world vision in the book is called on finished and kind of know where the story just appeared I get ready to preach on this and it was almost too good to be true because normally I read those stories. A week after I have preached and that I wish that I had them the week before, so I was really delighted to see the story he writes that at the foot of Mount Herman where Jesus was transfigured, there is a place once called Pentium where you can dip your feet into the headwaters of the Jordan River at the base of the cliff. There is an enormous gaping cave that tunnels deeply into the cliff wall and then down word and out of sight. It was in this cave. In the classical world of Jesus that men believed this to be the entrance to the underworld. They actually thought that this cave was where you ended up going to the underworld to the gates of Hades and was on this very spot that Peter said you are the Christ, the son of the living God. And though it's not a mark in Matthew we hear Jesus say yes Peter on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. All this is happening right here on the spot and in that very same spot in the time of Jesus.

The temple had been built the temple of pin was a massive pagan temple built by Herod the great, and it stood imposing way over the entrance to this cave and at the front of the column temple was an open altar perched at the very brink of this deep abyss and the pagan worshipers would come and offer animal and perhaps even human sacrifices on that altar and then they would cast their offerings into the abyss with the hope that the gods of the underworld would accept their sacrifices and respond by giving them a greater fertility and better harvests, and it was at this unholy place this very spot.

People believe the pagan gods to dwell that the full divinity of Christ was first revealed Jesus was transfigured in brilliant white light God the father spoke audibly and pronounce Jesus true identity.

This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased to him. In other words, the God of the universe knocked on the front door of the God of the underworld and revealed his true identity and not long after this same Jesus marched into Jerusalem, went to the cross and storm the gates of hell. It was the day and when I thought about I thought of all the problems you guys have all the challenges I've had in my life all the things we deal with every week that we don't know how to handle. I was so filled with joy that the Jesus I preach is not just a good teacher not just a miracle worker. He is the son of God, and he has declared war on the evil that is driving you crazy. And one day he will win because he's already wanted on the cross as I think back over the things we study Bible reminded that this is risen son of God who stands in victory over disaster and stands in victory over disease and stands in victory over death stands in victory over despair and discouragement. This is the Jesus that we know is not just a good man.

Not one of the many teachers that postmodernism is clumping together for us all to believe in.

He is the one and only son of the living God who stands with his hands right up in the air in victory. What Jesus demonstrated to the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration is what he is saying to us today. He's already one maybe it's time we start living like victors instead of like victims, we are on the winning team and there is victory for all of us howling.

Thank you for meeting with us today and for helping us get started in the new week of teaching from the book of Mark tomorrow here on Turning Point to talk about unbelieving belief, how to believe when you're not believing you will believe what we learned, the message you just heard originated from Shadow Mountain Community Church with Dr. David Jeremiah serves as senior does not have Turning Point keeps you spiritually strong like to point out the I 38 San Diego, CA 92163 or visit our website at David Jeremiah.old/write you a copy of my finding Jesus every vote of any amount for purchasing the Jeremiah study Bible and the English standard version, new international version and the new King James version with hopeful notes and articles by Dr. Jeremiah visit Jeremiah.old/radio data on Gary who join us tomorrow as we continue the Savior is here on Turning Point. Jeremiah