Evidence of Eternity

Jesus fulfilled everything the Mosaic law pointed toward Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system promised the prophets declared mountaintop experience is a reminder Pharaoh never was really essential. After 1/2 and Jezebel were never really in control. After and now here in the sand.

He drew Israel are not really in charge who do you think is in charge of adapting view from the Bible. Some cultures refuse to predict what eternity will be like but still acknowledge that earthly death is not the only a select few human beings in all of history have been given any first-hand glimpse into the glory of the eternal kingdom. And every single one of those people are in our text today from the gospel of Luke. Stephen continues his series called into the spotlight with this message called evidence of eternity to travel to Australia. The aborigines picture heaven is a distant island somewhere on the western horizon, the settlers of Finland taught that eternal life was on an island in the faraway East Mexicans Peruvians Polynesians believe that they would go to live forever on either the sun or the moon. The early Babylonians taught that eternity was the resting place of heroes and a tree of life was included in their story. Obviously, a combination of their legend with the remaining understanding of the creation account. The pyramids of Egypt maps are found by archaeologists placed near to royalty, supposedly to help them on their journey into the afterlife. Even unbelieving Seneca, Roman philosopher wrote, quote the day you fear as your last is the birthday of your eternal life. This global unifying testimony of the human heart. Throughout history is simply an undeniably God has stamped it on the human heart and it's this truth.

There is life after death. Working on the Bible to get a glimpse of what life is like in the life to come, where you find evidence of eternity to answer that question by taking you to something that Peter, James and John will probably refer to for the rest of their lives as their mountaintop experience. Who knows, maybe this is where the expression came from school back to the next event in our study through Luke's gospel written chapter 9 if you're new to us today were now in verse 28 S. got there and join them on the mountaintop for a moment or two. Luke writes in verse 28 now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray and as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. For a moment will go over to Matthew. I have it on the screen for you in his account. It reads that he was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. The word Matthew uses for transfigured is the word minimal file which gives us our word metamorphosis you can think of it this way, the glory that was always in him as fully God though fully man rises at his will to the surface for this brief momentary brilliant display of kingly glory that says his face shone like the sun.

Luke writes here that even his clothing became dazzling white is pretty bright up there. Now it's is not to say the Lord's clothing became white somebody saying Lucas trying to describe how bright it was in fact the other gospel accounts because of the light is will see much, and is emitting from him. It it it they they struggle to describe how white is this what light the other day one of the light bulbs in the bathroom upstairs burned out marsh asked me to reach up there and change it. Unfortunately I'm tall enough not one of the few things I can actually do. She knows if he asked me to do something complicated.

You have to call a carpenter that any rate, I can do that. It's one of six lightbulbs and two trays in over that bathroom counter. I thought this is easy enough. So I got a lightbulb from the closet and put it in and turn on the light switch in that white likable glow ever so slightly orange and was actually different than the other five so that the dilemma I can ignore it. Go down to Mars.

It's great that I would ever do that. So off I got a lot of us to get an education. I really don't want to get all those white light bulbs look like.

But as I looked. There's a description's there there describe this cool white and neutral white and basic white and relaxing white and natural light and soft white likable to get a little like the Mets. The other five and I think that's part of the frustration here. She is you compare these gospel accounts.

They describe this. Mark's gospel I was there last Thursday. He writes it this way is close became radiant.

Intensely white as no one on earth could bleach in other words, I've never seen white light like this uses the word dazzling or gleaming your translation may read and the word used is actually a work referring to emitting light. It's a word used in the Bible actually to describe the lightning flashing all the lightning isn't so much that is brown tonight.

Dora's cream-colored tunic is great. Whatever was was wearing change color know what's happening here is that brilliant light as he turns up as it were the wake of his deity. It literally emits through from his body, turning everything into blazing dazzling light. I didn't see any light bulbs. It is described as dazzling white or lightning white. That's because this here is a natural. This is supernatural. See the miracles of Jesus.

Up to this point in our exposition through Luke have shown us what he can do. This event is showing us who you is the king. This is the light of the king is also a revelation of his personal glory is deity glory that has been failed as it were, by that incarnation.

When he took on flesh, he just lets a little little light peek out. It is as bright as the sun is also a preview of the glory that awaits those of you who believe in him. If you can imagine it.

The apostle John, who was there on this mountaintop will one day write this staggering news when Jesus appears, we shall be like like affect our future is previewed here in the presence of two men who arrive on this mountaintop.

Luke goes on to write here in verse 30 in the whole two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, that is, they also are glorious and spoke of his departure which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. The word for departure is that gives us our word accidents or exit just as the book of Exodus gives us the account of Israel's exit from Egypt. So Jesus is talking with Moses and Elijah here about his accident from Earth, and this would've included everything from his crucifixion to his resurrection to his ascension. All that Take Pl. in Jerusalem, and none of this that is an accident.

Jesus is hoping you know pilot that's about their talking about it as if it is.this is the plan. Jesus is not a victim is a willing sacrifice. This is why GK earlier, Jesus had preached in Matthew chapter 5 do not think that I've come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.

I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them and it is he just so happened to be talking with here on the mountain. Moses, representing the law and Elijah representing the prophets. Jesus fulfilled everything the Mosaic law pointed toward Jesus fulfilled everything the sacrificial system promised Jesus fulfilled every promise of his first coming. The prophets declared this mountaintop experience is a reminder and loss Pharaoh never was really in charge. After Ahab and Jezebel were never really in control. After all, and now here Roman in the Sanhedrin of Israel are not really in charge of these events. Who do you think is in charge of your world today who do you think is in charge of your life to Moses's been dead for 1500 years Elijah had died 900 years before this event there evidently very much alive and now they are the ones dressed in regal splendor. They are the ones addressing matters of eternity with none other than the son of God talking about his accident. The original language indicates that this was a an extended conversation. We don't know how long it lasted but it lasted a good while and what conversation it must've been. This is a preview of what Jesus promised in Matthew 1343 that the righteous those right with God will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. This is the same brilliant lights description we have faith in Jesus. Now for your face and mine. I will become divine, we will become. Look when I little God's were simply given the glory of Christ, and we literally where X on our glorified bodies as we become shining immortal. I'm looking at you right now and I don't have to squint. But one day while it will be amazing, but I tell you is I thought about this passage.

One of the most wonderful surprises here on this mountaintop is that Jesus is including Moses and Elijah in his great plan of salvation he's he's talking to them about his exit. His atoning death is his resurrection is ascension he's he's talking to them about.

He's including them in this incredible scene, and I probably told you this so them years ago I can't remember but I can I can admit I remembered it when I came to this passage.

It reminded me of that moment when I was called into my fifth grade teachers office. I thought I was in trouble because I couldn't think of anything I've done recently and I sat down and that overstuffed chair and he looked at me and he said hey I want to talk to you about some some ideas I have for our fifth grade class and want you to tell me what you think about what to this day I can remember the joy I felt that this big guy this big tall fifth-grade teacher who always smelled like coffee. He brought me in to include me in his plan.

Imagine this only a trillion times more thrilling. Imagine being called by God the father until I am down there mountaintop. I want to talk to God the son about some plans we've got want to do that you like to do what it what is Moses going with violence like asking the fifth-grader what you think my plan this is nothing less than an amazing demonstration of grace that God does not need us is willing to include in the unfolding plan of the ages well. We need to hustle here, Peter, James and John wake up. Luke tells us in verse 32. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two ministers with them and as a member parting from him so they just woke up right at the tail end of the conversation, which I'm sure they were graded for the rest of their lives, but Peter said to Jesus master. It is good that we are here. Let us make three tense one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah, not knowing what he said these three tense Peter suggested here little booths the Jewish people built during the feast of booze or the feast of Tabernacles a commemorated annually, there, there wilderness wandering in God's provision and also anticipated the coming messianic kingdom. So as far as Peter is concerned, this is gotta be a kingdom speaker, everybody's bright shining so so let's just stay up here on the mountain who would want to leave a mountaintop experience.

Besides, I can imagine now they realize it, you know, Moses and Elijah and the Lord been talking with even talking about when to be great hear some stories from from Moses be greatly lasted some questions about you know that the recording of that creation account for the giving of the law for leading the nation Israel out of out of Egypt and those plates I would have a a lot of questions I'd like to ask him or Elijah. What was it like to run from from just always like to run Ahab's Cheerios will identify every charity.

And whisk you away without dying to heaven we wouldn't be good without charge my spiritual batteries.

Frankly, that Peter is ready to settle down and start the conversation going and maybe even get some answers there were tall something happens rather suddenly verse 34 and as he Peter was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Imagine his cloud enveloped them in a moment of wisdom speaks from within it the same voice of God the father who affirmed the Lord's baptism, but this isn't just some low hanging clouds floated in. This is the pillar of cloud that guided Israel out of Egypt. Exodus chapter 13.

This was the cloud that appeared to the nation Israel in the wilderness Exodus 60.

This is the cloud of God's presence that descended and filled the temple and its dedication first Kings chapter 8 this is the vehicle.

This is the presence of God were about to hear the father's voice. Look at your verse 35 and a voice came out of the cloud say this is my son, my chosen one listen to him and when the voice of spoken, Jesus was found alone, not everything just went back to the Lord looking like he normally locked-in Moses and Elijah are gone, clouds gone, the disciples were just in there looking at each other like what just happened. Listen to him third person. This used here, making it clear his commanders for the disciples you disciples listen to Jesus's good reminder they never forgot of short, you hear a lot of voices in your world. Test everything you hear against his word. His word is the final authority doll, don't be led astray listen to him.

Are you saved are you searching listed.

He said I am the way, the truth and the life. Are you wondering are you weary listen to come to me if you weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. We trouble this is. I will never leave you nor forsake Moses thought he was alone.

Elijah thought he was the only one left Peter James and John are eventually going to believe the worst go back to fishing, but the Lord will keep his word.

Listen to him. Disciples are evidently ready to listen and not talk because were told her at the end of verse 36 they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen the Matthews account informs us that Jesus told them as they're walking down the mountain to keep this to themselves until after his resurrection see if the disciples and rushed down the mountainside and told everybody about this incredible experience. The nation of Israel would've had one more reason to revolt against Rome and Crown Jesus King. He displayed the kingly the kingdom and glory. But we have some things still yet to happen. Like a crucifixion and resurrection. Besides he did me the other disciples would be green with envy Peter James and John height be tempted to add this to the to the resume I saw Jesus transfigured Moses and Elijah are my new best friend know things like that.

It was exciting it was terrifying but it could lead to distraction instead of instruction as much as they wanted to stay on that mountain they had to leave it and wait go back down in the valley where life happens. John, by the way will later write after the Lord ascends very simply, this statement referring to that mountaintop experience. He writes this we not I but we have seen his glory, glory as of the only son from the father full of grace and truth.

We saw so don't build your life on what we've seen is it to say, place your faith in your trust in who he is and what he has said he is full of grace and he always tells the truth and one we believe in him that we do not see will we will literally live surrounded by the blazing glory of God.

Our bodies transformed, admitting this same dazzling brilliant light as we live in the kingdom of our king.

Thank you father for your word. In this brief display of your glory in your plan, you allow them to see and we still have to wait so like Moses, who waited his entire life. Elijah even these disciples who would go back down into the valley along with the others surfing as we leave this mountain top experience of the assembly which is so sweet and so encouraging, exhilarating us to leave with this command from your father… Word of prayer. Jesus, if you have any doubts or concern as to whether or not your eternity will be in glory. We want to help you. You can know for certain that heaven is your eternal home and we have a resource to assist you.

We call it God's wisdom for your hearts, it won't take you long to read but it'll explain the message of the gospel and how you can respond to that message visit wisdom online.org/gospel. Stephen is the president of shepherd's theological seminary shepherd's seminary is equipping and training pastors and Christian leaders for a lifetime of service, but even if you don't feel called to full-time Christian ministry, shepherd's theological seminary can equip you to better understand God's word. You can study online right where you live. If you navigate to our website wisdom online.org and then scroll to the bottom of the page. There's a link to shepherd's theological seminary where you can learn join us next time. For more wisdom