Who do men say I am… vs. 18-26 (3 things)

• 1^st – Who is Jesus to you… vs. 18-19
  • Jesus was praying alone – and the disciples came up to Him…
  • We know from the other Gospel accounts there were at the city of Caesarea Philippi…
  • Northern Israel – on the slopes of Mt. Hermon – border of modern day Lebanon/Syria
  • Jesus asked them the question – ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’
    • Some say – John the Baptist – Luke 9:7-9
      • Herod Antipas was convinced that Jesus was John risen from the dead…
      • Mostly because he was convicted because he had killed John…
    • Some say – Elijah – Malachi 4:5
      • The last verses of the OT prophesied the return of the Elijah the prophet…
      • He was to prepare the way for the coming of the Promised Messiah!
    • Others say – one of the Prophets – Deuteronomy 18:15
      • Apparently there was a mix of other prophets in consideration as well…
      • Moses had prophesied about a Prophet like him who would come… 
  • Interesting to see how many opinions there were about the identity of Jesus…
    • Things have not changed much – there are still a lot of opinions today:
    • Secular historians believe – Jesus was a real historical figure – but says there is no God…
    • Islam believes – Jesus was just a prophet – though less than Muhammad…
    • The Jehovah Witnesses believe – Jesus is Michael the Archangel…
    • The Mormons believe – Jesus is the brother of satan – not the One true God…
    • It seems people cannot ignore Jesus – but they cannot agree on just who He was…
    • But it turns out it is not important what others say – the real question is
  • Who do you say I am?
    • Jesus is not concerned about what other people say – what do you say…
    • Who is Jesus in your life – is He just a name, and religion, a word to use when your upset…
    • Or is He God – is He your savior – is He your Lord…
    • Do we live a life that shows we know Jesus – and follow Jesus…
      
• 2^nd – Revealed by God… vs.  20-21
  • Peter boldly answered…
    • You are the Christ – literally the Messiah – savior of the world!
    • Jesus was no mere man – Prophet – or even Angel – He was God incarnate!
    • Jesus accepts the acknowledgment by Peter – confirming He is the Messiah!
  • How did Peter understand – what so many had missed…
    • It was not Peter’s brilliance that allowed him to see this truth…
    • It was revelation that came from the Father in Heaven…
    • Do you ever wonder why people seem to miss obvious truth…
    • It seems so obvious to us Jesus is the answer – how could anyone miss it
    • * I Corinthians 2:14 – “People who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means.”

• God died so we could live – in order to live we must die
• We are strong when we are weak – foolishness to the world!
• The truths of God can only be understood by those who have the Spirit of God
• Jesus strictly warned them to – tell no one…
  • The disciples understood Jesus was the promised Messiah – savior…
  • But the time was not right yet for them to share the good news
  • Jesus still had to be crucified – He still needed to pay the price for all sin…
  • When the time was right – even if men said nothing – the very stones would cry out!
    
• 3^rd – Taking up your cross… vs.  22-26
  • Jesus then plainly explained to them what would happen next…
    • He must suffer many things – be rejected by the elder, chief priests, and scribes
    • That He would be killed – and 3 days later rise again (the disciples missed this part)
    • This was the other half of the mystery – why Jesus had come…
    • Jesus coming to earth wasn’t enough to save us – salvation came through the cross!
    • The heart of the Gospel – without the cross there is no salvation – no hope!
  • To follow Jesus – be a disciple – means to follow Him to the cross…
    • We say we believe in Jesus – but do we really understand what that means…
    • We might understand – and like – that Jesus is our Messiah/Savior…
    • But then we tend to miss the fact that we have to DAILY take up our cross…
    • Many of us look for a way to have salvation – but still live our lives our way…
    • Believing in Jesus means following Him – dying us – DAILY choosing to life for Him!
  • Whoever desires to save his life will loose (literally condemn it to hell) it…
    • If we don’t want to deny ourselves – if we want to live for things of this world…
      • If we think we can find happiness in money / possessions / pleasure – we loose
      • Looking for happiness – in this world is chasing the wind – Ecclesiastes 2:11
      • No one comes to the end wishing they had more money or things
      • But many realize they wasted their life – lost their life – chasing after the wind…
    • If we had everything the world could ever offer us – but miss Jesus…
      • If you had all the money / all the power / all the fame – everything you ever wanted
      • But when you died spent an eternity in hell separated from Jesus – was it worth it…
  • The one who looses his life for Jesus’ sake – finds it…
    • It is when we live for Jesus – let our life go – that we find true life!
    • * John 12:24-25 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
    • Only when we are willing to let our life go – do we truly find life in Jesus!
    • Then we will find the ultimate reward – not only eternal life with Jesus
    • But a full and fulfilling life while we wait for His soon return!
  • Whosoever is ashamed of Jesus – and His Word…
    • If we are ashamed to stand up for Jesus – then He will be ashamed of us!
    • There is always a great temptation in life to want to blend into the crowd…
    • On Sundays – at church – we are more than willing to make a stand for Jesus…
    • But how about at the market – how about at work – how about in our homes…
    • We say we know who Jesus is – we say we believe – but do we show it in our lives…
    • Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”

Mount of Transfiguration… vs. 27-36 (3 things)

• 1^st – Seeing the Kingdom of God… vs. 27-28
  • There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see…
    • This statement has led to a lot of speculation about it’s meaning…
    • Jesus was not saying some of the disciples would not die – He was talking about…
    • The mount of transfiguration – 3 of the disciples would see Jesus in all His glory!
  • 8 days later – Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain to pray…
    • The highest mountain in Israel is Mt. Hermon – 2,814 meters…
    • You can see Mt. Hermon from Caesarea Philippi – ½ day hike to the mountain
      
• 2^nd – The Light of the world… vs. 29
  • When they reached the top of the mountain – while Jesus prayed – He was changed…
    • His clothes became glistening white (like a brilliant flash of lightning in the sky)
    • For just a moment Jesus revealed Himself in all His glory – God almighty!
    • John 8:12 – “Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’”
  • We are also called to be a light to the world – Matthew 5:14
    • In of ourselves – we are not that light – we don’t shine like the sun…
    • We become that light as we are transformed – changed… (2 things)
      • * Romans 12:2 – “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed [same word] by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
      • It is really easy to get caught up in cares/concerns of this world…
      • We don’t want to stand out – become a target – we want to blend into the world…
      • But if we conform to the world – we are not transformed for Jesus!
    • Without Jesus – we are just a big dead rock…
      • The moon is a just a large dead rock – it gives off no light…
      • If the world comes between the sun and the moon – it stays dark…
      • But when the moon looks at the sun – it is transformed…
      • It reflects the light of the sun for the whole world to see!
      • * II Corinthians 3:18 – “…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
      • When we look to Jesus – we are transformed – we reflect the Love & Light of Jesus…
      • We become that light that shows the world the hope of Jesus!

Now Jesus is risen – so let’s tell everyone!

3^rd – Being a light to the lost… vs. 30-36

1^st – Moses & Elijah appeared with Jesus there on the mountain…

The testimony of the Law and the Prophets…

Moses wrote the 1^st 5 books of the Bible – the Law of God

Elijah was the greatest Prophet – he never died – II Kings 2:11

They represent the Word of God – testifying Jesus was the Christ!

They talked with Jesus about God’s plan of salvation – the Gospel…

Luke 23:44 – “[The plan] that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning [Jesus].”

As we spend time in the Word – learning about Jesus!

We will be a light as we share the Word – Gospel – with others…

2^nd – During this whole encounter Peter / James / & John were sleeping…

Perhaps because it was a REALLY tall mountain – they were just tired…

When they finally woke up and saw Jesus, Moses, and Elijah revealed in glory…

Peter said – its good for us to be here – let us make 3 tents – Jesus / Moses / Elijah

The idea being Peter wanted to stay right there – in the presence of God’s Glory

Life if full of mountains and valleys – ups and downs – good times and bad

When we get to the mountaintop – we want to stay right there…

Set up a couple of tents and just hang out in the good times!

High mountains are barren on top – things grow best in the valleys…

It seems every mountain is followed by a valley

In the hard times we have to depend on Jesus – it’s where we grow more in Jesus…

3^rd – While Peter was still speaking – a cloud passed over them…

A voice from the cloud said… “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Peter was talking – not knowing what he was saying – rather than listening 

So often we end up talking to God when we should be listening…

There is nothing we know – God does not already know…

There is a LOT God knows – that we have yet to learn…

4^th – When they heard the voice – they fell on their faces terrified – Matthew 17:6

If we are overwhelmed by fear – or the circumstances of life

The best answer is to fall on our faces – and pray!

When we find ourselves on our knees – that is when Jesus touches us

Its on our knees we can hear the Lord – be encouraged we have no reason to fear

When the 3 looked up they saw only Jesus!

Then when we look up – we no longer see the things that scared us

We just see Jesus – when we see Jesus – we reflect His Light to the World

On their way down the mountain Jesus commanded them – tell no one…

Tell no one about what they had seen – until the Son of Man had risen from the dead