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Looking to Jesus… vs. 1-13
- Choosing the “special” ones… vs. 1-2
- 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
- 6 days later – Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain…
- The highest mountain in Israel is Mt. Hermon – 2,814 meters
- You can see Mt. Hermon from Caesarea Philippi (who do you say I am)
- It is about a ½ day hike from the city to the base of the mountain
- Why only these 3 disciples…
- The first thing we notice is that not all the disciples go with Jesus – just the 3…
- Bring the girl back to life – Mark 5:37 / Mt. of Transfiguration – Matthew 17:1
- End time teaching – Mark 13:3 / Now the Garden of Gethsemane – Matthew 26
- The typical view is to think these disciples were special – super disciples
- The ones destined to be powerfully used by God – so they saw more
- But it was not a matter of being special – as much as they were “special”
- Not that they were better than the rest – they were more trouble!
- Peter – speak first – then think – always getting him into trouble…
- Sons of Thunder – Should we call down fire – Luke 9:54
- We may think that God only uses those with great gifts, talents, or ability
- Turns out that not the case – God uses the foolish! – I Corinthians 1:26-27
- God loves to use people like you and me – the ‘Special’ ones!
- That way when God does a work – everyone knows it’s the Lord!
- The first thing we notice is that not all the disciples go with Jesus – just the 3…
- There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see…
- Light of the world… vs. 3
- When they reached the top of the mountain – Jesus was transfigured…
- His clothes as white as snow (whiter than anyone could ever make them by washing)
- For just a moment Jesus reveals Himself in all His glory… God almighty!
- Like the sun and light – Luke 9:29
- 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.”
- Jesus is the light of the world that takes us out of darkness
- He shows us the light of salvation – the hope of the Gospel – heaven!
- Jesus was transfigured – metamorphoo – to change into something else…
- 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 this world
- We want to be accepted by those around us – be like them
- 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 [same word] 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!
- When they reached the top of the mountain – Jesus was transfigured…
- How to be transformed – be a light to the world… vs. 4-10 (4 things)
- 1st – Through the Word…
- Moses & Elijah appeared with Jesus there on the mountain
- Luke 9:31 – “Speaking of how he was about to fulfill God’s plan by dying in Jerusalem.”
- The testimony of the Law and the Prophets…
- Moses wrote the 1st 5 books of the Bible – the Law of God
- Elijah was the greatest Prophet – he never died – II Kings 2:11
- They represented the Word of God – testifying Jesus was the Christ!
- And they talked with Him 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].”
- We will be transformed – changed – become a light to the World…
- As we spend time in the Word – learning about Jesus!
- We will be a light as we share the Word – Gospel – with others
- 2nd – Through the good times and the bad…
- During this whole encounter Peter and the boys were sleeping – Luke 9:32
- 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 answered – 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 mountain top… we want to stay right there
- Set up a couple of tents and just hang out in the good times!
- But things don’t grow very well on high mountains…
- 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…
- We become a light to the world when we look to Jesus…
- Not just when we are on the mountain top – good times
- But when we are in the Valleys – tough times
- 3rd – By listening to the Lord…
- While Peter was still speaking – a voice from the cloud said… “This is My Beloved Son…”
- Hear Him! (Imperative)
- 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…
- Hear Him – we become a light to the world when we take the time to listen
- 4th – By not looking to our fears – but looking to Jesus…
- When they heard the voice – they fell on their faces terrified – Matthew 17:6
- But Jesus touched them – and said arise (Imperative) do not fear (Imperative)
- 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 the Light of 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…
- Now Jesus is risen – so let’s tell everyone!
- 1st – Through the Word…
- Why must Elijah come first… vs. 11-13
- The disciples question Jesus on the way down the mountain…
- They had just seen absolute proof that Jesus was the Messiah – in His glory!
- They had also just seen Elijah the Prophet…
- So they wanted to know why the Scribes (religious leaders) say Elijah came first…
- The answer is in the last verses of the Old Testament – Malachi 4:5
- Elijah did have to come before the Messiah – to prepare the hearts of men…
- Looking towards the cross…
- Jesus answered Elijah needed to come first – but Elijah had already come…
- John the Baptist was Elijah – but men missed him – they did not know who he was…
- Instead they killed him to silence him & his message – they’d do the same with Jesus
- Jesus knew His time was short – and the cross was near…
- The disciples question Jesus on the way down the mountain…
Pointing others to Jesus… vs. 14-21
- The Epileptic son… vs. 14-18
- Returning from Mt. Hermon Jesus saw the Religious leaders arguing with the disciples…
- Likely they were questioning – perhaps mocking them – for not being able to help…
- The son with a ‘mute spirit’ – ‘seized him, convulsed, foamed, cried out, then fainted…’
- The Father had brought him to the disciples – but they were unable to help the boy…
- Returning from Mt. Hermon Jesus saw the Religious leaders arguing with the disciples…
- Faithless generation… vs. 19-27
- Jesus answers – “O faithless generation, how longs shall I be with you…”
- Not that they had no faith – they had misplaced faith…
- Our problem is never a lack of faith – it was where our faith is placed
- I have seen extraordinary faith in ‘faith healers’ – but they have not power to heal…
- I have seen stubborn faith in money – but money disappears as quick as it comes…
- We all have faith – lots of it – our problem is we don’t always put our faith in Jesus
- Far too often we put our faith in our own abilities – or the abilities of others
- And when we or they fail – then we blame God for not taking care of us
- Yet we were not looking to God – we were looking to ourselves or others
- “Bring him here to Me!” (Imperative) – the simple answer to every problem…
- The son was brought to Jesus – immediately he fell onto the ground rolling around
- The father explained this had been happening since his childhood…
- Jesus answered – If you can believe – all things are possible…
- The father had faith in himself to be able to help his son – and failed
- The Father had faith in the disciples to be able to help his son – they failed
- The only answer left was for the Father to believe that Jesus could help his son
- The father answered with tears – Lord I believe – help my unbelief…
- An honest and transparent answer – he believed – and he doubted…
- If I asked – is anything to hard for God – we would all answer no
- Yet when we are faced with trials – hardships in life – God is the last place we go…
- We believe – but somehow we also doubt – how do we overcome our doubt…
- It is not how – but who we spend time with – Romans 10:17
- Our confidence in Jesus grows as we spend time in His Word – time with Jesus!
- Jesus rebuked the ‘deaf and dumb spirit’ – and it came out of the boy…
- The moment we have faith in the right answer – Jesus – there is hope
- Only when we take our problem to the ONLY answer do we find the cure!
- Jesus answers – “O faithless generation, how longs shall I be with you…”
- Why could we not… vs. 28-29
- When the disciples came into the house they asked Jesus privately…
- They had their pride a wounded – and they did not want to make it public
- They asked, “Why could (dunamis – to have power) we not…”
- The answer was in their question – why could ‘We’…
- They were not trusting in Jesus – they were trusting in themselves
- Worse than that – they were teaching others to look to the wrong answer…
- If people come to us looking for answers and help – it’s easy to be the answer…
- If someone needs food, money, or wise counsel… we try to be Jesus
- And men would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
- Therefore they are much more inclined to trust in a man than God
- The problem is we are limited – and can’t always help those who look to us
- Maybe we can help them once – but when they come back… again and again…
- We have limited abilities and resources – only God has limitless!
- It is only when we point others to Jesus we really give them the answer
- He has no limitations – all the abilities – all the resources – all the power!
- He is the only answer that we need to give to those who are in need!
- Our opportunity – responsibility – it to be a billboard that says, ‘this way to Jesus’!
- Prayer and fasting…
- However this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting…
- Jesus point is that some problems are tougher than others…
- The toughest of them take prayer and fasting…
- Prayer – taking time to talk to Jesus / Fasting – focus on Jesus
- When we are faced with the toughest problems – the answer is the same
- The point being really tough problems take LOTS of Jesus to cure it!
- Our problems may change – the answer never does!
- When the disciples came into the house they asked Jesus privately…
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