The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (2)
Notes
Transcript
Announcements:
Announcements:
This morning, I failed to mention 2 things:
The teens have an outdoor activity this coming Saturday.
Sunday night, October 4, will begin our new Connection Group Bible studies.
Mr. Ron will lead the Berean Connection Group in the auditorium. (It will be livestreamed on Facebook and the website.
Mr. Peterson will lead the Teen Connection Group in the Upper Room.
Mr. Griffeth will lead the His Design Connection Group in the Fellowship Hall.
Mrs. Motus will lead the Ladies Connection Group in the Choir Room.
Mrs. Holstead and Miss Brooks will lead our Children’s Bible Time in the Great Room. (After coming through the main entrance, parents will take children through the Fellowship Hall and into the Great Room)
That same evening, we will open the nursery for parents to use. (We will still not have a volunteer staff in the nursery at this point.) We will have a monitor set up in the nursery so that, at the very least, those adults in the nursery can participate in one of the Connection Groups.
We will continue to use the same entrance. We will continue to have temperature checks done when entering.
Speaking of October 4. Ladies, that is the day when your deposit for the Ladies Mountain Retreat is due. Please see Mrs. Campbell or Mrs. Rideout if you have any questions.
As I mentioned, our New Testament Survey class will begin meeting on Monday, October 5.
You still have time to register to vote if you have not done so already.
Prayer Requests:
Prayer Requests:
Miss Spencer has not been feeling well. Dr. Spencer has tested positive for COVID-19. However, Miss Spencer has not been around her father. But, she has been around her mother who, naturally, has been around Dr. Spencer.
Turn to and read Mark 9:1-10. Pray.
Message
Message
Tonight, we’ll pick up where we left off last Sunday morning...
And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
To get a more complete understanding, let’s look at Luke’s description of this:
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Moses represented the Law
Elijah represented the Prophets
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all of Scripture!
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
It is interesting to me that Luke records the fact that Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah about “…His decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.” Christ’s ministry had peaked and He was looking ever more eagerly to the cross that lay ahead of Him. Christ, with Moses and Elijah, began to review the plans that had been made; plans that both Moses and Elijah had spoken and written of. However, this wasn’t your typical planning or strategy session; this was merely a review of the formalities that lay between Christ and ultimate victory over Satan! His decease, which He should accomplish!
Exploring the Gospel of Luke: An Expository Commentary (1) Glory on the Mount (9:28–36) His death was no accident; it was an accomplishment. He was in charge throughout the whole appalling affair.
The Romans were not in charge.
The rabbis and religious leaders were not in charge.
The crowds were not in charge.
The disciples were not in control.
Throughout Christ’s entire ministry including His betrayal, the “kangaroo court,” His death, and His burial; Jesus was in charge. Jerusalem and all who were there witnessed the absolute sovereignty of Jesus.
The sun was plunged in darkness.
The veil of the temple was torn in two.
The earth shook.
Graves burst open everywhere.
He sovereignly dismissed His spirit and died of His own volition before the executioners could finish Him off. His death was indeed an accomplishment and made possible salvation for one and all.
With that, we should be reminded that, in spite of the craziness in the world today that Christ is still on the throne; He is still in control. His plans will be accomplished! For us, we must simply trust Him! He will not fail; He cannot fail!
Now, at some point, Peter, James and John wake up. When they woke up and saw the seen before them, Peter, always the spokesman, asked two questions:
And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Peter, first of all, if it wasn’t good for you to be there, Christ would not have brought you there!
But, how many of us, when we find ourselves in difficult situations, say something similar like, “God, I really don’t think that it’s a good idea for me to be here?!?!?”
Second, Peter, do you even know what you are saying? By suggesting that a tabernacle be built for Christ, Moses and Elijah, Peter was implying that Moses and Elijah were Christ’s equals!
Why did Peter ask these questions? Two reasons: He was afraid and he didn’t know what else to say!
For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Peter was afraid; the other disciples were afraid. This wasn’t the only time that the disciples had been afraid and…it wouldn’t be the last time that they would be afraid.
Is there anything inherently wrong with being afraid?
I would say, “No, there is nothing inherently wrong with being afraid.”
Yesterday, my family and I went to Valdese, NC. While we were in the area, we visited a waterfall. There were no guard rails, etc. and, when Silas, got a little too close to the edge, both his mother and I told him to stop. Why? Because we were afraid that he might slip and fall and end up “going over.” Was there anything wrong with that? No.
Fear is...
A painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger.
So, what was Peter, James and John fearful of? expectation of evil? impending danger? I really don’t know. But there is something in this passage that I find interesting…Actually it’s what’s not said.
When Jesus walked on the water to the disciples, we are told...
For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
Here, at the Transfiguration, when Peter, James and John responded in fear, Jesus never re-assured them by saying, “Be not afraid.” Why?
I think that there is a simple explanation. There was no reason for Peter, James, and John to be afraid; Christ was there with them!
Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no reason for us to live in fear. Why? Because Christ is with us!
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
He has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit!
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
There’s another application that I believe needs to be made here.
What is “fear?”
It is an emotion. Now, we’ve already established that there is nothing inherently wrong with fear. However, where it does become wrong is when we allow fear to control or when we allow any emotion to control us! That’s wrong!
Meet the Emotions of Pixar’s Inside Out
Meet the Emotions of Pixar’s Inside Out
Pixar's new film Inside Out personifies the five major emotions — Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust — residing in the mind of a preteen girl named Riley. Throughout the movie, the five embodied emotions all work to guide and protect her.
The world has taught us that emotions can “guide and protect” us! Folks, that is a lie from the devil. While God has created us with emotions, they emotions should not control us! And, no, it’s not just a matter of us controlling those emotions either. Why? Because we can’t!
What are the rioters and looters demonstrating? That they can’t control their emotions!
As Christians, we must be controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit of God, not our emotions!
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Back to Mark chapter 9: In response to Peter’s so-called “questions,” Jesus didn’t need to answer Peter’s questions because God stepped in.
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
God’s voice from the cloud endorsed Jesus as the Son of God. Even though Peter, some time earlier, had said, “Thou are the Christ the son of the living God,” this event would forever put away any doubt that these three may have had. (Although they were still to be tested in the days to come!)But what excellent advice for us all! Hear Him! Listen to Jesus Christ!How many times had Jesus, in His ministry, said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear?!” Maybe now they would!
We need to be reminded of the same. How little do we really allow the Lord to speak to us through His Word? At times it’s not until God allows some tragedy into our lives that we finally say, “Ok, God, I’m listening.”
Would it not be better if we learned to listen before tragedy comes?!?!
I think a good application here is this: The best time to prepare for tragedy is before it comes!
I think these past six months have been a wonderful “case in point.” Last Sunday night I shared the statistic that 1/3 of Christians, during this pandemic, have stopped attending church and there are many who believe that those may never return.
I believe that we - I include myself - were woefully and spiritually unprepared for what has taken place these last 6 months. Allow me to give a personal example.
When our son, Logan, passed away, that was one of the most difficult times - spiritually - for me. I, without any hesitation, will tell you that I could not/would not have made it - spiritually - had I not been prepared ahead of time. Now, I’m not saying that I was some sort of spiritual giant but what I am telling you is this…the Word of God, that I hidden in my heart, came out to strengthen me during that time.
I remember, sitting in the emergency room that Saturday morning and having God bring Psalm 103:1 to my mind:
Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
For the time being, this event was for their benefit only. They still had a lot of questions in their hearts and minds but at least, at this point it seems, Christ had their attention. Peter seems to have grasped an understanding of these events after the Pentecost. Turn to and read Acts 3:18-26.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
It seems that it finally “sunk in” to Peter. He finally understood. And, that understanding drove him to proclaim the Gospel to see people saved.