The Glories of The Transfiguration | Mark 9:1-13 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

I have to confess that there was a unique struggle in preparing

this message, not for the reasons that you might think.

The challenge of studying and meditating on this particular

portion of Scripture was solely due to the overwhelming glory

that this passage presents. I felt as though whenever I

reached a ceiling of understanding, that ceiling was

removed and there were greater heights, greater levels of

Revelation awaiting to be climbed.

And when those levels were reached, there were even more

levels to discover. There, I felt as though when

this chapter was opened, a Volt was opened and a wave of gold,

silver, and precious stones just spilled out.

And particularly last night, standing there before this text

looking around me, I thought to myself, what am I to do with all

of this? Where am I to go with all of

this? This scripture rightfully

demands many parts, and we're not going to do that because

I've been comforted by the realization that this particular

moment is shared in Matthew, shared in Luke.

And if the Lord Terry's, and we do at some point as a church,

arrive to another gospel account down the road, then when we do

come to this particular miraculous occurrence, we will

have much to work with. There will still be much

available at this banquet, and so we will attempt to come

together and bring these things in a manner that we can

understand while also honoring the absolute majesty of this

portrait of Christ. And we will do so by organizing

our thoughts in the following way.

We will look first at the timing, the timing of this

miracle. We will also look at the

companions of this miracle. And lastly, we will look at the

response to this miracle and as simple as that format might be.

The way we are going to most benefit from this is if we have

Mark open before us with Luke and with Matthew at the same

time, so that we can do somewhat of a comparative analysis and we

can take these different threads and see a more complete picture

of what is happening here on this holy mountain.

And with that, may I encourage you from the beginning to give

yourself over to these next few moments without distraction,

Because this is a very meaty passage and it requires our

efforts to chew if we are going to digest and benefit from the

glorious flavors and nourishment that comes from what the Holy

Spirit has inscribed here. What I am speaking to you of

today is the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ.

It was an event of glory, but upon meditation and thinking

about because the sound team and the media team often asks in

advance what is the the message of the what is the the title of

the message today? And you would probably say the

glory of the Transfiguration. But there's too many glories,

the glories of the Transfiguration.

So many glorious things happen in this one moment, and I want

you to see it with me. I want you to travel with me in

these passages, and I want your heart to come alive again as you

see just how amazing God is and just how supernatural that Bible

you have in your hands really is.

Let's go to mark Chapter 9 and let's begin together in verse

Mark 9 · chapter mention

one. May the Lord Jesus help us and

empower us by His Holy Spirit to understand all that He has

desire to speak, and may He receive maximum glory and praise

and recognition for this authorship.

And the wisdom and the beauty of his voice in Mark Chapter 9,

Mark 9 · chapter mention

verse one we read and he said to them, truly, I say to you, there

are some standing here who will not taste death.

Until they see the Kingdom of God after it has come with

power. And after six days Jesus took

with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high

mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before

them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no

one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them

Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we are here, Let

us make 3/10 one for you and one for Moses, and 1:00 for Elijah.

For he did not know what to say. For they were terrified, and a

cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud.

This is my beloved son. Listen to him.

And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with

them but Jesus only, Jesus only. May we see Jesus only.

Today, the timing of this miracle, this chapter opens up

with an interesting promise that Jesus makes, one that I believe

has been misunderstood and misapplied even in some people's

eschatology. Jesus looks at his own after

telling them about his suffering, and they're suffering

for following them, for following him.

And he proclaims that among them standing there, they would not

taste death. There would be a select few who

would not taste death until something occurs, until they

witness a particular event, and that is the Kingdom of God,

coming with power, coming with power.

Now that has led some to wonder if Jesus says that some of his

own disciples would not die until the Kingdom would come

with power, then has the Kingdom of God come in that Messianic

glory already? Some would say yes, some would

say based on this, surely then very early on Jesus Kingdom has

been made fully manifest, because how could it be?

His disciples surely are dead. Are we actually still waiting

for the Kingdom to come with power?

And if we are, then Jesus broke his promise, they would claim.

And if not, if the Kingdom has not really come with power, then

what other options are you really left with then?

Are some of the disciples still alive in 2023?

Surely not. These attempts to try to make

sense of this is really something we don't have to

entertain. When we do one thing, just honor

the context. Look at the context.

Context is king. Context keeps you safe.

Context brings you to the true answer, at least the closest

answer to the truth. Let's look at Jesus saying this

here and compare it where else. He said he said it in two other

places. One place in Luke and one place

in Matthew. I told you in advance to have

those books ready so that we can have a more complete picture.

Let's turn quickly to Matthew 1628.

To the left of Mark, Matthew 1628.

Jesus says in Matthew 1628. Truly, I say to you, there are

some standing here who will not taste death until they see the

Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.

Now turn to the right to Luke in Chapter 9.

You look at Luke 9. Look with me quickly at verse 27

and what do we see here in this passage?

But I tell you, truly there are some standing here who will not

taste death until they see the Kingdom of God.

Now, if you have all those passages open, what do all of

these declarations in these respective accounts have in

common? All you have to do is look

immediately after Jesus makes that statement, and they all

have this one thing in common. Each time Jesus made this

promise, it was immediately preceded before him, taking up

some of his disciples up on the mouth of Transfiguration.

Right after Jesus said it in Mark, right after Jesus said it

in Luke, right after Jesus said it in Matthew, immediately after

we have the event of the transfiguration.

Meaning what? The Transfiguration is the very

fulfillment of this promise. The pledge that Jesus makes to

his own was realized on this mountain.

In what sense? Well, Christ here on this

mountain is going to unveil something of his glory.

And by doing so, He is giving the disciples A revelation, A

glimpse, a peak, a sample, if you will, of what form He will

take, of what demonstration He will have when He does come in

his Kingdom with power. In other words, what's happening

here on the Transfiguration was very much a manifestation of the

king and his glory, but it was a foreshadowing.

It was something that was real and true, but it was just a

glimpse, not the complete fulfillment of it.

And So what the disciples are actually experiencing here at

this time? Is in fact the appearance of

Christ in his glory a demonstration of his power, but

not the complete understanding and experience that awaits?

Why did Jesus choose to do this now?

Why at this point? And again, we have to look at

what he just finished saying. He told these disciples, who are

eagerly anticipating the Messiah to come in His splendor and

majesty, that he was going to suffer and die instead, and on

top of that. He looks at his closest

followers and he says you also must suffer.

You also each have a cross with your name on it.

Talk about blowing a bubble. Talk about being deflated.

Talk about being even tempted. To be discouraged.

You have this high anticipation, this high expectation that this

is the Messiah. We've seen his miracles, we've

seen his power. He's going to make his Kingdom

appear at any moment, and instead he hears, they hear,

namely, Peter as the leader as well.

I'm going to die, I'm going to suffer, I'm going to resurrect.

But you also, you're going to know some suffering for

following me. And then he makes this

statement. But some of you here, you're

going to see my Kingdom come with power.

I'm going to show you something. And the reason why he wants to

show them this, the reason why he's going to peel back the veil

and he's going to he's going to expose something of yet of yet

to come is because he wants to build them up.

He wants to encourage him. He wants to bring some level of

relief to them after hearing of the fate of the Messiah and

their fate as well. In other words, by Jesus now

coming and transfiguring before them, he's communicating

something in the immediate sense.

He wants the disciples to know. My death is not where it ends.

God's purpose and program does not end with death.

There is a glory to come. There is power to be realized.

There is a government that will indeed be introduced.

That will indeed be put into motion, and will never ever know

and end. And disciples, in order to build

your faith with that, in order for you to see the full and

complete picture of what this is all about, come with me.

Let me show you something of my glory.

Let me show you something of what is to come.

In other words, Jesus wants to come for them that their

expectation of this awesome Kingdom is not wrong.

It's just not yet. And so this is what the

disciples are going to realize. And they also would be

encouraged as they prepare to suffer themselves and understand

if we are to be martyred, if we are to be hated, if we are to be

persecuted. We are not giving our lives to

something that will not end up being glorious, that will not

end up being majestic and beautiful and dazzling.

We saw, we saw him on that mountain.

We saw what is to come, and they were able to be strengthened for

the suffering that is to come. May I remind you, in your

suffering, may I encourage you in your walk with Christ, with

whatever persecution you are enduring, whatever persecution

America will face in the coming years, that one way to

alleviate, one way to strengthen your soul is to contemplate much

on the glory of Jesus Christ. Keep your eyes on the last

chapter of the story. Remember what is to come.

Remember that this is not it. As much as we rejoice in the

finished work of Jesus Christ, his redemptive plan is not yet

finished. There is still something to

come. There's still fulfillment to be

realized. Focus on that.

Set your mind on things above and see what strength will come

to you. See what kind of what kind of

relief you will realize as the disciples were to realize and

this very moment. And that's why Peter says later

on in his One Epistle and First Peter one or Second Peter 116

rather. That we were eyewitnesses of His

What? Majesty.

We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty.

We saw His royalty. We.

Saw his authority, we saw. The magnificence of who he is.

We saw it, we beheld it, and he testifies it of it later to the

Christians, who also need to be encouraged by.

So how is the Lord going to now infuse this grace into them?

He takes his closest three Peter, James, John, and he goes

up to a high mountain until they are very isolated.

He stands before them, and we're told here in verse two that he

transfigured before them, transfigured before them.

The original word for transfer is where we get the word

metamorphosis. It's talking about a powerful,

all-encompassing kind of alteration, the same kind of

experience that a Caterpillar knows when it becomes a

butterfly. We're not talking here about

Jesus just slightly being enhanced.

We're talking about this complete sense of

transformation, physically speaking.

He transfigured before them, and every single gospel account

cannot help but comment on the whiteness of his clothes.

Mark says that no one on earth could bleach them.

You get the impression here that he's at loss of words, that when

Peter told him about what he saw, he's like, I can't, I can't

put language to just how pure and just how brilliant his

attire was, Matthew says. His face shone like the sun.

Luke says that his face was actually altered, so you almost

get the impression that this was a sight that left them somewhat

speechless. Clearly we saw the reaction.

They were terrified. There was this awe.

There was something so overwhelming about what they

perceived. Surely that's what's going to

happen when we see Him and His glory.

Surely we are going to be absolutely stunned.

I can't wait to see casual Christians see Jesus.

I can't wait to see what's going to be on their face when they

see Him come and all of his glory and might and strength and

2nd Thessalonians chapter one, verse 10.

We are told that when Jesus does come back for his Saints and

glory, you know what our response is going to be?

That he might be marveled. At just the sight of Christ is

going to cause us to stare at Him and wonder just who He is

and not not necessarily His words, just who He is with.

His presence will cause us to be an absolute awe.

And the Holy Spirit says in Second Thessalonians the Saints,

when he comes, will marvel at him, will marvel at him.

And there was a sense of that marveling here.

Here's Jesus now who just unleashes something and they are

now. In the light of this glory.

But Luke adds a detail that Mark doesn't mention that Matthew

doesn't mention. I don't want you to see it

because yes, the timing here. Is after he had taught about

suffering and the location here is on top of this mountain.

But Luke says Jesus was doing something right before he was

transfigured and I want to show it to you in Luke 9.

Look here with me in verse 29, Luke 929.

And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was

altered and his clothing became dazzling white.

You know what? Dazzling is?

Sparkling. There's a sparkle there.

But notice what Luke says as he was praying.

Luke loves to tell us about Jesus praying and his gospel

record. He tells us that Jesus was.

Praying at his baptism, he tells us that he is praying here.

And so what's now? We have again.

We have another piece to this. Yeah, the disciples were brought

up to the mountaintop. But Jesus, before them began to

pray, began to commune with the Father.

And the Holy Spirit wants to tell us that it was in the

praying that the transfiguration occurred.

Could Jesus have morphed without prayer?

Sure. Because this is not just an

observation, This is a detail for your instruction of mine.

There is a principle here, and I'm sure you're already aware of

it. Christ in his praying knew a

certain alteration. Is it any different for you and

I that there is a deeper conversion to be known?

There is a deeper transformation to experience?

There is a clear reflection to be known in the place of prayer,

in the place of being in the presence of God and seeking His

face. That's the instruction here.

That's the example that Christ provides as he was transfigured.

You also will know a change to a certain degree.

When you know how to sit before the Lord and allow the light of

His presence, allow the truth of His Word, allow your heart being

open before Him, for Him to speak into your life, and reveal

things to your conscience, and to make things known through His

Word to. You there is a special depth of

change that can be experienced in this place of prayer.

You will not know a deeper change unless you know how to

value genuine communion with God, and Jesus models that so

perfectly. There was a particular glory

that shined through him, and I see in the Bible that there is a

particular beauty that will be reflected on you and I.

When we choose to take our relationship with him seriously

in the place of prayer, there's something that he'll do in us

and through us that will shine brighter.

In the place of prayer, what are the psalmists say in Psalm 34?

He says something that I believe echoes the sentiment.

He says in verse four I sought the Lord and He answered me and

He delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him or what radiant and their faces will

never be ashamed. Those who look to Him are

radiant. The looking to him is not just a

sense of internal dependency. It's connected with verse 4.

There's a looking that is expressed in prayer.

I sought the Lord. I'm looking to the Lord.

And one of the rewards of that is that there is a radiance, A

radiance that comes with a confidence, a trust and

enjoyment in the person of Jesus Christ.

And and this kind of praying that Jesus prayed, I'm under the

impression that it wasn't like a microwave kind of prayer.

Can I show you how? You're still in Luke 9, right?

While Jesus was praying, what do you think the disciples were

doing? Any guess?

Look at verse 32. Now Peter and those who are with

him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake,

they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.

We seen them sleeping before in the garden, right?

And they were sleeping. According to the Gospels,

because of sorrow, their eyes were heavy with sorrow.

There's no indication here that they were sorrowful and that's

the reason why, though they could have been because they

were just told that the Messiah is going to suffer and they're

going to suffer. Maybe they were just emotionally

drained by that truth and they fell asleep.

Or could it be that Jesus was praying and taking his time that

they fell asleep Because of that, Jesus gave uninterrupted

patient fellowship with the Father and here he is in that

place with the Father. And the three disciples there

are sleeping, and it is in that moment, at one point where he is

transfigured. Can you imagine being asleep

while Jesus is being transfigured?

You know there are many Christians who can't see the

glory of Jesus Christ that they can't get excited about

something like Mark Chapter 9 because they're spiritually

Mark 9 · chapter mention

asleep. They've been lulled to sleep by

the love of the things of this world.

They've been stimulated to the point where they are distracted

and they can't see what Christ wants them to see.

I hope you're not spiritually asleep today.

I hope you're not getting bored by the revelation of the

awesomeness of Christ. If any of us are.

May the Lord have mercy and wake us up so that we can see just

how amazing He is. And so we see here that there is

the timing of the miracle. It was after he taught about the

suffering of him himself and the suffering of the disciples.

It was while he was praying. But now we come to something

interesting, and it's the companions of the miracle.

Peter, James, and John were not the only ones in attendance.

They were not the only ones who were invited to this event,

verse four of Mark 9 tells us. And there appeared to them

Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

That's. It's not every day Moses and

Elijah show up. Especially when they haven't

been on earth for thousands and hundreds of years.

Moses and Elijah appear on the scene.

And this is not by their own volition.

This is not by their own will. Clearly, God had ordained and

planned and scheduled their appearance here on this

mountain. This was planned.

This was staged, so to speak. It this was intentional?

And the question I'm sure that's running through your mind is

why? Why Maybe more than the how,

some would say, how did Moses and Elijah appear?

But I think the common question is why, out of the great roster

of all the Old Testament Saints, why is it that Moses and Elijah

were the ones who were summoned to stand with the transfigured

Christ and to talk with him? So they weren't standing there

stoic like statues. They appeared and there's a

conversation going on. And I believe there are a few

reasons why it was Moses and Elijah who appeared on the

scene. Consider this one, the further

confirmation of the identity of Christ.

A further confirmation of the identity of Christ.

What did Jesus ask the disciples?

Not too far back, he asked them. Who do people say that I am?

Look back here in Mark chapter eight.

Look at verse 27. Jesus went on to his disciples

in the villages of Sister Philippi, and on the way he

asked his disciples, who do people say that I am?

And they told them John the Baptist and others say Elijah

and others. One of the prophets, Peter

rightly confessed the identity of Jesus Christ and Jesus

praised Peter because of that There was number confusion among

him or the disciples concerning who he is as Messiah.

But if there was any confusion, if there was any confusion,

surely it's clarified now that you have Jesus standing there

and who's beside him? Elijah.

They ain't the same person and he's not one of the prophets.

He's not even one of the greatest of prophets, Elijah and

even Moses himself. Jesus is unique, and not only is

unique, He's greater than Moses. He's greater than Elijah.

He stands alone. He's in a category all by

himself. And so even through this

indirectly, there is somewhat of a further confirmation of the

identity of Jesus Christ. But there's another kind of

confirmation, not of the identity of Christ per se, but

of the testimony of Christ. The Pharisees love to come up

with excuses not to listen to Jesus, not to consider him as a

candidate for the Messiah that they supposedly were

anticipating, and one of their favorite deflections, one of the

favorite things that the the Pharisees want to do whenever

they were confronted with messianic evidence was appeal to

Moses. Say, what do I mean by that?

Let me show you in John Chapter 9.

John 9 · chapter mention

In John Chapter 9, after the man born blind was healed, there's

John 9 · chapter mention

this investigation that goes on because they want to know how

did this happen. And when it came to the

Pharisees who interviewed this man, they said something in John

928. There's a lot of Bible today, so

I'm encouraged to hear the flipping of those pages.

John 928 Look at what these men say.

And they reviled him, saying You are his disciple.

But we are who? The disciples of Moses.

Verse 29. We know that God has spoken to

Moses, but As for this man, we don't know where he comes from.

There's just like, scorning him. Who's this Jesus?

Where did he come from? What's his reputation?

What's his testimony? We're followers of Moses.

We pledge our allegiance to him. And so as a deflection, they

appeal to the authority of Moses.

They appeal to the Scriptures concerning Moses, the events

tied to Moses. And So what happens on the Mount

of Transfiguration? Elijah shows up.

And who else shows up? Moses.

And what does Moses do? By standing and talking with

him, We're going to find out what they talked about.

He is now witnessing to Christ. He is now affirming that this is

indeed the one that I have spoken of.

This is indeed the one that I pointed to.

I'm not in disagreement with this Jesus.

I pointed to this Jesus. There's no confliction here.

There's no two camps here. God spoke of a prophet to come.

God spoke of a prophet to come, and you shall listen to him, and

this is him. And so the appearance of Moses

is somewhat of a rebuke to the Jewish leaders and to all who

would try to hide and shield themselves behind him, and how

he was a mediator of their covenant.

Now Moses shows up. Says no, no, no.

It's about Christ. I bear witness that his

testimony is true, and so we have a confirmation in their

appearance of the testimony of Christ.

But that's not the only confirmation.

We also have the confirmation of the ability of Christ.

And so here's Jesus now, manifesting His glory and

allowing that manifestation to comfort the disciples.

That OK, he will die, He will suffer many things, but he will

come back again. And when he come back, when He

comes back, He will conquer and He will defeat all of our

enemies, and he will rule and reign forever and ever and ever.

But that's not the only message that Jesus sought to convey.

Because the appearance of Moses and Elijah was also a message in

itself. When they appeared, there was

also something that they could comfort themselves in concerning

their future glory. Not just the glory of the king,

but the glory of the Saints. Elijah and Moses are alive after

hundreds and hundreds of years. Elijah and Moses are alive and

they're communing with Christ. Elijah most alive.

And they they never cease to really live.

They're they're still here, existing and vibrant and lively.

So when Christ comes to give him a taste of the Kingdom of the

power to come, he's also giving them the encouragement that the

Saints will also rule and reign with him.

The Saints will also live with him, be with him, commune with

him. So they had a hope for their

tomorrow as well. How did Moses die?

He died. He died.

How did Elijah enter into the presence of God?

Did he die? There's something there as well.

Most had died a real death. Elijah entered into the presence

of God in a very unique way. How does the scripture portray

the Saints in their entrance of the glory?

Well, some of us will die. But what is first lesson only in

four say that some will be caught up in the air, some will

not die when he comes, and they will meet him in the air.

And so you even have that kind of a picture there going on with

Moses and Elijah. There are some Saints who will

die real death physically, but will be brought into his arms.

And there are some who will not die, and they will meet the Lord

in the air. And so there's resurrection hope

here. There's encouragement here.

Oh, there's so much more. I wish I can park here.

I wish I can just park here with Moses and Elijah.

Because there's so many other sub points.

Let me give you one to consider. What was Moses's burning desire

in the book of Exodus, Chapter 33, Chapter 34, After he was

Exodus 33 · chapter mention

assured that the presence of God would go with him in Israel into

the Promised Land, that was not enough for Moses.

Moses said, please what? Show me your glory.

There's more to you that I want to know.

There's more to you that I want to discover.

And God was willing to grant that request, but with caution.

You will see something of my glory, but you cannot.

What? You can't see my face.

So hide in the cleft of the rock and I will put my hand there to

cover you, and you will see my backside.

Moses is more than willing to take what he can get, but oh,

Jesus is so merciful and gracious.

Why? Because we're told here that

here's Jesus in his glory and his face is shining.

And who's in the presence of this glory?

Moses. Now he's standing in the glory

of God with an unveiled face. Jesus didn't hide his face from

Moses at this point. What was another desire of

Moses? Oh Lord, would you please allow

me go to the Promised Land? No.

Enough. Stop asking me about this.

OK? Where is Moses standing now?

He's in the Promised Land. Isn't God gracious?

Is any merciful? So we have the companions.

We have the companions of this miracle here, Moses and Elijah.

And finally, they confirm one last thing.

They not just confirm his identity.

They don't just confirm his testimony.

They don't just confirm his ability, they confirm the

centrality of Christ. There is a way of summarizing

the library of the Old Testament.

The Hebrew scriptures and Jesus tells us how the Jews understood

a summary of the description of the scriptures.

You know what he said when he talked about the first greatest

commandment and the second greatest commandment?

He says on these two. Commitments is what the Law and

the Prophets made-up. The Law and the Prophets.

If you want the reference to, that's in Matthew 22 and Matthew

Matthew 22:40

22 verse 40. I believe on these two

commandments we have the law and the prophets.

Moses represents the law. Elijah represents the prophets.

Jesus now standing with them is proclaiming that he is a

fulfillment that all that the prophets pointed to, all that

the Law spoke of Christ is the substance.

All the promises, all the pictures, all the prophecies in

the entire library of the Word of God is now here in the flesh.

He's here the centrality of Jesus Christ.

This is what we've been waiting and longing for.

He is now here before you standing and we're told here

that they were talking. Moses, Elijah and Jesus.

What were they talking about? The disciples sleeping?

What were they discussing? What were they conversing?

The Bible tells us what they were talking about.

And Luke Chapter 9. If you want to know what they

Luke 9 · chapter mention

were talking about, look at verse 30 and verse 31.

It says here in Luke 930 to 31 and behold, 2 men were talking

with him, Moses and Elijah. We cover that who appeared in

glory and spoke of his departure, spoke of his

departure, which was about to be accomplished at Jerusalem.

The Greek word for departure is Exodus.

So what was the main theme of their conversation?

Jesus's. Exit from this world through his

death and resurrection. That's what they were talking

about. But what were they talking

about? I I just, I I had a joy just

kicking back and thinking about that Moses and Elijah talking

with Jesus about his plan of salvation.

Were they encouraging him? Were they praising and adoring

him? Was Jesus in return in the

conversation, illuminating more things to them?

Remember we we heard from brother Mark earlier that the

prophets wondered at what time at what point these things were

to occur. I wonder if Jesus here in this

moment is telling them the greater details of his exodus.

Moses led an exodus the people of Israel from Egypt slavery

under fair Jesus. Is Exodus going to conquer death

so that we can be delivered from Satan and?

They're talking about his Exodus.

How can you be asleep? Guys wake up.

Disciples are snoring. How can you be asleep?

But finally they did wake up. They woke up and Jesus standing

before them with these two Saints invokes and Peter a

response. Now we look at the response of

the miracle. Look at verse 5.

And Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we are here.

Let us make 3 tents, one for you and one for Moses, and 1:00 for

Elijah. Oh Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter.

Peter's clearly excited. Not only is he excited, but

we're told here that they spoke out of terror.

He didn't know what to say, so he just, in his fear gave some

kind of suggestion. It's a very.

Bad idea to make decisions when you're emotional.

Don't let your emotions rule you.

Don't let them determine your response and your reaction to

things. May the Holy Spirit help us to

restrain ourselves and to be people who govern ourselves

according to His word and truth more than what we feel in a

moment, no matter how overwhelming those feelings are.

Peter's Peter's terrified. But he's not just saying

anything. He's not just saying anything.

And that's how some people interpret this, that Peter just

kind of randomly uttered something with no value or

significance. And to those who wouldn't say

that, to say no, Peter is actually saying something, They

would say that he's just attempting to be hospitable

here, right? Here's Jesus Moslem, Elijah,

we'll make some tense if you guys want to stay, we'll make

this as much as as comfortable as possible for you.

Peter is not even trying to be hospitable here.

Peter knows his Bible. And though he misinterpreted

many things, he was aware of some things.

And he was especially aware concerning the Messianic age

when Christ would rule and reign on the earth.

He He loved those prophecies. And there is a prophecy in the

book of Zachariah that tells us what will happen when Jesus

Christ comes in his Second Advent, What will occur on the

earth? What will be recognized?

What will be celebrated? We get clues and indications of

what life will be when Jesus rules and reigns on the earth.

And I want to show you one thing that Peter connected with when

he said this. Go to Zechariah 14 with me,

please. And in verse 16.

Now, mind you, this is speaking about when Jesus returns to the

earth in judgment, in vengeance and glory.

And what are we told in Zechariah 1416 then?

Everyone who survives of all the nations in light of His judgment

on the earth that have come against Jerusalem.

We'd read that in book of in the Book of Revelation, don't we?

The nation's coming against Jerusalem shall go up year after

year to worship the king, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the

feast of booths. So some of the the vitical

feasts will be recognized during the millennial reign, not all of

them. Some of them.

And one of them will be the feasts of booths.

And during the feasts of booths, the Jews would actually create

booths or tents as a way of rehearsing God's faithfulness

and protection during the wilderness.

But more than that, then being settled and God being in their

midst. And so here's how Peter is

interpreting what's happening. Jesus is making his glory known,

and I can imagine what was in his heart.

Oh, this is it. Yes.

He's not going to suffer. Here's the Here's what we've

been waiting for. This is what we've been asking

for. Hallelujah.

Here's Jesus in his glory. Oh, we got some old Saints now

that are here. This is the moment.

Let's get our tents ready, because in Zachary 1416, he says

that if we're going to worship the king when he comes, we're

going to worship him with the feast of booth.

So we'll get one for you, we'll get one for you, we'll get one

for you. This is it.

And what's so funny actually, is that you can imagine Peter's

angst, because in Luke's version, we're told here in Luke

933 and Luke 933, we're told, And as the men were parting from

him, who are the men? Moses and Elijah.

As the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus,

Master, it is good that we are here.

So imagine this. Now you have the three, the, the

crust coming out of their eyes. You have Jesus, Moses and

Elijah. And at this point Moses and

Elijah are walking away. And Peter registers this enough

to realize, oh, this is this is Jesus coming with power.

This is Jesus coming. Glory and Moses.

No, no, no, no. It's good that we're here.

No, no, no. Come, come.

I'll have a 10 for you all, but don't leave.

Please don't leave. Peter still didn't get it.

Peter still after the rebuke. Get behind me, Satan, after the

clear teaching. He's still holding on to this

idea that Christ is not going to suffer and die, and when Jesus

gives them hope for tomorrow, some kind of revelation to

prepare them for their own suffering and his suffering,

Peters completely misinterprets it.

And he thinks that Jesus is coming full-fledged now, yes.

Here's some tense Let's do this. And this is not the only

response to this miracle, because there is another

response that comes now. There's another interjection.

There's another intervention. Not by Moses, not by Elijah.

Not even by the Lord Jesus himself.

What are read of verse 7? And a cloud overshadowed them.

And a voice came out of the cloud.

This is my beloved son. Listen to him.

Well, that makes sense in light of Peter's response, right?

Let's build some tents. And who comes to correct Peter?

God the Father overshadowing the scene.

You're not listening. This is my beloved son.

Listen to him. Listen to him and one gospel

account, it says. While Peter was speaking, the

cloud came. So the Lord of glory, the Father

intervenes with this cloud. And this is not some random

mist. This is not some kind of curtain

closing to this miracle. A cloud here is intentional.

Has God appeared in a cloud before?

Oh, if you know the Old Testament, yes.

More than once. Many times has the Lord appeared

in the cloud. And not only has He appeared in

the cloud, there was some significant moments where He

appeared in the cloud. And through that cloud of voice

came and the most. I can't think of a more

significant event than an Exodus 19 on Mount Sinai.

When God called Moses to prepare the nation of Israel to appear

before him, and God would manifest in his power and might,

and one of the manifestations would indeed be a cloud, a thick

cloud, we are told in Exodus 19. And when that cloud descended

upon that mountain, a voice came through.

And the reason for that display of glory was to affirm was to

define, was to sign off on the law that would be given as a

covenant was being established. In other words when God came

with that cloud on Mount Sinai, he was demonstrating to the

people of the authority of the law.

This is coming from heaven. This is coming from me.

This is not man made. I'm showing you that this law is

authoritative, and I bear witness to this law in this

covenant. And you'll be held accountable

based on how you respond to it. Now what do we see?

Years, hundreds of years go by. And here's Jesus now and Jesus

Christ. He's on a mountain.

And while he's on a mountain, a cloud comes and covers him, and

a voice speaks through the Where do we see that?

Exodus 19A. Cloud comes and a voice comes

through the cloud. What do we see here?

In Mark chapter 9A, cloud comes and a voice is spoken through.

Why did God the Father choose to manifest himself in this way?

For the same reason why He did back in Exodus 19, to show to

the disciples. Then the same way I manifested

to give authority and to sign off on the legitimacy of the

law. I'm doing now the same for my

son. Listen to him.

Listen to him. Listen to him.

He has authority. I've set my seal upon him.

And so now we see this Old Testament, imagery.

Mountain Cloud, Voice. Covenant, New Testament, Jesus,

mountain, cloud. He's ready to give a new

covenant. And a cloud overshadowed them

And voice came out of the cloud. This is my beloved son.

Listen to him. Here's where we're ending.

What Matthew said concerning the father statement is a little bit

expanded and compares it to Mark.

I want you to see it in Matthew 17, verse five,

he was still speaking when behold, a bright cloud

overshadowed them in a voice from the cloud said, This is my

beloved son with whom I am well. Pleased listen to him, Matthew

adds, with whom I am well, pleased.

Now we look at this and we see that the Father bears witness of

the Son. We see that He expresses the

divine nature of the Son. This is my beloved Son.

Not just the divine nature of the Son, but the divine love

that the Father shared with the Son.

And this is him telling the disciples who would carry on the

message of Christ. Listen to him, stop mishearing

what he's saying. Understand that.

He is the one that you've been waiting for.

He is the one that I put my seal on.

He is the one that is going to bring in a new covenant.

Look, you're on the mountain. Here's the cloud.

Isn't this ring of Bell disciples?

I was talking to my dad about this last night.

He brought up something that I thought, wow, that's so

significant. This statement in itself is is

profound on its own, but there's much more to it if you really

look at it. What the father says of the son

is dripping. Absolutely dripping with Old

Testament relevance, Old Testament truth, particularly

concerning Jesus Christ. In other words, I argue before

you today that when the Father says this is my beloved Son with

whom I am well pleased, listen to him was a strategic statement

that for the careful I would see that these are components within

the Hebrew Bible that pointed to Jesus Christ.

In other words, this is a profound statement that is in

essence an echo in echo, something that you have read if

you have covered the Old Testament.

And when the father says this, there should be something in you

that goes, I kind of heard something similar to this.

I've kind of seen something close to this.

If you do the work, you realize the father is saying something

even deeper than just what he is offering on the surface.

So let's take a breath, right. A lot of scripture, a lot of

turning. This is my beloved Son with whom

I am well pleased. Listen to him.

You ready? Psalm Chapter 2, verse seven.

Psalms 2 · chapter mention

We're going to turn to three places, and I promise you we're

ending Psalm, Chapter 2, verse 7.

Psalms 2:7

Psalm 27 I will tell of the decree the Lord said to me, You

are my son. Today I have begotten you who

fulfilled the Psalm Jesus fulfilled in more than one

place. Is this Psalm quoted and is

given to Christ. You are my son.

Hold on to that. You are my son.

Go to Isaiah 42. Isaiah 42 verse one you are my

son. Isaiah 42 verse one.

This is a messianic prophecy. This is pointing to Jesus

Christ. And notice what God says about

his servant, the person of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 42 one. Behold, my servant whom I

uphold, my chosen in whom my soul delights, in whom my soul

delights. Here is the Father, expressing

his deep pleasure in the service and obedience that the Son would

walk in when he would enter into this world.

My soul delights in him. Psalm 27.

You are my son. Isaiah 42 One the servant of God

with whom my soul delights. Last place, Deuteronomy chapter

Deuteronomy 18:15

18, verse 15. Deuteronomy 1815.

This is a known prophecy concerning Christ.

The Lord your God will raise up for you A prophet like me.

Moses says from among you, from from your brothers.

It is to him you shall listen. What did the Father say when

that cloud overshadowed Christ? This is my beloved Son with whom

I am well pleased. Listen to him.

And here you have the statement of Jesus being the Son and

Psalm. 2 Here you have a statement of God expressing his

pleasure for the servant of God and Isaiah 42 One.

And here you have in Deuteronomy God telling Moses that there is

a prophet to come to him. You shall listen.

You know what's significant about the locations of each of

those components? Each of those expressions and

signs some. Isaiah the prophet Deuteronomy,

the law, Psalm prophet law, Psalm prophet law.

I don't know if it clicked if it didn't click.

When Jesus in the end of Luke 24 appears before his disciples in

his resurrected form, you don't have to turn there.

Let me read to you what Jesus said to his disciples, he said

in Luke 24 verse 44. This he said to him.

Luke 24:44

These are my words, that I spoke to you while I was still with

you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and

the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

Here's the Father. This is my beloved Son, with

whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.

This is the one that the Psalms spoke about.

This is the one that the Prophet spoke about.

This is the one that the law spoke about.

This is him. Now listen and suddenly verse

eight of Mark 9 looking around, they no longer saw anyone with

him but Jesus only. It's all about Jesus when you

read the prophets. It's about Jesus.

When you read the Psalms points to Jesus when you read the law.

Even in the law. Yeah, the law that we feel

nervous about. The law that we think is boring,

even in the law. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

And here's the Father saying, this is him.

This is him. Is any worthy of worship, Is any

worthy of adoration. Is your heart not moved to see

that what you have in your hands, what you just heard in

the past hour and a few minutes is a supernatural reality.

Oh, I pray that God would receive glory and what we heard

today. That we would love him, obey

him, and listen. Listen to him.

Lord, would you help us this afternoon as we look to you in

your word, thanking you for the glories of the Transfiguration?

We pray oh now that you would help us worship you

appropriately based on the truth that we have heard.

Thank you. Thank you, Lord, that we are

people who can open your book without fear of persecution.

That you can speak in ways that we never thought.

We are amazed. We stand amazed.

Help us remember your glory, the glory to come, the glory that we

will know and share with you. When you do come, and you will

come. Our cry is Maranatha.

Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.