WEBVTT

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 Now, have any of you ever flipped to the end of a book and read the last page?

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 I know some people who do this religiously.

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 They pick a book off the shelf, they read the first page, and then they flip to the last page.

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 And that's rather controversial among people who read books, but some people swear by it.

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 Now, I've confessed I have sometimes read something at the end of a book.

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 About a year ago, I was reading Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose.

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 And I was absolutely engrossed by this murder mystery set in 14th century and how it was set in this ostensibly idyllic monastery.

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 But this monastery was filled with murders, intrigue, history, hidden labyrinths, conspiracies.

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 And I greatly enjoyed this book, and I really savored it.

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 And I was slowly trying to figure out who, which one of these monks was responsible for all of these murders.

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 But one day, I was flipping through the book, and my eyes accidentally landed on the first line of the final chapter.

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 And I couldn't help but read it.

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 And it was this, the abbey burned for three days and three nights.

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 Now, I didn't know how the rest of the book was precisely going to turn out.

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 But I knew something was going to happen.

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 I knew that this ostensibly peaceful monastery was going to burn to the ground.

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 And even though I wanted to forget that line, I couldn't.

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 And I enjoyed the rest of the book.

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 It's one of my favorite books.

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 But I did have something in the story slightly spoiled for me.

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 I read with new eyes.

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 I couldn't help but read each page in light of what was coming.

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 And while this passage that we've just read is in many ways like we have just skipped to the end of our Bibles.

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 Like we have read a chapter from the book of Revelation.

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 And all of a sudden, we see Jesus in new light.

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 We see Him in His own glorious light.

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 And from this point on, we cannot help but read Luke's gospel with this passage in mind.

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 But this is a vision of the end that we don't have to cheat to get.

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 It's not that we flip to the end of our Bibles and we read things out of order.

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 Luke is putting this deliberately right here in his gospel.

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 Right before Jesus travels to Jerusalem.

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 He wants us to see Jesus clothed in His majesty.

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 You know, we would be doing Luke's gospel an injustice if we tried to forget this vision took place

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 and just read the rest of his gospel like there was no transfiguration.

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 From this point on, we are supposed to read Luke's gospel with a sense of who Jesus really is.

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 And so what I want us to do is as we look at this passage today, I want us to see this vision of Jesus.

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 I want us to see this vision of Jesus because it's not simply what we need as we read the rest of Luke's gospel.

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 It's what we need to have in mind whenever we think about our Savior.

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 And so what we're going to be doing is we're going to be looking through this passage

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 to see three things it shows us about Jesus Christ.

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 Three things it reveals about our Savior.

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 These are truths that should forever change the way we read Scripture and the way we see Jesus.

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 And the first thing I want you to see, and most basically,

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 is that here we see Jesus as God incarnate.

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 We see Jesus as God in the flesh.

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 Now up to this point, Luke has spent a great deal of time telling us that Jesus is human.

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 He gives us one of the longest accounts of Jesus' birth.

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 He even mentions his circumcision.

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 He talks about how Jesus is baptized.

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 He presents him constantly having face-to-face conversations.

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 He's eating.

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 He's sleeping.

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 He's praying.

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 And all of these things are physical.

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 They involve Jesus' human body.

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 No one can read Luke's gospel and think that this is some sort of ghost or apparition.

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 He was really and truly human.

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 And certainly, Luke has also been telling us that Jesus is more than human.

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 Both we as readers and the disciples themselves,

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 they have heard Jesus say divine words and speak with divine authority and power.

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 In Luke's gospel, when Jesus says things, things happen.

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 Things that only God can do.

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 That only God does in Scripture.

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 Things like still, the winds, and the waves.

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 He says things that only God can say.

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 He forgives sins.

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 But in the transfiguration, we have something different.

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 Hear the disciples not only hear with their ears, but see with their eyes.

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 Jesus being divine.

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 Suddenly, Jesus' disciples wake up from their dozing prayers.

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 And they discover his face and his clothing are changed.

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 They have now become dazzling white.

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 So it's hard to look at.

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 This is a divine glory.

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 Jesus is blazing with uncreated light like a beacon.

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 He does not have a flashlight in his pocket.

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 There is no special light show here.

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 This is simply Jesus' face radiating.

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 His clothes radiating.

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 This cloud comes and engulfs Jesus and his light so that his disciples are too terrified to really draw close to him.

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 This is a glory that we see described throughout the Old Testament as only belonging to God.

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 It's the same glory that Moses glimpsed in Exodus 33 when he asked to see a portion of God's glory.

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 He saw the back of God on Mount Sinai.

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 And this glory cloud is the same, shining with the same light as what entered into the tabernacle

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 and what entered into the temple and dwelt above the mercy seat.

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 This is a light that only the high priest would see once per year and only after filling the entire room with incense

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 lest he capture just too much of a glimpse of this glory.

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 And Peter here, he instinctively understands that this is a divine glory, which is why he responds the way he does.

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 If you look at verse 33,

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 Master, it is good that we come here.

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 Let's make three shelters.

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 One for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for you.

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 His reaction is precisely what you would expect from a young Jewish boy who has really mastered his Old Testament catechism.

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 He knows what to do when he sees divine glory.

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 What do you do with divine glory in the Old Testament?

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 You put it in a tabernacle.

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 And the word you have in your Bible is either tent or shelter, depending on the version.

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 That is the Greek word for tabernacle.

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 He is proposing building a tabernacle like the Old Testament tabernacle and putting Jesus inside it.

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 Peter wants simultaneously for this glory to dwell with him, but also to keep it slightly far away so that it doesn't destroy him, like in the tabernacle.

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 And yet Peter's reaction, as much as we can say it's rooted in a sort of standard Jewish understanding of things from the Old Testament,

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 this is a pretty good answer when you're waking up sleep deprived, and if you're going to give a wrong answer, this is a good one.

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 But he's misunderstood things.

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 They don't need to build a tabernacle for Jesus.

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 He has been tabernacling with them the entire time.

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 As it says in John 1, 14,

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 And the word became flesh, or literally tabernacled, among us.

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 And we have seen his glory full of grace and truth.

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 Jesus is tabernacling.

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 His tabernacling is his taking on of flesh.

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 He is dwelling among us.

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 As Paul says in Philippians 2, 6, and 7,

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 Though he was in the form of God,

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 Jesus took the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

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 In other words, hiding his glory.

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 In just a few moments, or a few minutes,

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 this tabernacling is going to continue.

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 The glory is going to be concealed once again.

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 Jesus is going to walk down the mountain with feet that are clothed,

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 not with glory, but with dust.

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 With calloused feet, one foot in front of another,

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 like any other man in his day.

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 But just because that glory is gone from sight,

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 doesn't mean that it's not there.

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 From this point on, Peter, James, and John

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 know what is behind the veil, so to speak.

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 They have a glimpse of who Jesus is.

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 They have seen him as both God and man.

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 From this point on, Jesus is going to go to Jerusalem.

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 He's going to be crucified, die, and be buried.

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 Outwardly, these three disciples are going to see

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 everything the other disciples are going to be seeing.

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 They're going to see Jesus put one foot in front of another.

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 They're going to see Jesus be nailed to a cross.

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 They're going to see his body carried to a tomb.

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 But for these three, it has new significance.

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 Jesus is going to suffer as the King of glory.

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 He's going to be crowned not with light,

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 but with a crown of thorns.

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 And they understand that the Lord of life

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 is about to be nailed to the cross

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 and suffer the pains of death.

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 What we are called to do is read the gospel story

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 like Peter, James, and John who experienced it.

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 When you see Christ suffering on the cross,

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 you need to know who is there suffering on your behalf.

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 No matter how much the glory may be obscured

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 by the wormwood and the gall,

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 the one who is nailed there

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 is the one who is upholding the universe

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 by the word of his power.

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 The one that the Bible says

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 is the one for whom and by whom all things exist.

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 And someone like that

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 is only on the cross

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 because he wants to be.

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 The second person of the Trinity

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 is suffering for you

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 as a Jewish peasant

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 mocked and jeered to his dying breath for you.

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 You are called to behold Jesus there

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 in his suffering glory

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 filled with love and wonder

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 because of the glory that lies beneath that suffering.

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 And if you see that,

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 then you will be changed.

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 It is a vision that changed Peter.

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 It stuck with him throughout the rest of his life.

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 He says this in 2 Peter 1, 16-18

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 which he wrote as an old man.

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 For we do not follow cleverly devised myths

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 when we made known to you

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 the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 But we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

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 For when he received honor and glory

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 from God the Father

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 and the voice was born to him

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 by the majestic glory

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 this is my beloved son

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 with whom I am well pleased.

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 We ourselves heard this very voice

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 born from heaven

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 for we were with him on the holy mountain.

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 When you're walking through a forest

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 it's actually quite difficult

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 to walk in a straight line.

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 It takes a fair amount of skill

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 to figure out how to walk in a straight line

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 in the forest.

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 If you're all on your own

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 you often end up veering to one side or another

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 and if you're

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 it's a really thick forest

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 and it's really obscure

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 and you're really unskilled

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 you can even end up

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 wandering in an entire circle.

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 And that's because people go through forests

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 and they usually go from tree to tree

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 and they just say well I'm going to go

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 from that point to that point to that point.

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 And they lose all sense of perspective.

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 The way you get through a forest

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 is you focus on a single tree

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 or a landmark way off in the distance

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 and you pick that point

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 and you walk straight towards it.

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 When you get there

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 you pick another point

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 lined up just the same way

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 and you have to be very careful.

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 You need something in the distance

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 to focus on

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 in order to not become lost.

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 Well what we're supposed to focus on

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 in the Christian life

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 is our love of Christ.

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 It's that which makes sense of everything

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 everything we do

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 everything we experience.

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 And if you want to grow

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 in your love of Christ

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 then you need to focus your eyes

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 upon His glory

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 and upon His suffering in glory.

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 Because when you behold

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 Christ's suffering in glory

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 then you will understand

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 that the reason Christ was there

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 on that cross

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 was because of His love for you.

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 You see in Him a love

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 that as the Apostle says

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 bears all things

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 believes all things

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 hopes all things

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 and endures all things.

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 And seeing that

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 will change you.

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 It will stick with you

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 just like it did with Peter.

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 The gospel story

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 will take on

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 new significance

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 new power.

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 Your love for your Savior

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 will grow

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 it will get into your bones

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 it will begin to pour out

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 of you.

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 You will naturally seek

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 to love your neighbor

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 because of your love for Christ.

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 You will love your spouse

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 as Christ loved the church

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 and you will love the church

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 because the church

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 is the apple of His eye.

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 But if you want those things

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 and you want to be loving

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 to those around you

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 you need to see

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 His glory first.

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 You need to focus

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 on that

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 and everything else

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 falls into place.

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 But the second thing

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 I want you to see

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 in this passage

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 is not simply

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 Jesus as God incarnate.

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 I want you to see

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 that in this passage

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 Jesus

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 comes as the greater

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 Moses and Elijah.

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 Jesus is not simply

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 there on the mountaintop

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 by Himself

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 blazing with light

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 like a lighthouse.

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 No, there are two other figures

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.000
 who appear there

00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:08.779
 as well.

00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.759
 There's Moses

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.779
 and Elijah.

00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:13.179
 Now, why those two?

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.580
 This is a question

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:16.039
 that's debated a lot

00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:17.439
 and perhaps it's because

00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:18.299
 Jesus is the fulfillment

00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:19.000
 of the law

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.139
 of Moses

00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:22.259
 and He's also the fulfillment

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:22.939
 of the prophets.

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.700
 Elijah symbolizes

00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:25.220
 the prophets.

00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:25.919
 That's possible.

00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:27.679
 It's also possible

00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.939
 that Moses

00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:30.199
 is the premier example

00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:30.799
 of a prophet

00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.459
 and Elijah

00:15:31.459 --> 00:15:32.839
 he is the example

00:15:32.839 --> 00:15:33.299
 of someone

00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:34.559
 who turns the hearts

00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:36.299
 back to God

00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.379
 and He brings in

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.039
 the new heavens

00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:38.579
 and the new earth

00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:39.399
 and He brings in

00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:40.219
 the Messiah.

00:15:40.439 --> 00:15:41.319
 That's also possible.

00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:42.419
 I think those are

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.259
 perfectly reasonable

00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:43.899
 explanations.

00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:45.459
 I don't want to get lost

00:15:45.459 --> 00:15:46.500
 in those details though.

00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.899
 What I want you to see

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:49.879
 is that Jesus came

00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:51.039
 to fulfill the work

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.439
 of Moses and Elijah.

00:15:52.599 --> 00:15:53.759
 He came to be

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.439
 a better prophet,

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:57.559
 be the ultimate prophet.

00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:00.179
 Now what do prophets do?

00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:01.859
 Well they reveal

00:16:01.859 --> 00:16:03.000
 the will of God

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.419
 to His people.

00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.699
 They tell the people

00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:06.859
 who God is

00:16:06.859 --> 00:16:07.799
 and what He wants.

00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:09.319
 Prophets are the one

00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:10.579
 they commune with God.

00:16:10.979 --> 00:16:11.599
 They come back

00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:12.799
 and they tell people

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:14.259
 what He said

00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:15.659
 and what they need to know.

00:16:15.979 --> 00:16:17.059
 They have God's ear

00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:18.179
 and they listen to Him.

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:20.679
 They listen to every word.

00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:24.120
 But the great irony

00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.659
 of Moses and Elijah

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.519
 is that even though

00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.379
 they are prophets,

00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.799
 even though they are

00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:31.379
 great legendary prophets

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:33.600
 who reveal the will of God

00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:35.039
 on a daily basis,

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.500
 they still longed

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:39.439
 to have a greater revelation

00:16:39.439 --> 00:16:40.639
 of Him

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.019
 than they possessed.

00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.919
 Their ministry,

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.679
 as great as it was,

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:48.439
 left them wanting more.

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:50.559
 Both wanted God

00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:52.240
 to reveal Himself to them

00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.980
 more clearly.

00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:56.799
 Now this mountaintop

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.639
 transfiguration

00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.299
 is what Moses and Elijah

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:01.139
 have been looking for

00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.680
 their entire earthly lives.

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.539
 They have been longing

00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:04.039
 and hoping

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.400
 for this moment.

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.740
 Both are men

00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:09.700
 who wanted to meet God

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.640
 more fully.

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.579
 Now Moses seems

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.359
 to have been interested

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:15.240
 very much in seeing God.

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.920
 God.

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:18.059
 Hebrews 11, 27

00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:18.740
 says this,

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.480
 By faith he left Egypt

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.980
 not being afraid

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:23.079
 of the anger of the king

00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.039
 for he endured

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.539
 as seeing Him

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:27.039
 who is invisible.

00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.940
 His eyes were focused

00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:30.079
 on the invisible God.

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:32.000
 And then in Exodus 33,

00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:32.660
 as we read,

00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:34.460
 Moses takes his shot

00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.839
 and he asks,

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.319
 Can I see you?

00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:40.120
 Can I see your glory?

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.200
 Can I have a glimpse

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.420
 of the glory

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:44.340
 of this invisible God?

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.720
 Now Elijah

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.700
 is very similar.

00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.680
 At the lowest point

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.380
 of his life,

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:52.620
 when he is despairing

00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.019
 of Israel,

00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:54.460
 ever turning back

00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.620
 to God,

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:57.220
 he goes into the wilderness,

00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:58.200
 he travels

00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:00.680
 to Mount Horeb

00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.800
 and he wants

00:18:01.800 --> 00:18:02.960
 to meet with God

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.380
 and to speak with Him.

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:07.300
 They both hid in caves

00:18:07.300 --> 00:18:08.660
 on the same mountain.

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.160
 They may have even hidden

00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:12.019
 in the same cave.

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:14.440
 And Moses saw

00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.320
 the glory of God

00:18:15.320 --> 00:18:16.560
 pass by obliquely

00:18:16.560 --> 00:18:17.039
 and in part.

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:19.200
 Elijah heard God

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:21.080
 come in a low whisper,

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:21.800
 not in thunder

00:18:21.800 --> 00:18:22.560
 and lightning.

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:23.920
 Both of them

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.539
 came out of the cave

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.700
 with their faces covered

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.259
 to make sure

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.820
 that they don't get

00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:29.200
 too much of a glimpse

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.340
 of this glory.

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.180
 And so both of them

00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:33.100
 can say partially

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.960
 their wish

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.680
 has been granted.

00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:36.660
 Moses is able

00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:37.160
 to go away

00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:38.340
 saying that he has seen

00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.779
 the back of God.

00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.940
 Elijah is able

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.860
 to go away

00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:43.120
 saying that he has heard

00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:44.240
 God whisper.

00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.680
 But as wonderful

00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.360
 and powerful

00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:48.059
 as both of those

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.480
 experiences were,

00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:51.100
 this passage is greater.

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.460
 And it's really

00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.400
 the true fulfillment

00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.420
 of all of their hopes

00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.400
 and prayers.

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.600
 On this mountain,

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.840
 in this transfiguration,

00:18:58.340 --> 00:18:59.680
 Moses is able to say,

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.980
 not only have I seen

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.840
 God's back,

00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:03.820
 but I have seen

00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.640
 God's face.

00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:06.860
 I have seen

00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:08.400
 the face of Jesus Christ,

00:19:08.520 --> 00:19:09.360
 the Son of God,

00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.660
 God of God,

00:19:10.820 --> 00:19:11.660
 light of light,

00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:12.980
 very God

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.360
 of very God.

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.680
 And Elijah,

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.780
 he is now able

00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:19.200
 to say,

00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.940
 not only have I heard

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:22.400
 God in a low whisper,

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.020
 but I have heard him

00:19:24.020 --> 00:19:25.759
 with a clear voice.

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.620
 For I have spoken

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:29.480
 and had a face-to-face

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.820
 conversation

00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:32.220
 with the Word

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.160
 of God himself.

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:35.400
 Jesus is what

00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:36.160
 both of them

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.900
 have been hoping

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:39.019
 to see and hear

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.620
 all this time.

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:41.980
 And it's finally

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.640
 fulfilled on this mountain.

00:19:45.340 --> 00:19:46.220
 And this is because

00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:47.700
 Jesus is our true prophet.

00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:50.720
 He reveals the will

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.660
 of God to us.

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.700
 Indeed, he reveals

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.920
 God himself to us

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.880
 in a way that is

00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.860
 far superior

00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:57.380
 than any other prophet

00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:58.740
 and leaves no one

00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:00.440
 wanting anything.

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.800
 He reveals the will

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.419
 of the Father

00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:04.740
 as the Son

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:06.079
 who has dwelt with him

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:07.180
 in perfect communion

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:09.359
 from eternity past.

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:10.940
 And he comes

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:12.440
 with a greater recommendation

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:14.039
 than any other prophet.

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:16.000
 Moses and Elijah,

00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:16.619
 they both had,

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.759
 they came with signs.

00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:19.200
 And Jesus comes

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.919
 with signs too.

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.899
 He has great signs,

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.740
 wonderful signs,

00:20:21.899 --> 00:20:22.799
 more than Moses

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.659
 and Elijah

00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:25.019
 put together.

00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.539
 But,

00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:28.559
 Jesus comes not only

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.039
 with signs

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.240
 but with the very words

00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.059
 of God the Father

00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:32.579
 blasting from heaven,

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.819
 this is my Son,

00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.359
 my chosen one,

00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:38.339
 listen to him.

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:41.619
 In Deuteronomy 18.15

00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:42.259
 it describes

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.639
 what a prophet does.

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.660
 God says he will

00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:45.619
 send a prophet

00:20:45.619 --> 00:20:47.200
 and says you will

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.920
 listen to him.

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.779
 This is the fulfillment

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:52.000
 of that as well.

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.099
 Because whenever you hear

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.579
 anything Jesus say,

00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.619
 you can take that

00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:59.799
 as definitionally,

00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:00.740
 literally,

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.380
 the word of God.

00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:05.380
 Because he is God.

00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:07.420
 Unlike any other prophet.

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:10.940
 And so Jesus,

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.840
 God in the flesh,

00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:14.440
 he came to reveal God

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:16.740
 to us as the prophet

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.240
 to whom all other prophets

00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.900
 pointed to and longed for.

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.340
 And you can see this

00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:23.000
 in one other thing

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.580
 I want you to see

00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:24.140
 in the passage.

00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:26.519
 It's how he's described

00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.240
 as performing

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:29.039
 Moses' work.

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.820
 There's one other word

00:21:30.820 --> 00:21:32.080
 besides tabernacle

00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:32.820
 which is kind of hidden

00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:33.500
 under the Greek

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:35.539
 and it's in verse 31.

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:36.820
 It says that

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:38.000
 Moses and Elijah

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.079
 spoke with Jesus

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.059
 about his departure.

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.599
 Most of your Bibles

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:41.960
 are going to have

00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:43.279
 a little footnote there

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:43.779
 and at the bottom

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.439
 it's going to say

00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:45.659
 that's the word Exodus.

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:47.099
 That's the word Exodus

00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:48.919
 in the Greek.

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.639
 Moses and Elijah

00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:52.159
 are speaking to Jesus

00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:54.319
 about how he will perform

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:56.099
 the greater Exodus.

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.659
 How much more important

00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:58.460
 and magnificent

00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:00.019
 his work is

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.379
 than their small,

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:04.000
 feeble foreshadowings.

00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.980
 The Exodus

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:08.000
 was never about

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.299
 simply moving

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.880
 the people of Israel

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:12.440
 from one location

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.420
 to another

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.660
 and all the logistical

00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.259
 challenges

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.259
 that that involved.

00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:17.500
 The Exodus

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.579
 is about more

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:20.259
 than logistics.

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.839
 It pointed forward

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:24.079
 to a greater

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.259
 new Exodus

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.079
 performed by Christ himself.

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.000
 And Jesus

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.519
 is going to come down

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.220
 from that mountain,

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.680
 he is going to enter

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.839
 into the land of death,

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:34.519
 and then go into

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:36.399
 the land of life

00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.459
 in his death,

00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.259
 burial,

00:22:38.679 --> 00:22:39.159
 resurrection,

00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:40.299
 and ascension.

00:22:41.159 --> 00:22:41.859
 And it is through

00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:42.459
 that work

00:22:42.459 --> 00:22:43.159
 that we are saved

00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:44.959
 from our slavery

00:22:44.959 --> 00:22:45.399
 to sin

00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:46.179
 and we are brought

00:22:46.179 --> 00:22:47.099
 into a new

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.959
 promised land

00:22:47.959 --> 00:22:48.599
 of the kingdom

00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.619
 of God.

00:22:50.439 --> 00:22:51.559
 And when we are saved

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.519
 and when we are baptized,

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.980
 we follow him

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.500
 as through

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.639
 the Red Sea.

00:22:56.199 --> 00:22:57.059
 We are baptized

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.859
 into his death

00:22:58.859 --> 00:22:59.599
 and we are raised

00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.699
 with him into life.

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:02.580
 And all of this

00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:03.600
 was foreshadowed

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.259
 by Moses.

00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:05.980
 And there are

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.600
 so many other

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.640
 glimpses

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:08.340
 that you can get

00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:09.360
 of Christ's work

00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:11.140
 in the Old Testament.

00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:14.539
 Seeing Jesus

00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.860
 as the greater

00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:17.640
 Moses and Elijah

00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.700
 should make us

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.440
 read our Bibles

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.200
 more carefully.

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:20.960
 You know,

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.340
 particularly

00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:22.500
 the Old Testament.

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.880
 When we open up

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.380
 our Bibles

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:24.980
 and we turn

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.559
 to Genesis,

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.019
 Exodus,

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:26.600
 Leviticus,

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:26.980
 Numbers,

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.640
 and Deuteronomy

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.440
 or whatever

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.500
 obscure Old Testament

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.559
 book we do,

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.160
 we need to realize

00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.100
 we are not entering

00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.539
 into hostile territory.

00:23:35.100 --> 00:23:35.720
 We're not even

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.220
 entering into

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.019
 alien territory.

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.759
 We are not

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.740
 uncomfortable

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.620
 houseguests

00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:41.440
 in a foreign land.

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.299
 We are reading

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.220
 Christian books.

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.019
 And these are books

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.480
 that are about Christ,

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.080
 written by people

00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:49.440
 who longed to see Christ

00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.200
 and hoped

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.539
 that he would come soon.

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.759
 Jesus comes

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.799
 fulfilling everything

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.740
 that has come before.

00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:57.380
 And so we should

00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.220
 listen to him.

00:23:58.220 --> 00:24:00.059
 We are called

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.180
 to listen to

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.000
 his words

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.940
 in the Gospels

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.940
 knowing that it is

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.500
 the fulfillment

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.120
 of God's plan

00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:07.400
 from eternity past

00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:07.980
 and that has been

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.660
 performed

00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:10.100
 from Adam

00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:11.240
 all the way

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.319
 through the Old Testament.

00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:14.339
 And Jesus comes

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:16.039
 fulfilling it all.

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:18.059
 There's nowhere else

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.299
 we should go

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:21.039
 except to Jesus.

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:23.440
 He has the words

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.440
 of eternal life.

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.120
 To whom else

00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.139
 shall we go?

00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.979
 But there's the final thing

00:24:28.979 --> 00:24:29.819
 that I want us to see

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.579
 in this passage.

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.639
 It's that Jesus comes

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:34.039
 as he,

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.319
 we can see Jesus

00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.479
 as he will come again.

00:24:37.479 --> 00:24:38.459
 This is Jesus

00:24:38.459 --> 00:24:40.539
 as he will appear

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.779
 on the final day

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.659
 when he shall come

00:24:42.659 --> 00:24:45.259
 riding on the clouds.

00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.199
 The first time he came

00:24:47.199 --> 00:24:48.059
 he took the form

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.339
 of a servant

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.459
 hiding his glory,

00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:51.539
 putting it aside

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:53.039
 so to speak.

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:54.819
 But now

00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:56.119
 he has been exalted

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:57.059
 above all others.

00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.440
 The Father

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.559
 has declared

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.779
 that the Son

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.740
 is the Son

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.359
 and he is worthy

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.399
 of all praise

00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:05.379
 and honor

00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.559
 and glory

00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.480
 forever

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.420
 and ever.

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.680
 He now appears

00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.920
 in glory

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.960
 and splendor.

00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.200
 A glory

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.039
 that was his

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.119
 from eternity past

00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:16.099
 and yet it is given

00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:17.420
 to him by the Father

00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.859
 after he has performed

00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:20.539
 his mediatorial work.

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:22.519
 No one

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.599
 can mistake

00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:24.720
 Jesus anymore

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.799
 for a poor

00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.159
 Jewish peasant.

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.519
 Because now

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.680
 you will notice him

00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.420
 on the final day

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.159
 and he shall come

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:33.639
 to judge the world

00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:34.740
 and rescue his people

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.720
 as he is

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.339
 in this passage.

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.200
 On that day

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:38.980
 he shall appear

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:40.399
 clothed in majesty.

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.619
 Every knee will bow,

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.700
 every tongue will confess

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.379
 that Jesus

00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:45.279
 is Lord.

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.079
 And Christian,

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:47.980
 what we have

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.740
 in this passage

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:50.200
 is Jesus

00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:51.579
 how you will worship him

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.559
 for the rest

00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.400
 of eternity.

00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:54.259
 This is who you will

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.819
 stand before.

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.460
 This is who you will

00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:56.759
 worship.

00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:58.599
 This is who you will

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.620
 seek to glorify

00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:00.779
 every single day

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.759
 for the rest of your life.

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.380
 This is who you will

00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:04.220
 give an account to.

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.319
 Now what does a vision

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.240
 like that entail?

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.380
 Well, this is either

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.660
 a wonderful vision

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:13.539
 or a terrifying vision.

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.880
 You look to Revelation.

00:26:16.520 --> 00:26:17.560
 The book of Revelation

00:26:17.560 --> 00:26:18.800
 is a kind of scary book

00:26:18.800 --> 00:26:19.460
 for some people.

00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:21.520
 My grandmother was blind

00:26:21.520 --> 00:26:22.840
 and she was actually

00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:23.780
 scared of the book

00:26:23.780 --> 00:26:24.340
 of Revelation

00:26:24.340 --> 00:26:25.640
 because she would hear this

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.680
 and she had no idea

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.620
 what any of this involved.

00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.440
 She was kind of scared

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:28.980
 by the book.

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.780
 That's a sort of typical

00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:32.260
 reaction in many ways.

00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:32.780
 Many of us,

00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:34.020
 if we saw the glory of Jesus

00:26:34.020 --> 00:26:34.800
 and he just was right here

00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:35.160
 at this moment,

00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:36.260
 we would fall down

00:26:36.260 --> 00:26:36.940
 and we would be quite

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:37.660
 literally terrified.

00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.180
 This is the reaction

00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:39.880
 of Isaiah.

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.580
 He falls down

00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.360
 when he has the vision

00:26:42.360 --> 00:26:43.060
 of God in the temple.

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.300
 He says,

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.100
 Woe is me.

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:46.039
 I am a man of unclean lips

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:47.980
 because he understands

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.619
 he is a sinner

00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.439
 in the sight of God.

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.659
 He is just

00:26:50.659 --> 00:26:51.759
 and deserving

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.719
 of his displeasure.

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.639
 But,

00:26:55.159 --> 00:26:57.319
 if you are in Jesus Christ,

00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:59.179
 if you are clothed

00:26:59.179 --> 00:26:59.599
 in his blood,

00:26:59.659 --> 00:27:00.759
 if you are washed in him,

00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:01.819
 this sight

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:03.379
 is no longer terrifying.

00:27:04.219 --> 00:27:05.259
 It becomes the most

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.000
 wonderful sight

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.519
 in the world.

00:27:07.719 --> 00:27:08.699
 This is the sight

00:27:08.699 --> 00:27:09.319
 of your Savior.

00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:11.039
 This is the sight

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.659
 of your Savior

00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:12.559
 who has come

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.700
 to save you

00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.619
 here on earth.

00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.679
 It is the sight

00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:16.179
 of your Savior

00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:16.859
 who bled

00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.659
 and died for you.

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:18.759
 The glory

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.599
 of the Lamb

00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:20.879
 now blazing

00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:22.059
 in all

00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:23.079
 of its fullness.

00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:25.899
 One of the great

00:27:25.899 --> 00:27:27.200
 ways that

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.879
 the church

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.779
 has talked about

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:30.139
 our future hope

00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.720
 as Christians

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:32.059
 is saying

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.000
 that we hope

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.940
 to see something.

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.919
 The $10 word

00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:37.179
 is the beatific vision.

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.960
 But what it really is

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.679
 is we see

00:27:39.679 --> 00:27:40.579
 Jesus Christ

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:42.099
 and we see

00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:43.039
 him in his glory

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.740
 and we behold

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:46.159
 him to which

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:46.740
 for whom

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.500
 we have been made

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.199
 and to which

00:27:48.199 --> 00:27:48.740
 our hearts

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.059
 are constantly drawn

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.220
 and we find

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.039
 our fullness

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:53.799
 in beholding him,

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:55.119
 praising him,

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.779
 and worshipping him

00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.919
 forevermore.

00:27:59.679 --> 00:28:00.619
 In heaven,

00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.799
 what do you expect

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.379
 to find?

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.559
 I expect we're going

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.000
 to find many

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.980
 wonderful things.

00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:08.220
 But the Lamb,

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:10.019
 he is the glory

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.559
 of Emmanuel's land.

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:13.240
 He is the chief

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:15.100
 and greatest pleasure.

00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.100
 He is the one

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:17.960
 to whom we are

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.299
 to direct our entire lives,

00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:20.079
 the one to whom

00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:21.799
 we desire to go.

00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.640
 And we are this day

00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:26.079
 operating as pilgrims.

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:28.079
 But we're pilgrims

00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:29.319
 heading home,

00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.339
 desiring to see

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.360
 this vision.

00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.960
 And we need to have it.

00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:36.440
 Because when everything

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.420
 else seems to get

00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:39.180
 grim and dark,

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.920
 we become like

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.559
 the psalmist

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.980
 in Psalm 73,

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.559
 where the psalmist

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.539
 confesses that

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.180
 I was envious

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:46.799
 of the arrogant

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.600
 when I saw

00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:48.620
 the prosperity

00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.559
 of the wicked.

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:52.059
 Because the arrogant

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.500
 and the wicked,

00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.460
 they seem not to suffer.

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.259
 They seem to be able

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.779
 to get away

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.600
 with anything.

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.980
 What solves

00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.539
 the psalmist's problem

00:28:58.539 --> 00:29:00.579
 though in that psalm?

00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:01.980
 It's that he goes

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.819
 into the sanctuary.

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:04.439
 And he goes

00:29:04.439 --> 00:29:05.179
 into the sanctuary

00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:05.919
 and then he says,

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:07.419
 until I went

00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:08.059
 into the sanctuary

00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.439
 of God,

00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.980
 then I discerned

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:11.319
 their ends.

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.919
 But what we are

00:29:12.919 --> 00:29:13.579
 called to do

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:15.019
 is we are called

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:16.059
 to come into church,

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.179
 to gather together

00:29:17.179 --> 00:29:19.240
 and to focus our eyes

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.339
 upon Jesus Christ.

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:22.639
 To have a longer view

00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:23.679
 as we walk

00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:24.379
 through the forest

00:29:24.379 --> 00:29:25.000
 of this world

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.659
 and to focus

00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:26.519
 on Jesus Christ.

00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:28.439
 And once we see him,

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.519
 everything else

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.500
 falls into place.

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:32.140
 The troubles

00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:33.119
 that we face

00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.140
 year after year

00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:36.019
 seem to melt away

00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:39.000
 because the glory

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.640
 of Christ

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.720
 is so bright.

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.519
 It doesn't always mean

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.619
 that it makes it easier.

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.880
 But it does

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:46.000
 give us comfort

00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.039
 in the midst

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:48.140
 of suffering.

00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:49.660
 And we are called

00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.960
 to go through this life

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:52.039
 as pilgrims

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:54.140
 focusing upon

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:55.220
 the glory

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:56.440
 of our Savior

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.480
 to come.

00:29:57.480 --> 00:30:00.519
 I want to close.

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.420
 I want you just

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.259
 to consider for a moment

00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.660
 that do you want

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.500
 to see Jesus?

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:07.279
 Do you want

00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.259
 to see

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:09.380
 his glory?

00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.319
 And if you do,

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.180
 then you must

00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.200
 behold his glory

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.860
 first

00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:15.180
 by faith.

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:16.539
 You know,

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.480
 we have seen

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.839
 the glory of Jesus Christ.

00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:20.039
 As it says

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.019
 in John 1, 14,

00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:22.360
 we have seen Jesus

00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:24.500
 full of grace

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.620
 and truth.

00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:25.699
 faith.

00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.299
 We have seen

00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:28.039
 him by faith.

00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:29.779
 And a day

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.379
 is coming

00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:31.959
 when faith

00:30:31.959 --> 00:30:33.119
 shall be sight.

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.899
 But you need

00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:36.679
 the faith

00:30:36.679 --> 00:30:37.479
 first.

00:30:38.739 --> 00:30:39.379
 A day

00:30:39.379 --> 00:30:39.939
 is coming

00:30:39.939 --> 00:30:40.699
 when we will

00:30:40.699 --> 00:30:41.079
 know him

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:41.879
 not in part

00:30:41.879 --> 00:30:43.239
 but in full.

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.259
 And if you

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.859
 desire Jesus Christ,

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.559
 you will know

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.399
 true joy

00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:50.299
 and lasting pleasure.

00:30:50.479 --> 00:30:51.299
 You will know

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:52.299
 the joy

00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.159
 of Jesus Christ.

00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.059
 He is the fountain

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.719
 of fountains.

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:56.000
 Everything good

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.559
 is in him.

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.720
 So we are called

00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.579
 not to look

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.100
 anywhere else

00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:00.779
 in this life.

00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.579
 Be careful

00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:03.500
 where your eyes go.

00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:05.400
 Don't have them

00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:06.500
 go to the right

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.180
 or to the left.

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.380
 Be careful

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:09.120
 what you find

00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.200
 drawing your eyes.

00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:11.539
 And when you

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.319
 find your eyes

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:13.360
 moving to the

00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:14.180
 things of this world,

00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.620
 focus them back

00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.279
 upon Jesus

00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:17.759
 and upon the

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.240
 conviction

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:19.799
 that his glory

00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:20.839
 is better

00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:22.299
 and it is

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.059
 more wonderful

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:24.279
 and it is

00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:24.599
 what we

00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.480
 truly need.

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:26.919
 And we shall

00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:27.879
 one day see him

00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:29.159
 and we shall

00:31:29.159 --> 00:31:30.119
 see our Savior

00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:32.659
 face to face.

00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.299
 Amen.

00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.000
 Let us pray.

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.000