WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.640 Well, now we turn to the preaching of God's Word. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.380 As James had mentioned this morning, 00:00:11.460 --> 00:00:14.960 next week we will be continuing our series in the book of Exodus. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:18.900 This evening, though, we'll be looking at a text from the book of Matthew. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:21.879 Matthew 17, verses 1-17. 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:25.100 This is the story of the transfiguration. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:27.900 So if you have your Bibles, you can turn there with me. 00:00:28.899 --> 00:00:32.519 And as you do, as we prepare to read this passage tonight, 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:36.560 I want us to first consider our hearts and our attitudes 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:38.579 in how we approach the text, 00:00:38.879 --> 00:00:42.339 and also how we respond to the text. 00:00:43.219 --> 00:00:45.179 Most of you may know Charles Spurgeon, 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:49.320 who was the famous English minister from the 1800s. 00:00:49.700 --> 00:00:51.640 He was a powerful preacher, 00:00:52.460 --> 00:00:55.219 a great orator who would speak in front of thousands 00:00:55.219 --> 00:00:58.519 and captivate the hearts and minds of those people. 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:03.840 We know that many people were led to open displays of emotion when he preached. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:09.000 And though Spurgeon didn't really care about senseless emotion 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:10.340 just for the sake of emotion, 00:01:10.459 --> 00:01:12.739 emotion that lacked any sort of spiritual depth, 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:17.599 he saw an appropriate place for emotion within the church. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:19.560 He once wrote this. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:49.540 He said, 00:01:49.560 --> 00:02:07.620 And I thought of that quote tonight, 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:09.699 especially pertaining to this text, 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:14.500 because I think this text kind of does an emotional check for us. 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:20.099 I think this text can really evoke emotion within our hearts. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:24.139 And while emotion in itself isn't the object of our aim, 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:26.060 when we look at this glorious passage, 00:02:26.659 --> 00:02:31.699 we should have the desire to see the reality of Christ's identity. 00:02:32.420 --> 00:02:34.280 That we may look at this glorious passage 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:37.680 and that we may experience the beauty of the Gospel. 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:41.280 That it might stir within us this deeper affection for Christ, 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:43.920 this longing that we see His face. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:46.280 And so let's turn to this passage. 00:02:46.460 --> 00:02:52.039 Matthew chapter 17, verses 1 through 13. 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:55.159 And after six days, 00:02:55.259 --> 00:02:58.419 Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, His brother, 00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:01.479 and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 00:03:02.079 --> 00:03:04.439 And He was transfigured before them. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:06.959 And His face shone like the sun, 00:03:07.019 --> 00:03:09.180 and His clothes became white as light. 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:11.680 And behold, there appeared to them 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:13.919 Moses and Elijah talking with Him. 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:15.879 And Peter said to Jesus, 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:17.639 Lord, it is good that we are here. 00:03:18.219 --> 00:03:20.460 If you wish, I will make three tents here. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:23.819 One for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 00:03:25.019 --> 00:03:28.579 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. 00:03:28.799 --> 00:03:30.299 And a voice from the cloud said, 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:32.039 This is my beloved Son, 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:34.340 with whom I am well pleased. 00:03:35.060 --> 00:03:35.939 Listen to Him. 00:03:37.019 --> 00:03:38.439 When the disciples heard this, 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:41.280 they fell on their faces and were terrified. 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:44.120 But Jesus came and touched them, 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:45.800 saying, Rise and have no fear. 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:47.879 And when they lifted their eyes, 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:50.360 they saw no one but Jesus only. 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:52.800 And as they were coming down the mountain, 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:54.080 Jesus commanded them, 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:55.979 Tell no one of this vision 00:03:55.979 --> 00:03:58.420 until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:00.520 The disciples asked Him, 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:03.580 Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.139 He answered, Elijah does come, 00:04:06.699 --> 00:04:08.360 and He will restore all things. 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:11.300 But I tell you that Elijah has already come. 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:13.200 And they did not recognize Him, 00:04:14.140 --> 00:04:16.340 but did to Him whatever they pleased. 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:20.259 And so also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:23.160 Then the disciples understood 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:25.699 that He was speaking to them of John the Baptist. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:28.080 This is the Word of God. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.340 Will you pray with me? 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.740 Almighty God, You are the Father of lights. 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:38.800 And so we ask, Lord, 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:41.360 that You'll shine in our hearts and in our minds 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.600 that we might understand Your message 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:47.079 as You speak to us through Your Word. 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:50.920 May the Gospel come to us not only in word, 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:53.420 but also in the power of Your Holy Spirit this evening. 00:04:54.840 --> 00:04:56.280 May He guide us in truth 00:04:56.280 --> 00:04:58.100 and strengthen us to all obedience 00:04:58.100 --> 00:04:59.360 so that we may glorify You. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:01.600 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:02.800 Amen. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:02.920 Amen. 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:08.080 Now I wonder how many of us have had the opportunity 00:05:08.080 --> 00:05:09.580 to share the Gospel before. 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:13.000 Maybe some of us haven't been so blessed 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:14.800 as to somewhat ask us so bluntly, 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:17.060 so who is this Jesus character? 00:05:18.080 --> 00:05:19.060 What did He do? 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:21.220 What does He say? 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:22.060 What is His message? 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:24.400 But perhaps some of us have. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:25.660 Maybe we've had the opportunity 00:05:25.660 --> 00:05:27.060 to share the Gospel before, 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:29.939 to share the narrative of Jesus' life. 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:31.660 And the question, 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:33.199 when you have that opportunity, 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:35.699 or if you ever have that opportunity in the future, 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:38.219 what stories will you include 00:05:38.219 --> 00:05:41.100 in the life of Jesus 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:42.279 as you retell it? 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:43.459 Certainly, I would imagine 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:45.180 you may start with the nativity scene, 00:05:45.259 --> 00:05:47.620 talk about Jesus being born of a virgin, 00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:49.720 being placed in a manger 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:51.019 in the city of Bethlehem, 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:53.120 His birth announced to the shepherds. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:56.779 You may talk about something about His ministry, 00:05:57.060 --> 00:05:58.800 Him feeding the 5,000, 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:00.699 or turning water into wine, 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.800 healing the sick and the lame. 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:05.280 Maybe something about His message, 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:06.379 what He has done, 00:06:06.620 --> 00:06:08.120 what He says about the Kingdom of God, 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:09.699 what He says about Himself. 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:11.960 Certainly, we'd include 00:06:11.960 --> 00:06:13.620 the passion narrative in there 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:16.759 where Jesus is arrested and crucified, 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:20.480 how He's resurrected and ascends to Heaven. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.240 But would we choose to include 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:24.699 this story of the transfiguration? 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:26.979 Do we find it important 00:06:26.979 --> 00:06:29.019 and essential to the life 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:30.120 and ministry of Jesus? 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:31.800 My guess is that probably many of us 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:32.979 would probably not include it. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:34.579 I don't know personally if I would include it 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:36.459 until I look at this text 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:38.659 and prepare for it this evening. 00:06:38.899 --> 00:06:40.579 And I wonder if it's in part 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:42.740 because we may not really understand 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:44.399 where this fits into 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:45.620 the narrative, 00:06:46.159 --> 00:06:47.599 Matthew's narrative 00:06:47.599 --> 00:06:49.079 of His Gospel. 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:50.639 Perhaps we don't really understand 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:52.759 when it talks about Moses and Elijah, 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:54.500 what do they have to do with this story? 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:55.180 What do they have to do 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:56.819 with God's overall plan of redemption? 00:06:58.139 --> 00:06:59.019 But it's my hope 00:06:59.019 --> 00:07:00.620 as we walk through this text tonight 00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:02.639 that we gain a better appreciation 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:04.159 for who Jesus is 00:07:04.159 --> 00:07:05.420 and a better understanding 00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:06.439 for how this narrative 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:08.819 fits into God's plan of redemption. 00:07:10.039 --> 00:07:11.599 And so then I think it's important 00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:12.519 as we begin 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:15.420 to understand the context of this passage. 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:17.159 At the very beginning in verse 1, 00:07:17.219 --> 00:07:19.360 it begins after six days. 00:07:20.339 --> 00:07:21.599 So it's important to understand 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:22.560 what was happening 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:25.280 before chapter 17 was recorded. 00:07:25.340 --> 00:07:26.040 After six days. 00:07:26.080 --> 00:07:27.260 What happened six days ago? 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:29.379 Well, if we look back in Matthew 16, 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:31.080 starting in verse 13, 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:32.820 we see that Jesus and His disciples 00:07:32.820 --> 00:07:35.260 have arrived in Caesarea Philippi. 00:07:36.220 --> 00:07:38.400 And we see this important conversation 00:07:38.400 --> 00:07:39.580 that's recorded by Matthew 00:07:39.580 --> 00:07:40.379 here in His Gospel. 00:07:40.900 --> 00:07:42.560 Because Jesus turns to His disciples 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:43.100 and He says, 00:07:43.460 --> 00:07:45.660 Who do people say the Son of Man is? 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:48.220 Disciples respond, 00:07:48.320 --> 00:07:49.939 Well, some say it's John the Baptist, 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:51.000 some say Elijah, 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:52.199 some say another prophet. 00:07:53.139 --> 00:07:54.660 And Jesus asks them bluntly, 00:07:54.740 --> 00:07:57.259 Who do you say the Son of Man is? 00:07:58.480 --> 00:07:59.319 Peter responds, 00:07:59.719 --> 00:08:01.100 You are the Christ, 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:03.259 the Son of the living God. 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:06.439 So we see Jesus' response. 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:07.839 First, He blesses Peter 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:10.300 for recognizing His true identity. 00:08:10.420 --> 00:08:11.600 But then He tells His disciples, 00:08:11.860 --> 00:08:14.420 Don't tell anyone that I'm the Christ. 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:16.560 And He goes on from there 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:18.860 to say how He must go to Jerusalem, 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:22.319 how He must suffer and be killed, 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:23.840 and how He will rise again 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:24.580 on the third day. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:26.420 And so Peter, maybe, 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:27.840 because he had a little confidence 00:08:27.840 --> 00:08:29.240 in getting the first answer right, 00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:31.020 he responds again to Jesus and says, 00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:32.420 Far be it from you, Lord. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:34.120 This will never happen to you. 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:36.779 We know how Jesus responds. 00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:38.320 He turns from blessing Peter 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:39.840 to rebuking Him. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:40.820 He says, 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:41.879 Get behind me, Satan. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:43.159 You are a hindrance to me. 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:46.480 Not only was Jesus going to suffer, 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:48.259 but He was calling on His disciples 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:50.279 to suffer with Him. 00:08:51.259 --> 00:08:52.120 And so we see then 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:53.879 that this transfiguration, 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:55.659 this story really stands 00:08:55.659 --> 00:08:56.639 at a pivotal moment 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.679 in Jesus' ministry. 00:08:58.860 --> 00:08:59.740 It's really a watershed 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:01.100 because if you look to the one side, 00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:02.059 it's all that's happened 00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:03.100 in Jesus' ministry 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:04.519 to bring Him to this point 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:05.740 where Peter recognizes 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:07.659 that He is truly the Christ. 00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:09.919 And then we look from here 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.440 the transfiguration onward, 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.880 and this is Jesus' journey 00:09:12.880 --> 00:09:13.920 to the cross 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:16.220 where He is to suffer and die. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.280 And so these themes 00:09:18.280 --> 00:09:21.020 that Matthew begins in chapter 16, 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:23.180 He's continuing on to chapter 17 00:09:23.180 --> 00:09:24.640 where Jesus, 00:09:25.020 --> 00:09:26.400 talking about who Jesus is 00:09:26.400 --> 00:09:27.760 and what He is to accomplish. 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:28.760 And so that's what I want 00:09:28.760 --> 00:09:30.260 our focus to be tonight. 00:09:30.380 --> 00:09:33.300 First, to think about Jesus' identity 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:36.180 and secondly, Jesus' mission. 00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:38.479 And so let's look first 00:09:38.479 --> 00:09:40.500 at Jesus' identity. 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:42.779 You've probably heard the expression 00:09:42.779 --> 00:09:44.679 know your audience, right? 00:09:44.739 --> 00:09:45.659 It's advice that's given 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:46.959 to public speakers 00:09:46.959 --> 00:09:48.019 and maybe others 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:48.719 in a large group 00:09:48.719 --> 00:09:49.699 or maybe a small group 00:09:49.699 --> 00:09:51.039 when they want to communicate 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.799 effectively or persuasively 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:53.799 to those around them. 00:09:54.239 --> 00:09:55.159 In order to do that, 00:09:55.199 --> 00:09:57.239 you have to know your audience. 00:09:57.479 --> 00:09:58.799 You need to know their background. 00:09:58.959 --> 00:09:59.899 You need to know their story, 00:09:59.959 --> 00:10:01.240 what they're going to understand 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:02.519 about what you're communicating 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:03.620 to them. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:05.200 And so that's what we really see 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.060 Matthew doing here 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:07.480 throughout his Gospel. 00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:09.259 Matthew is largely writing 00:10:09.259 --> 00:10:10.600 to a Jewish audience. 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:12.279 And so he's very careful 00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:13.139 to point out 00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:14.940 as he goes along in his Gospel 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:16.700 exactly who Jesus is. 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:18.100 He's not just a good teacher. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.340 He's not just a good leader or man. 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:22.639 He is truly the Messiah, 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:24.440 the one who has been anticipated, 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:26.740 the one who Jewish tradition 00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:28.180 and prophecy 00:10:28.180 --> 00:10:31.419 and history points to. 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:34.799 And so he directly links 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:36.179 who Jesus is, 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:38.120 talks about Jesus fulfilling 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:39.419 Old Testament prophecy 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:40.979 and that's what we begin to see 00:10:40.979 --> 00:10:41.899 in this passage here, 00:10:41.979 --> 00:10:43.939 these allusions going back 00:10:43.939 --> 00:10:44.819 to the Old Testament, 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:46.899 primarily the book of Exodus. 00:10:47.059 --> 00:10:48.299 So while we're not studying 00:10:48.299 --> 00:10:49.179 the book of Exodus tonight, 00:10:49.219 --> 00:10:50.459 we're going to be turning back there 00:10:50.459 --> 00:10:52.399 quite a bit to see these allusions 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:53.860 that Matthew uses. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:56.039 If we look at verse 1, 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:57.679 after six days, 00:10:57.819 --> 00:10:58.679 Jesus took with him 00:10:58.679 --> 00:10:59.539 Peter and James 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:00.379 and John, his brother, 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:01.399 and led them up 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:01.980 on a high mountain 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:02.579 by themselves. 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.179 Now if you were a Jew 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:06.000 in that day and age 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:06.740 and you were familiar 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:08.120 with the Old Testament, 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.919 this may trigger a memory 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:11.599 from Exodus 24 00:11:11.599 --> 00:11:13.179 where God commands Moses 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:15.120 to come with Aaron 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.079 and Nadab 00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:17.219 and Abihu to worship. 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:19.419 And as Moses ascends 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:20.199 Mount Sinai, 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:21.299 it says that he's covered 00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:23.719 by a cloud for six days. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:26.879 Then in verse 2 here 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:27.779 we see in our text, 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:28.120 Matthew, 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:29.160 he immediately enters 00:11:29.160 --> 00:11:30.420 into this glorious vision 00:11:30.420 --> 00:11:32.440 and Jesus was transfigured 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:33.120 before him 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:34.899 and his face shone 00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:35.680 like the sun 00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:36.660 and his clothes 00:11:36.660 --> 00:11:38.519 became white as light. 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:40.759 And so we see here 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:43.720 this glorious unveiling. 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:45.740 This word transfigured, 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:46.960 it can be translated 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:48.180 as transformed. 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:49.980 It's actually only used 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:50.740 a few times 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:51.460 in the New Testament 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:53.480 apart from Matthew and Mark 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:54.240 talking about 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:56.039 the transfiguration story here. 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:57.360 Paul uses it 00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:57.980 a couple times 00:11:57.980 --> 00:11:59.039 and he's not talking about 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:00.460 a physical transformation 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:03.019 so much as a spiritual transformation. 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:05.399 You may know Romans 12 too. 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:05.840 Paul writes, 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:07.200 do not be conformed 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.019 to this world 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:09.240 but be transformed 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:11.200 by the renewal of your mind. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.820 And so we see in this case 00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:14.860 it's not only talking about 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:16.860 a spiritual transformation of Christ 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:18.840 but this physical transformation. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:20.759 But we need to understand 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:21.639 when this transformation 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:23.419 is not as if Jesus 00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:25.319 is changing in some way 00:12:25.319 --> 00:12:25.860 but rather 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:27.980 this previously hidden dimension 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:28.740 of his glory 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:30.179 is now being revealed 00:12:30.179 --> 00:12:31.039 to his disciples. 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:33.340 As if all the dullness 00:12:33.340 --> 00:12:34.700 of earthly conditions 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:36.240 were temporarily stripped away 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.340 so that his true nature 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:38.460 could be revealed 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:39.919 to these men. 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:41.939 And so again, 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:42.539 the question is 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:43.860 does this remind you 00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:45.659 of anything from the Old Testament? 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:47.819 If we look back to Exodus 34, 00:12:47.959 --> 00:12:50.620 Moses up on Mount Sinai 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:53.000 for 30 days and 40 nights. 00:12:53.079 --> 00:12:53.959 40 days, 40 nights 00:12:53.959 --> 00:12:54.839 where he receives 00:12:54.839 --> 00:12:56.219 these Ten Commandments 00:12:56.219 --> 00:12:57.600 and he returns 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.939 to the people of Israel 00:12:58.939 --> 00:13:00.120 and it says 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:02.439 the skin of his face shone 00:13:02.439 --> 00:13:04.039 to such a degree 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:05.299 that it scared the Israelites. 00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:06.879 He had to wear a veil 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.819 over his face 00:13:07.819 --> 00:13:09.500 so they wouldn't be afraid. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:11.539 And so while we see 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:13.279 some differences here, 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.319 this allusion 00:13:14.319 --> 00:13:15.019 to the Old Testament, 00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:15.559 there's actually 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:17.019 some obvious differences 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:17.639 as well 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:19.220 because while Moses' face 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:21.100 shone as a reflection 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:22.039 of God's glory, 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.159 we see here in our passage 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.740 that Jesus shone 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:27.059 with his own innate glory. 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:29.100 Jesus here is the source 00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:30.179 of light. 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:32.899 It's a glory of such intensity 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.379 and such otherness. 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:35.519 It again reminds us 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:36.899 of the story in Exodus 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:38.879 where Moses comes to God 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.480 and he asks, 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:41.480 may I see your glory? 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:44.799 God responds to him, 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.979 you cannot see my face 00:13:45.979 --> 00:13:46.479 and live. 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:47.399 So he puts Moses 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.699 in the crack of a rock 00:13:48.699 --> 00:13:50.219 and he passes over him 00:13:50.219 --> 00:13:51.299 with his hand in front of him 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:52.379 until he has passed by 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:53.659 and Moses is allowed 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.740 to see his back. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:56.979 And so this is the glory of God. 00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:58.139 This incomparable glory 00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:58.759 that we see 00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.959 throughout the Old Testament 00:13:59.959 --> 00:14:01.279 is now what we see 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:03.240 displayed in Christ here. 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.959 And so while Jesus 00:14:05.959 --> 00:14:07.620 has been transfigured, 00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.419 he's transformed, 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.799 this glimpse of his glory 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:10.579 is being seen, 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.000 we see with him also 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.100 Moses and Elijah 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.759 appear with him. 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.539 And I think this may be 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:16.000 at the point 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.019 that we may become 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:18.360 confused a little bit. 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.580 What role do they 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:20.399 have to play here? 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:22.220 I think even Jesus' disciples 00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:23.299 were a little confused. 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.340 We see Peter 00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:25.259 in his request, 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:26.179 hey, how about I build 00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:27.419 some tents for you guys? 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:29.480 We'll talk about that 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.379 in a second, 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:32.639 but here we must question 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:33.639 what is the purpose 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:35.580 of Elijah and Moses 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:36.600 in this text? 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:38.240 I think maybe 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.820 most common interpretation 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:42.040 that we hear nowadays 00:14:42.040 --> 00:14:42.680 is that maybe 00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:44.460 Moses represents the law 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:46.320 and Elijah represents 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:47.340 the prophets. 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.279 And while there may be 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.480 some level of truth there, 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:51.300 we need to consider 00:14:51.300 --> 00:14:51.879 this passage 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:53.399 in the context of that day, 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.100 how it would have been 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:55.180 received by the disciples 00:14:55.180 --> 00:14:56.240 and others 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:56.960 when they read 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:57.800 Matthew's account. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:14:59.460 Because Moses wasn't 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.159 only considered 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:01.580 a lawgiver in that time, 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.519 he was considered 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:03.519 a prophet himself. 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.420 He's spoken of 00:15:04.420 --> 00:15:05.080 as a prophet 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:06.259 in the Old Testament. 00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:08.139 Not only that, 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:08.820 but Elijah, 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:10.300 would he have been 00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:11.800 considered as a representation 00:15:11.800 --> 00:15:12.920 or representative 00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:13.940 for all the prophets? 00:15:14.420 --> 00:15:15.379 Maybe, maybe not. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:15.920 He wasn't one 00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.700 of the writing prophets. 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.820 And so what do we do here 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.840 with this image 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:21.519 of Elijah and Moses? 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.659 I think the most 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.519 compelling argument 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.320 may be this. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:25.980 One commentator writes 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.000 that their appearance 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.340 sums up the entire drama 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.899 of the old order 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.360 from beginning to end. 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:34.720 Moses being the predecessor 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.500 and Elijah being 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.480 the precursor 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.620 of the Messiah. 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:41.299 And so these men, 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.700 as they stand 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:44.559 within the Old Testament, 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.340 they point 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:46.340 to the coming 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.539 of the Messiah. 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:49.539 The one who would come 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.659 to provide salvation 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:51.820 for his people. 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:53.639 And so, 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:55.220 though they add 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:55.980 to the drama 00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:57.279 in this narrative, 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.799 this isn't the climax 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.539 of Matthew's story. 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:02.259 Because we see that Matthew, 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.580 he really cuts Peter off 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.259 as he's kind of 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:05.440 making this request. 00:16:05.520 --> 00:16:06.520 Let me build you some tents. 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:06.860 He says, 00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:07.520 Behold, 00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:09.660 he focuses our attention 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:10.800 on this bright cloud 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:12.040 that's overshadowing them. 00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:14.100 Again, 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:15.620 it may remind the reader 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:17.180 of the story 00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:17.740 of Exodus 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.680 where God's presence 00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:19.940 is repeatedly seen 00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:21.420 appear in a cloud. 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.360 Not only on Mount Sinai, 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.460 but also in the wilderness, 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.720 leading the people of Israel 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.520 through the wilderness. 00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:28.200 But it's not only 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.340 the appearance of the cloud 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:29.900 that's important 00:16:29.900 --> 00:16:30.420 in this text, 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.579 it's the voice coming 00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:33.339 from the cloud. 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:36.159 Matthew is directing 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.879 our focus here 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.479 to the climax 00:16:37.479 --> 00:16:38.099 of the passage, 00:16:38.219 --> 00:16:39.120 which is the voice 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.579 of God from this cloud. 00:16:40.979 --> 00:16:42.319 This is my Son 00:16:42.319 --> 00:16:43.199 whom I love. 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:45.839 With Him I am well pleased. 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:47.519 Listen to Him. 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.959 And so in these 00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:50.979 two chapters, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.959 16 and 17, 00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:53.539 we see repeated 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.519 a profession 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.980 of Christ's identity 00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.659 from Peter. 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.259 And now, 00:16:58.599 --> 00:16:59.240 a proclamation 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:00.539 from the voice 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.580 of God Himself. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.480 Jesus is 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.759 the Son of God. 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.279 And so you might have 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.799 heard these words before. 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.539 These are the words 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.019 that were recorded 00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:10.720 by Matthew 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.359 in Matthew chapter 3 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:13.759 after Jesus' baptism. 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.220 When the Spirit of God 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.680 descends like a dove 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.920 and repeats 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.700 these same words, 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.440 except here, 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.359 Matthew adds 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.200 an extra command 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.819 at the end. 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:23.700 He says, 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:25.160 listen to me. 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.980 So again, 00:17:28.100 --> 00:17:29.279 if we were to 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.920 look back at the Old Testament, 00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:32.400 it may jog our memories 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:33.300 to the text 00:17:33.300 --> 00:17:34.259 that Roddy read earlier 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.720 from Deuteronomy 18, 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.400 verse 15, 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:38.880 where God promises 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.440 to send a new prophet. 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.860 And He prophesies 00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.480 through Moses, 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.820 the Lord your God 00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.700 will raise up for you 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.700 a prophet like me 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.500 from among you, 00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:47.720 from your brothers. 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.800 Listen to Him. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:51.820 It says. 00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:53.819 So we see here 00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.379 that Jesus 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:56.220 is clearly 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:57.579 this prophet 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.939 that has been prophesied. 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:00.879 God's own Son 00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:02.200 has been sent. 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:02.740 So Matthew 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.599 is pointing out here 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:05.240 not only the identity 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.980 that Jesus shares 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.179 in God's glory, 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.359 but He also shares 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:11.099 in God's authority. 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:13.700 And we are to 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.480 listen to Him. 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:16.919 And so when the disciples 00:18:16.919 --> 00:18:17.579 hear this, 00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.119 it says that they 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:19.779 fall down in fear. 00:18:20.399 --> 00:18:21.240 Now it's interesting 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.039 when you compare 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.980 this narrative 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.700 to the Gospel of Mark 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.579 and the Gospel of Luke 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:26.620 who both talk about 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.620 the transfiguration. 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.180 Mark and Luke 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.200 both talk about 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:31.220 the disciples' reaction, 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:31.700 their fear, 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.660 much earlier on 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.220 in the narrative. 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.099 But here, 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.140 Matthew reserves 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.620 this description 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.559 of their fear 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:39.140 until after these words 00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:39.680 are spoken. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:41.019 As if it's the appropriate 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:42.120 time for us 00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:43.299 and the disciples 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:45.220 to have an emotional response 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:46.620 when we recognize 00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:47.400 the identity 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.759 and the authority 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.359 of Jesus, 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.380 the Son of God, 00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:51.380 the Messiah. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.340 And it says 00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.040 when they raise 00:18:54.040 --> 00:18:55.240 their heads, 00:18:56.020 --> 00:18:56.660 it says literally 00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.260 in the Greek 00:18:57.260 --> 00:18:58.020 they see 00:18:58.020 --> 00:19:00.900 only Jesus Himself. 00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:03.540 And so left before them 00:19:03.540 --> 00:19:04.280 is not Moses, 00:19:05.020 --> 00:19:06.080 it's not Elijah, 00:19:06.260 --> 00:19:07.800 it's only Jesus. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.040 It's only Jesus 00:19:09.040 --> 00:19:10.380 who possesses this glory. 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.360 It's only Jesus 00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:13.400 who possesses this authority. 00:19:13.520 --> 00:19:14.620 It is only Jesus 00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:15.500 to whom 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.540 we are to listen. 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:18.799 And so imagine 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:20.220 the lasting impact 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.180 that this would have 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.839 on the disciples. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.139 I mean, 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.319 this may evoke emotion 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:24.599 in us who are just reading it, 00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.460 but if you are there 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.399 seeing a glimpse 00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:28.379 of God's glory 00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:29.200 in His Son, 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:29.579 Jesus. 00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:31.659 We think about 00:19:31.659 --> 00:19:32.920 the Gospel of John, 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.200 how He writes 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:36.319 in John 1.14, 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:36.980 and the Word 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.879 became flesh 00:19:37.879 --> 00:19:38.879 and dwelt among us 00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:40.519 and we have seen 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.379 His glory. 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:42.819 The glory 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:44.220 as of the only Son 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.200 from the Father 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.720 full of grace 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.119 and truth. 00:19:47.179 --> 00:19:47.899 This is what John 00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:48.839 has witnessed firsthand. 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.419 We think about 00:19:51.419 --> 00:19:52.200 Peter's writing. 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:56.480 2 Peter 1.16, 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:58.000 he writes this, 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.099 Therefore, 00:19:58.180 --> 00:19:59.099 we did not follow 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:00.400 cleverly devised myths 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.839 when we made known 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.720 to you the power 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.440 and coming 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.720 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.920 but we were eyewitnesses 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.720 of His majesty. 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.519 For when He received 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.599 honor and glory 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:11.660 from God the Father 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.220 and a voice 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.299 was born to Him 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.720 by the majestic glory, 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:16.680 this is my beloved Son 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:18.119 with whom I am well pleased. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.220 We ourselves heard 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.200 this very voice 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.099 born from heaven 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:23.460 and we were with Him 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.380 on that holy mountain. 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:27.280 And so we see 00:20:27.280 --> 00:20:28.220 that these men 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:29.040 were moved 00:20:29.040 --> 00:20:30.680 by the glory 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.860 of God. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:33.660 But we recognize 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.440 that what they saw 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.920 was just a glimpse 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:38.160 of Jesus' glory. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.540 Because Jesus didn't remain 00:20:40.540 --> 00:20:42.180 in His unveiled glory here. 00:20:42.260 --> 00:20:43.220 We know that 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.260 as they descended 00:20:44.260 --> 00:20:45.180 the mountain beforehand, 00:20:45.760 --> 00:20:46.920 Jesus goes back 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.660 to as He was before. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.840 And so we may question, 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:52.060 well, why didn't He 00:20:52.060 --> 00:20:53.440 remain in His glory? 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.559 He revealed Himself 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.759 to His disciples. 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:57.100 Why not to everyone else 00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:57.620 at this point? 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.960 But that really goes 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:01.980 into our second point here, 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:03.740 the mission of Jesus. 00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:05.100 We've identified Jesus 00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:07.140 as His identity 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:08.400 as the Son of God, 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.100 as the Messiah. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.240 Well, what is His mission? 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.519 If we look back 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:15.279 to when Moses and Elijah 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.500 appear in this text, 00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:18.980 we talked about Peter's response, 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:20.200 a rather odd suggestion. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.160 This is a good thing. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.799 We're all here. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.360 How about I build you 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:25.039 a tent, Jesus, 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.160 and you one, Moses, 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.500 and one for you, Elijah. 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:30.039 We don't really know 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.460 what He meant by that, 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.340 what He wanted to do 00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:33.000 with these tents, 00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:33.700 what He expected 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:35.759 to become of this. 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.700 But it seems 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.820 that He has some sense 00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:39.900 that the day of the Lord 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.920 was near. 00:21:41.320 --> 00:21:42.539 And He had this desire 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.620 for the Messiah 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:45.720 to remain among His people. 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.840 But the thing is 00:21:47.840 --> 00:21:49.420 that this desire 00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.860 for the immediate establishment 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.819 of God's kingdom 00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:53.039 that God may dwell 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.219 right there personally 00:21:54.219 --> 00:21:55.079 among His people, 00:21:55.899 --> 00:21:56.899 it goes to show 00:21:56.899 --> 00:21:57.759 Peter's continued 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.079 lack of understanding. 00:21:59.479 --> 00:22:00.179 We already looked 00:22:00.179 --> 00:22:01.859 at chapter 16 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:04.359 where Peter rebukes Jesus 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:04.879 for saying, 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.459 no, no, no, 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:05.779 Lord, 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.799 you're not going to suffer 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.279 and die. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:07.979 That can't be. 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.179 We question, 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:10.479 now, 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:12.859 is this just a continuation 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:14.799 of Peter's misunderstanding? 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:17.180 Now, He's saying, 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:17.659 Jesus, look, 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.680 you don't have to suffer. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.919 You are here in Your glory. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.740 You can remain in Your glory. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.159 Let's set up Your kingdom now 00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:24.359 so that everyone knows it. 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:27.659 But we see Jesus' response 00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.519 in verse 9 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:30.299 that this is not a part 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.720 of His plan. 00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:31.919 He commands His disciples 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:33.119 not to tell anyone 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.980 what had happened 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:35.779 until the Son of Man 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.740 is raised from the dead. 00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:39.019 And so we see 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.419 that this is a repeated command 00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.980 that's recorded by Matthew 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.980 that Jesus says 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.519 throughout His ministry. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:45.859 In chapter 16, 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.000 we already looked at it. 00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:49.919 When Peter declares 00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:51.919 Jesus as the Christ, 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.079 Jesus responds by saying 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.759 to His disciples, 00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:55.639 don't tell anybody. 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:58.740 When Jesus performed miracles 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:00.480 early in the Gospel of Matthew, 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:01.680 multiple times, 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.659 He tells these people, 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.899 the recipients of these miracles, 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.240 don't tell anybody. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:09.240 And so why the secrecy? 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.700 Well, it seems as though 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:13.960 Jesus is wanting to avoid 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:15.340 creating any misunderstanding 00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:16.880 of who He is 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:18.720 and what He's here to accomplish. 00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:20.220 You may know that the Jews 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:22.079 were expecting Messiah to come, 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.819 but they wanted this Messiah 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:25.680 to come set up an earthly kingdom 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:27.960 to overthrow the Roman Empire. 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:31.620 So Jesus wanted this ambition, 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.279 this desire, 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.840 not to be a distraction 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:35.180 to the people, 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.160 not to be a distraction 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.279 from what He had actually 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.019 been called to do, 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:39.819 what His mission actually was, 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:41.879 to come and suffer and die. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.059 And so we see an allusion 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.279 to this mission 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.419 when we go back to look 00:23:47.419 --> 00:23:48.319 at the voice of God 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.220 again in the cloud. 00:23:49.659 --> 00:23:50.379 We talked about 00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:51.799 that it reminds us 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:53.019 of Jesus' baptism 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.519 where the Spirit of God 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.159 came down 00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:57.220 and spoke these same words 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.419 of His Son Jesus, 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.279 this is my Son 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.559 with whom I'm well pleased. 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:03.599 It reminds us of Deuteronomy 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.259 where it talks about 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:06.059 listening to Jesus. 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.740 But I think there's 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:08.559 a third allusion here 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.500 because when God says 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.480 this is my beloved Son 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.899 with whom I am well pleased, 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.779 that second part 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.899 of that phrase, 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.379 in whom I'm well pleased, 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.679 in whom I take delight, 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:20.759 this again is a repetition 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:23.399 of an Old Testament prophecy 00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:24.039 if we go back 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.879 to the book of Isaiah. 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.919 Isaiah 42, 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:27.740 which is one of these 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.799 servant songs, 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:31.019 one of several servant songs 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.919 in the book of Isaiah. 00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:34.559 Isaiah 42.1 says this, 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.460 Behold my servant, 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.819 whom I uphold, 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.039 my chosen, 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:40.759 in whom my soul delights. 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.259 So God prophesied 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.680 through Isaiah 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.920 that this Messiah 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.680 who was coming, 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:48.019 who would possess all power 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:49.079 and all authority, 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:51.140 was coming as a servant 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:52.620 to His people. 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:55.200 And so we see this theme 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.980 more clearly 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.680 in the second part 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.600 of our passage here. 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.960 When Jesus is descending 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.480 the mountain 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.759 with His disciples, 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.620 His disciples are 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.600 obviously confused. 00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:05.360 They've seen a glimpse 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:06.359 of Jesus' glory. 00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:08.359 They've seen Him 00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:09.359 talking with Moses 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:09.979 and Elijah, 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.759 so they assume 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.639 that the day of the Lord 00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.099 is near, 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.099 and they ask, 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.679 why do the scribes 00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:15.759 say that first Elijah 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.339 must come? 00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:19.619 Maybe a peculiar question 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.139 to us, 00:25:20.179 --> 00:25:20.779 but it was obvious 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.899 that they themselves 00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:24.059 understood another prophecy 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.199 from the book of Malachi. 00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:27.179 Malachi 4.5 says, 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.599 Behold, 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.799 I will send you Elijah 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.339 the prophet 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.439 before the great 00:25:30.439 --> 00:25:31.480 and awesome day 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.899 of the Lord comes. 00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:35.359 And so if the disciples 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.059 knew this, 00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.599 they knew the scribes 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.179 knew this, 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.219 they had just seen Elijah 00:25:40.219 --> 00:25:40.980 with Jesus 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.919 in His glory, 00:25:42.419 --> 00:25:44.019 if the day of the Lord 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.359 is near, 00:25:44.419 --> 00:25:45.179 why didn't Elijah 00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:45.879 stick around? 00:25:46.439 --> 00:25:47.539 What's going on here? 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.240 They want to know. 00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:50.599 Jesus clarifies 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.740 in verse 12. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.059 He says, 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:53.240 I tell you that Elijah 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.359 has already come, 00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.479 and they did not 00:25:55.479 --> 00:25:56.299 recognize Him, 00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.639 but did to Him 00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:58.500 whatever they pleased. 00:25:58.599 --> 00:26:00.000 So also the Son of Man 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.559 will certainly suffer 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.859 at their hands. 00:26:03.719 --> 00:26:04.459 And so Jesus 00:26:04.459 --> 00:26:05.299 is making clear 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.059 to His disciples, 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.819 once again, 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.439 if we look back 00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:09.119 in Matthew 11, 00:26:09.179 --> 00:26:10.059 He's already said this 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.759 to His disciples, 00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:11.899 that John the Baptist 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:13.379 is Elijah. 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.359 So yes, 00:26:15.459 --> 00:26:16.899 this prophecy says 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:18.019 that Elijah will come. 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.139 John the Baptist 00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:20.059 is the fulfillment 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.979 of the prophecy. 00:26:21.479 --> 00:26:22.000 John the Baptist 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.039 was to prepare 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.240 the way for the Lord. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.679 He has done so, 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:28.599 yet He was not recognized 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.859 and He was persecuted 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:31.119 and killed. 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.839 And so Jesus says, 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.559 in the same way, 00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:35.159 I too must suffer 00:26:35.159 --> 00:26:36.059 and die. 00:26:37.479 --> 00:26:38.059 And so Jesus 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.959 is making clear here 00:26:38.959 --> 00:26:40.479 that this transfiguration 00:26:40.479 --> 00:26:41.479 is really only 00:26:41.479 --> 00:26:42.859 a mere foreshadowing 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:44.000 of what is to come. 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.979 Where Jesus' glory 00:26:45.979 --> 00:26:47.819 would be eternally revealed, 00:26:47.919 --> 00:26:48.819 where Jesus would live 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.740 in perfect communion 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.799 with His people, 00:26:50.879 --> 00:26:51.759 but that day 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.579 has not come. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:55.659 He's making the point 00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.460 that the cross 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.579 precedes the crown, 00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.659 that pain 00:26:59.659 --> 00:27:01.259 precedes glory, 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.539 that His humiliation 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.859 precedes 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:05.399 His exaltation. 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:08.039 And so this is 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:09.319 the counterintuitive 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:10.299 plan 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.519 of salvation. 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.059 Jesus says 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:13.960 later in the Gospel 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.379 of Matthew, 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.179 in chapter 20, 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:15.880 the Son of Man 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:17.100 came not to be served, 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.180 but to serve 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.320 and to give His life 00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:20.500 as a ransom for many. 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:22.299 This is the good news 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.220 of the Gospel, 00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:23.900 that the Messiah 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.519 has come 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.880 to serve His people 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:27.060 and to save them 00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:28.220 from their sins. 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:31.220 And so this is exactly 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.100 what we read about 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:33.100 if you were part 00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:33.740 of a community group 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.460 this past week 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:34.920 and looked at 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.720 Philippians 2. 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.180 Philippians 2, 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:38.799 it says that 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.720 though Jesus 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.539 was in the form 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:40.960 of God, 00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.660 He did not account 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.660 equality with God, 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.180 a thing to be grasped, 00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:45.660 but emptied Himself 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.779 by taking the form 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.360 of a servant 00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:48.000 being born 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.640 in the likeness 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.120 of men 00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:50.579 and being found 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.259 in human form. 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:52.420 He humbled Himself 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.900 by becoming obedient 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.339 to the point of death, 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.120 even death on a cross. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:00.079 And so we see though 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:01.000 that Jesus did not 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.419 stay in the grave. 00:28:02.979 --> 00:28:04.019 On the third day 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.199 we know that He rose 00:28:05.199 --> 00:28:05.839 from the grave, 00:28:05.959 --> 00:28:06.619 that He ascended 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:07.059 into heaven, 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.639 that He sits 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.559 at the right hand 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.779 of God the Father Almighty 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.599 where He will come 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:12.059 to judge the living 00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.619 and the dead. 00:28:12.699 --> 00:28:13.539 So we can be confident 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:15.759 that Jesus will come again, 00:28:15.879 --> 00:28:17.139 that Jesus will establish 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:18.219 His eternal kingdom. 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.179 And so what does that mean 00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:21.299 for us now, believer, 00:28:22.239 --> 00:28:24.319 as we stand in between 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:26.379 the already and the not yet? 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.099 Yes, Jesus has been 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.619 has come and He has provided 00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.480 a means of salvation, 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.559 but He has promised 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.559 to come again. 00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.879 What are we to do? 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.939 What's our response 00:28:35.939 --> 00:28:37.139 to this narrative? 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:40.740 We see Jesus' command here, 00:28:41.719 --> 00:28:43.619 God's command in the cloud 00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:45.179 to listen to Him. 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:47.819 It says that in verse 5. 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.799 And so not only are we 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:52.000 to admire who Jesus is, 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:55.180 not only are we to respect Him 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:57.380 or even remain in awe of Him, 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:59.920 we are to listen to Him. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.880 And so this command, 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.640 it means much more 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.720 than just hearing. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:07.460 It's about hearing and obeying. 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:10.059 Obeying all that Jesus has said. 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:12.259 And then following Him. 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:14.019 Following Jesus on His path 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.079 to Jerusalem. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.819 This is what Jesus had just said 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.700 in chapter 16. 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:19.519 If anyone comes after Me, 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.700 let him deny himself 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:22.019 and take up His cross 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.799 and follow Me. 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:27.700 And so not only are we saved 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:29.279 through the blood of Jesus, 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.980 we are also called 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:32.900 to become more and more like Him 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:35.140 as we copy Him 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:36.819 and follow Him in His suffering. 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:40.259 It's Jesus that creates 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.440 this pattern for us 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.539 of being brought low 00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:44.140 in order to be brought up. 00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:46.880 And so as we continue 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.759 in the Gospel though, 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:49.259 this call to suffer 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:51.180 doesn't stand alone. 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.759 Because this call to suffer 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:54.320 we see coupled with this call 00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:56.280 to share the good news 00:29:56.280 --> 00:29:56.860 of the Gospel. 00:29:58.020 --> 00:29:58.940 We already looked at 00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:00.380 how before Jesus' death 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.840 and resurrection, 00:30:01.020 --> 00:30:03.000 He wants this to remain a secret. 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:04.100 He doesn't want others 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:05.660 to know of His identity 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.980 to that point in time. 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:09.740 But this command changes. 00:30:09.860 --> 00:30:10.100 He says, 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:11.700 only do so until after 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.460 the Son of Man 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:14.040 has raised from the dead. 00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:15.480 And so in the final verses 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.480 of Matthew's Gospel, 00:30:16.620 --> 00:30:17.300 Matthew 28, 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:19.180 He again peers to His disciples 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.180 on a mountaintop 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:21.200 and these are the words 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.120 that He says to them. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:23.140 He says, 00:30:23.280 --> 00:30:24.400 all authority in heaven 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:24.860 and on earth 00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:26.420 has been given to Me. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.600 Go therefore 00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.740 and make disciples 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.620 of all nations, 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.160 baptizing them 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.100 in the name of the Father 00:30:32.100 --> 00:30:32.940 and of the Son 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.320 and of the Holy Spirit, 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.400 teaching them to observe 00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:36.800 all I have commanded you 00:30:36.800 --> 00:30:37.700 and behold, 00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:39.640 I am with you always 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:41.200 to the end of the age. 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:45.420 And so this is how we respond. 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:48.559 By listening to the Son. 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.779 By following in His example. 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:52.360 By sharing this good news 00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:53.680 of the Gospel with others. 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.460 And we do so 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:56.160 with an eager anticipation 00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:58.140 for when we too 00:30:58.140 --> 00:31:00.600 will see God's glory. 00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:03.819 And because this is the reality here, 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:05.360 that the vision of God 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:07.399 is the ultimate goal 00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.619 of Christianity. 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.799 It's not just that 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.639 we may have faith. 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.379 It's not just that 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.619 our sins may be forgiven. 00:31:14.159 --> 00:31:15.339 Our faith is the means 00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:16.219 of our salvation, 00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.199 but our goal 00:31:17.199 --> 00:31:18.259 of our salvation 00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:21.079 is that we may see Christ. 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.579 We are on a pilgrimage 00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.500 in this life. 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.039 A pilgrimage 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:29.539 from faith 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.899 to sight. 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.559 And so may we long 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.039 for the day 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.159 when we may see Christ 00:31:35.159 --> 00:31:36.319 in all His glory. 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.599 When we may behold 00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:38.559 His shining face. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.559 In the book of Revelation, 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.240 John writes 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.480 of his vision 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.319 of a new Jerusalem. 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:46.319 We know that Jesus 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:47.119 is coming again. 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:47.980 He's going to establish 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.720 a new heaven 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.899 and a new earth. 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:51.279 And this is what John says 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:53.099 of this new Jerusalem. 00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:56.039 And I saw no temple 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.579 in the city 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.399 for its temple 00:31:57.399 --> 00:31:58.559 is the Lord God, 00:31:58.639 --> 00:31:59.119 the Almighty, 00:31:59.279 --> 00:31:59.759 and the Lamb. 00:32:00.699 --> 00:32:01.359 And the city 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.240 has no need 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:03.539 of sun or moon 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.480 to shine on it 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.659 for the glory 00:32:05.659 --> 00:32:06.259 of God 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:07.019 gives its light 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:08.599 and its lamp 00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:09.819 is the Lamb. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:13.419 And so as we conclude, 00:32:13.899 --> 00:32:14.899 we can do so 00:32:14.899 --> 00:32:15.579 in the same way 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.319 that we began 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.039 as Spurgeon 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.759 urges us 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.719 to respond 00:32:18.719 --> 00:32:19.319 not only 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:20.179 with our heads 00:32:20.179 --> 00:32:21.019 but also 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.599 our hearts 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.759 that we may rejoice 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.859 in the arrival 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.579 of the Messiah 00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.559 who brings salvation 00:32:25.559 --> 00:32:26.459 to His people. 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.740 That we may long 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.599 for His return 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.480 when we too 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:32.159 may see God 00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:33.579 in all His glory. 00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.740 And so may that desire 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:38.079 for the vision of Christ 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.599 surpass all else 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.819 in our lives. 00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.480 Let's pray. 00:32:49.419 --> 00:32:50.480 Lord, we thank You 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.539 for revealing 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.519 just a glimpse 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.380 of Your glory 00:32:54.380 --> 00:32:55.259 to Your disciples. 00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:56.319 That that was recorded 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:56.960 in Your Word 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:58.160 that we may understand 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:59.500 Your true identity. 00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.960 That we may understand 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:03.039 better Your mission. 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.599 And so Lord, 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:07.360 may that compel us 00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:10.120 to desire 00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:11.759 to see Your face also. 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:14.200 And as we await 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:14.940 for Your return, 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.180 Lord, 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:16.360 we pray that we'll be 00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:17.579 faithful in listening 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.639 to You. 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.480 To understand 00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.819 Your identity. 00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:22.119 To see Your suffering 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:22.619 and desire 00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.699 to follow in it 00:33:23.699 --> 00:33:24.659 knowing that we are 00:33:24.659 --> 00:33:26.159 made more and more 00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:27.220 like You. 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:30.199 God, may it be 00:33:30.199 --> 00:33:31.259 our heart's desire 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:33.319 to see the face 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.599 of Jesus. 00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:37.259 Our Savior, 00:33:37.439 --> 00:33:38.159 the Son of God. 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:39.559 We pray this 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.299 in Jesus' name. 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.299 Amen. 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:41.399 Amen. 00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:41.460 Amen. 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:41.500 Amen. 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:41.519 Amen. 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:41.539 Amen. 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:41.559 Amen. 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:41.579 Amen. 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:41.599 Amen.