9, starting in verse 2 through 229, and you'll find it in your church Bibles on 1012.
So starting at verse 2.
After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him and led them up a high mountain
where they were all alone.
There he was transfigured before them.
His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
And there appeared before Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here.
Let us put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
He did not know what to say. They were so frightened.
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud.
This is my son, whom I love. Listen to him.
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen
until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what rising from the dead meant.
And they asked him, Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?
Jesus replied, To be sure, Elijah does come first and restores all things.
Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished,
just as it is written about him.
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them
and the teachers of the law arguing with them.
As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
What are you arguing with them about? he asked.
A man in the crowd answered, Teacher, I brought you my son,
who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground.
He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.
I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.
Oh, one believing generation, Jesus replied, How long shall I stay with you?
How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into convulsion.
He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy's father, How long has he been like this?
From childhood, he answered.
It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.
If you can, said Jesus, everything is possible for him who believes.
Immediately, the boy's father exclaimed, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit.
You deaf and mute spirit, he said, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently, and ran out and came out.
The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, He's dead.
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, Why couldn't we drive it out?
He replied, This kind can come out only by prayer.
Thank you.
Let's pray.
Almighty God, you sent your Son, the Lord Jesus,
to call us out of darkness and into your brilliant light.
Help us to understand what that means.
And we pray that as we see Jesus in this passage this morning,
that we ourselves would understand him better and be able to reflect the light of Christ
as we enter into the darkness of the world.
Lord, pour out your Spirit upon us and help us.
And may not one of us leave this morning
without being impacted,
without being changed
by you today.
We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Well, as is our custom, while on holiday,
Ethan, Rebecca, and I climbed up a mountain.
Some were not as adventurous and took the chairlift.
Isn't that right, Kirsty?
It was a long struggle,
but the experience at the top
was breathtaking.
The clear skies,
the beautiful sunshine,
the cool breeze blowing through the trees,
the silence,
and the panoramic views of the River Rhine
meandering down through the valley.
I could have stayed there all day,
basking under the shade of the trees.
It was a spectacular sight.
But we soon had to go back down
into the valley.
The stifling, sweaty heat.
The hustle and bustle of the town.
Dirty roads and noisy traffic.
The contrast could not be greater.
I longed to be back on top of the mountain.
Well, in Mark's account,
we are all taken to the top of a high mountain.
There we are to witness
the beauty and the brilliance of Jesus.
But before we can stay and enjoy it,
we are taken down into the valley.
And there we experience the darkness
and the disorder of the world.
The contrast could not be greater.
The light of Jesus on the mountain
and the darkness of Satan in the valley.
How the disciples longed to stay on the mountaintop.
But Jesus surprisingly takes them down
into the depths of the valley.
Let's follow them as they take their journey.
First, we are taking up the mountain.
Look at verse 2.
After six days,
Jesus took Peter, James and John with him
and led them up a high mountain
where they were all alone.
And something extraordinary happens.
There he was transfigured before them.
Literally,
the outward appearance of Jesus
was completely changed
and transformed.
Verse 3.
His clothes became dazzling white,
whiter than anyone in the world
could bleach them.
The brightness from this pure light
was dazzling and blinding.
But what was it all about?
Well, we should know from the Bible
that mountains are always seen
as significant places.
Primarily, mountains are where God appears
and reveals himself to his people
because he has something important to say.
Look at verse 4.
And there appeared before them on the mountain
Elijah and Moses
who were talking with Jesus.
You remember Elijah and Moses,
the great prophets,
the great leaders from the past.
They had both had their mountaintop experience.
They had both met God on a mountain.
God had come down to them
and spoken to them
and through these prophets
displayed his awesome power
as they went out to lead the people.
But now,
the focus is all on Jesus.
Elijah and Moses
are now in the presence of Jesus.
They were only a picture
of God's chosen king
who was to come.
So can we begin to see
what this is?
God is saying that Jesus
is my promised king
with supreme authority
and absolute power.
Verse 7.
Then a cloud appeared
and enveloped them
and a voice came from the cloud.
This is my son
whom I love.
Listen to him.
It's all about Jesus.
He is the light
who has come to dispel
the darkness.
He is the one to restore
and to renew.
Peter later writes
what he experienced
on this mountain.
The quote is there
for you on the screen.
This is what he says.
We were eyewitnesses
of his majesty.
For he received
honour and glory
from God the Father
when the voice
came to him
from the majestic glory
saying,
This is my son
whom I love.
With him
I am well pleased.
The majestic king
with all power
and all authority
Jesus is.
But they're in
for a surprise.
Look at verse 9.
As they were coming
down the mountain
Jesus gave them orders
not to tell anyone
what they had seen
until the Son of Man
had risen from the dead.
Jesus is the Son of Man.
The Son of Man
is a title
which signifies
his universal rule
his unrivaled power.
And now he's talking
about rising
from the dead
which means
only one thing
doesn't it?
If you're going
to rise from the dead
it means you have
to die first.
The disciples
were clearly
confused.
Verse 10.
They kept the matter
to themselves
discussing
what rising
from the dead
meant.
I mean we've just
seen him up
on the mountain.
This majestic king
with all glory
and honour
the brilliance
and the brightness.
He's the one
who's to come
with the armies
from heaven
to destroy
the enemy.
What's he talking
about dying for?
Kings don't die
when they're going
into battle.
Verse 11.
And they asked him
why did the teachers
of the law
say that Elijah
must come first?
They knew their
Bibles well
and they knew
that the scriptures
taught that
the promise
had been made
that there was
an Elijah type
prophet who was
going to come again
and restore
and put everything
that was right
and put everything
good into order
and he was going
to prepare the way
for God's promised
king who was going
to establish
his perfect kingdom
and everything
was all beginning
to match up.
The pieces of the puzzle
were all together.
They've just seen
Elijah on the mountain
and Jesus is obviously
this great king
so why on earth
is he talking
about having to die?
That piece
doesn't fit.
Well Jesus explains
it all to us
verse 12.
Jesus replied
to be sure
Elijah does come first
and restores
all things.
Why then
is it written
that the son of man
must suffer much
and be rejected?
Oh yes
you're quite right
he says
the scriptures
look forward
to an Elijah
who's going to restore
and prepare the way
for the king
but read the rest
of your Bibles
he says
because the scriptures
also talk about
the king
who will have to suffer
the king who will be
rejected
and die.
He's already told them
that but they don't
seem to get it
into their heads.
Chapter 8
verse 31
just back a few verses
chapter 8
verse 31
Jesus began
to teach them
that the son of man
must suffer
many things
and be rejected
by the elders
the chief priests
and the teachers
of the law
and that he must
be killed
and after three days
rise again.
Jesus is saying
to them
and to us
I am the one
with all power
and all authority
but the way
that full
complete restoration
is going to come
is not through
the waving
of a sword
but through
my suffering
and death
on a cross.
He says
if you are to
share in my glory
if you want
to be part
of my kingdom
if you want
this mountaintop
experience
to last
for all eternity
if that's
what you're after
I've got to die
but that was not
the only shock
look at verse 13
he says
I tell you
Elijah has come
and they have
done to him
everything they wished
just as it is
written about him
Elijah had come
Elijah was the
John the Baptist
character
that we met
in chapter 1
he was the one
who came
to prepare
the way
for the coming
of Jesus
and what happened
to John the Baptist
well his brutal death
has gone down
in history
everybody knows
what happened
to him
he was sent
to the executioner
and beheaded
you see
like the disciples
we much prefer
to stay
on the mountain
don't we
where everything
is bright
and beautiful
and perfect
like Peter
we want to set up
our little shelters
and we want to
stay there
and to
take it all in
and just to
enjoy it all
we want to
stay and rest
in the beauty
and the brilliance
of it
we want the glory
now
we want
everything to be
bright
and beautiful
now
we want
all the suffering
and the evil
to go
now
but says
Jesus
the glory
is going
to come
my kingdom
will be
established
but we must
prepare
to suffer
first
John the Baptist
suffered
I'm going
to suffer
and if you
follow me
you too
will suffer
we can't
stay on this
mountain
we must
go into
the valley
of darkness
and confront
the forces
of evil
with the light
the glory
is going
to come
but suffering
comes first
so
they venture
off the mountain
and down
into the valley
of darkness
verse 14
when they came
to the other
disciples
they saw
a large crowd
around them
and the teachers
of the law
arguing with them
as soon as all the people
saw Jesus
they were overwhelmed
with wonder
and ran to greet him
was there something
about the brightness
of Jesus
still there
what are you
arguing with them
about
he asked
clearly
there's a problem
and no one
seems to be able
to do anything
about it
verse 17
a man
in the crowd
answered
teacher
I brought
you my son
who is possessed
of a spirit
that has robbed
him of speech
this is no
ordinary
sickness
in this case
it is very specific
it is the work
and influence
of an evil spirit
and it has left
a young boy
on the edge
of death
and it has left
his father
full of fear
verse 18
whenever it
seizes him
it throws him
to the ground
he foams
at the mouth
gnashes his teeth
and becomes rigid
it's a desperate
hopeless
situation
something
this poor family
have lived with
through their
whole life
down at verse 21
Jesus asked
the boy's father
how long
has the child
been like this
from childhood
he answered
it has often
thrown him
into the fire
or into the water
to kill him
the evil spirit
is destructive
and death
threatening
and the problem
to them all
is this
go back up
to the end
of verse 18
I asked
your disciples
to drive out
the spirit
but they could
not
the boy
the parents
and now
the disciples
are left
facing the
reality of a
broken
and disordered
world
which they
can do
nothing about
they are
confronted
with the
darkness
of evil
and the
destructive
work
of Satan
and they
are completely
hopeless
isn't this
the world
we live in
broken
and disordered
isn't this
what we see
and experience
all around us
the images
that we've seen
on the television
this week
the violence
and the bloodshed
that is crippling
Egypt and Syria
men
women
and children
maimed
blown apart
poisoned
the hundreds
of thousands
of children
who have been
subject to
slavery
working in
the sweatshops
others who've
been sold
into the
sex industry
the brutal
regime
of a
North Korea
or a
Zimbabwe
that have
left
countless
millions
in poverty
ruined
and broken
and then
think of
the countless
acts of
unreported
murder
rape
all kinds
of abuse
corruption
and greed
breaking
and destroying
individual
lives
ruining
families
and
relationships
every
single
day
and yes
people are
responsible
but behind
it all
stands the
sinister
work
of
Satan
God
the Bible
tells us
that our
struggle
see it on
the screen
there
our struggle
is not
against
flesh
and blood
but against
the rulers
against the
authorities
against the
powers of
this dark
world
and against
the spiritual
forces of
evil
now we
must be
very careful
not to
assign
every
illness
and sickness
to an
evil
spirit
does my
daughter
Rebecca
have an
evil
spirit
is that
why she
is deaf
no
we
simply
live
in a
world
that is
broken
where
disease
and
disorder
and
death
and
the
darkness
of
evil
is at
work
all
around
us
and
like
the
disciples
in the
face
of it
we
are
powerless
to do
anything
about
it
well
the
reason
Jesus
came
down
into
the
valley
was to
confront
the
forces
of evil
full on
the
brilliance
and the
brightness
of God's
king
has come
down to
deal with
the darkness
and the
disorder
of
Satan
look at
verse 19
let's read
and let's get
this story
what's happening
here
oh
unbelieving
generation
Jesus
replied
how long
shall I
stay
with you
how long
shall I
put up
with you
bring the
boy to
me
come
come here
so they
brought him
and when the
spirit
saw
Jesus
it
immediately
threw the
boy into
a convulsion
the spirit
could see
that in
Jesus
was supreme
authority
and absolute
power
and he
fell to the
ground
and rolled
around
foaming
at the
mouth
Jesus
asked the
boy's
father
how long
has he been
like this
from
childhood
he answered
it
has
often
thrown
him
into
the
fire
and water
to kill
him
but if
you can
do
anything
take
pity
on us
and help
us
if you
can
if you
can
said
Jesus
everything
is possible
for him
who believes
Jesus
invitation
to this
hopeless
and helpless
and broken
father
is just
to say
to him
believe
trust
in who
Jesus
claims
to be
that he
is the
God
man
with
absolute
power
and supreme
authority
he is
the majestic
king
who rules
and who
reigns
verse 24
immediately
the boy's
father exclaims
oh I
do
believe
help me
overcome
my
unbelief
you see
it's not
about the
measure of
his faith
or even
the quality
of his
faith
it's not
anything to
do with
us but
who
we have
faith in
where we
place our
faith in
this world
that's what's
important
and Jesus
is making
it clear
to us
and to
the father
here
it's not
about you
it's not
about your
ability
it's all
about me
and what I
am able
to do
and what I
am willing
to do
for you
this is why
I have
come
do you not
understand
oh unbelieving
generation
verse 25
when Jesus
saw that a
crowd was
running to
the scene
he rebuked
the evil
spirit
you deaf
and mute
spirit
he said
I command
you come
out of him
and never
enter him
again
the spirit
shrieked
convulsed him
violently
and came
out
the boy
looked so
much like a
corpse
that many
said
he's dead
but Jesus
took him
by the
hand
and lifted
him to
his feet
and he
stood up
the little
broken
boy
renewed
and restored
running
and playing
and talking
talking
for the
first time
the light
has come
and the
darkness
has gone
and life
reigns
where death
once
threatened
one of my
favorite scenes
from the
lord of the
rings
trilogy
is the
battle at
helms
deep
you may
remember that
scene
surrounded by
the evil
forces of
Sauron
they're
fighting for
their survival
and then
Aragorn
he remembers
the words
of Gandalf
look to
my coming
at first
light
on the
fifth day
at dawn
look to
the east
and then
as they ride
out into
the battle
this light
appears
on top of
the mountain
and Gandalf
is there
in his
brilliant
dazzling
white
light
and his
white horse
and he
rides down
the mountain
into the
valley
and his
brightness
blinds the
evil forces
and they're
defeated
well Jesus
came from
the mountain
down
into
the valley
but ultimately
Jesus has
come down
from the
glory of
heaven
to this
sin
broken
world
his journey
was going
to take him
into a much
darker valley
to the
cross
itself
and there
at the
cross
he defeated
the power
of sin
and death
and the
one who
holds the
power of
death
Satan
himself
he destroys
it once
and for
all
and three
days later
he proved
his victory
by rising
from the
dead
and promised
to return
again
that is
why he
had to
die
the story
invites
us
to put
our trust
in the
light
of who
Jesus
is
look at
verse 28
after
Jesus
had gone
indoors
his
disciples
asked him
privately
why
couldn't
we
drive it
out
Jesus
replied
this
kind
can
come
out
only
by
prayer
you
see
prayer
is
the
means
by
which
we
express
our
faith
it is
a cry
of
desperation
an
expression
of our
trust
that the
power
is not
in
ourselves
but
it's
in
God's
son
and we
must
follow the
example
of the
struggling
father
who said
in verse
24
I do
believe
but help
me overcome
my unbelief
faith is
recognizing
our
weakness
our
frailty
and our
inability
and asking
God
for the
ability
to trust
in him
alone
who is
able to
restore
the
brokenness
and renew
the
disorder
we
live
in a
dark
and broken
world
and we
know
people
who are
facing
the
darkness
and are
in it
yet
Jesus
has come
to save
us
and to
rescue
us
and his
invitation
to us
is to
cry out
in prayer
and to
trust in
him
alone
of course
that does
not mean
that every
illness
will be
healed
or that
every act
will be
overcome
immediately
but what it
does tell us
for sure
is that he
will heal
all sickness
and he
will banish
all evil
when he
comes again
in his
glory
and from
the darkness
of the
valley
where we
walk
we are
people
of faith
who continue
to cry
out in
faith
and look
forward in
faith
to his
coming
we long
for the
day
when Jesus
appears in
his brilliant
dazzling
light
just as he
did on the
mountain
on that
day
we will
watch
and the
light
of glory
will banish
the forces
of darkness
once and for
all
the light
will rid
the suffering
and the evil
will be gone
and all
who follow
him
and all
who have
trusted in
him and
cried out
like the
father here
will share
in his
glory
for all
eternity
the glory
of the
mountain
is
coming
but for
now
we walk
through the
darkness
of the
valley
and as
we walk
in this
darkness
we shine
the light
of the
gospel
of Jesus
Christ
we bring
the hope
the only
one who
can deal
with it
and pray
that people
will put
their trust
in him
lord
i do
believe
help me
overcome
my unbelief
let's pray
father
each one
of us
here
has
our
own
stories
to tell
of
very
difficult
situations
that
friends
are in
or family
are in
or perhaps
we are
in
and we
walk
through the
valley
of the
darkness
and we
cry out
afresh
lord i do
believe
help me
overcome
my unbelief
help me
to look
with the
eye of
faith
to the
coming
of christ
in all
his
brightness
and glory
where he
will dispel
once and
for all
all evil
satan
will be
no more
sickness
and suffering
will be
gone
father help
us to keep
walking in
faith
and to
trust you
and please
will you
help us
as we
walk out
into this
world
please help
us to
point people
to jesus
may they
find in
him
one who
has
compassion
and one
who has
mercy
and one
who will
help
because he
is able
come lord
jesus
come
amen
he
Amen.