WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.259 Now, the scripture reading this morning, which covers that episode that we were just hearing about, is Matthew 17, verses 1-13. 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:19.260 If you're like me, retention is enhanced if the eye gate is engaged, as well as the ear gate, so I hope you'll read along with me. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:23.339 Matthew 17, verses 1-13. 00:00:23.339 --> 00:00:33.439 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 00:00:34.140 --> 00:00:42.359 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 00:00:43.140 --> 00:00:48.179 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 00:00:48.179 --> 00:00:53.659 And Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good that we are here. 00:00:54.100 --> 00:01:01.460 If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah. 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:10.159 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:14.960 This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. 00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:16.480 Listen to him. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:22.120 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 00:01:23.020 --> 00:01:28.140 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, Rise and have no fear. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:34.040 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:38.840 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:44.620 Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. 00:01:44.620 --> 00:01:52.460 And the disciples asked him, Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? 00:01:53.080 --> 00:01:58.040 He answered, Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 00:01:58.520 --> 00:02:01.260 But I tell you that Elijah has already come. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:06.540 And they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:12.659 So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands. 00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:19.439 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:22.000 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:22.099 Amen. 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:27.560 Good morning, everyone. 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:30.840 My name is Dave. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:32.799 I'm one of the pastors, if I haven't met you before. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:37.099 A kind of cold, but hopefully warm welcome to you. 00:02:38.519 --> 00:02:40.180 Why don't we pray as we come to God's word? 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:40.759 Let's pray. 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:50.099 Lord, coming out of another week, or going into another one as well, 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:56.639 I'm assuming that we're all coming from different places, 00:02:56.919 --> 00:02:58.539 from living in a broken world. 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:04.340 Lord, some of us will just be weighed down with a sense of guilt and failure. 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:11.620 Others will just be overwhelmed, not sure what's going on. 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:18.740 Lord, others will be just so in love with something in this world 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:24.000 that even as we come to your word, not expecting to get anything out of it. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:28.640 Lord, some of us, our sight of Jesus has grown cold. 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:32.759 For some of us, we're just feeling shame. 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:38.000 Lord, please speak to each one of us. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:41.280 Send your Holy Spirit to speak through your word 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:44.419 so that we might see the Lord Jesus as our life. 00:03:45.139 --> 00:03:46.039 In his name I pray. 00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:46.620 Amen. 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:55.599 Well, a friend once asked me what my favourite song about heaven was. 00:03:55.959 --> 00:04:02.719 And the song that came to my mind was I Know by King's Kaleidoscope. 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:03.500 I don't know if you know it. 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:04.579 I'll read a bit of the lyrics. 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:05.539 I won't sing it to you. 00:04:07.139 --> 00:04:12.179 I've been given a taste for something that nothing in this world can satisfy. 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:18.759 But I know that a time is coming when I will be in glorious delight. 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:26.259 I know I will run through heaven's streets of gold shouting hallelujah, Christ alone. 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:30.680 I know I will dance and sing and bow before the throne. 00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:33.159 This, yeah, this I know. 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:34.599 Oh. 00:04:36.219 --> 00:04:36.819 Oh. 00:04:36.819 --> 00:04:37.060 Oh. 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:43.500 But how do I know? 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:45.959 How can you know? 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:53.079 Especially when life is just not working out how you hoped for, 00:04:53.180 --> 00:04:55.560 which I'm assuming that's all of us in this room. 00:04:56.219 --> 00:05:01.879 How can you know when the anxious thoughts aren't taken away, 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:03.079 no matter how much you pray? 00:05:04.219 --> 00:05:08.300 How can you know you're going to be in glorious delight one day? 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:13.620 When you gradually lose all things in your older years, 00:05:14.339 --> 00:05:21.040 how can you know when you're surrounded by that kind of sense of darkness, 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.879 when you commit the same sin this week as you did last week? 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:33.459 How can we know when others who don't follow Jesus seem happier and healthier, 00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:39.399 when you try and speak Jesus' truth out of love into people's heart, 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:44.019 but then the ones you love distance themselves from you because you're trying to do that. 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:47.719 It seems far from glorious. 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:50.860 How can we know that one day we're going to be dancing and singing 00:05:50.860 --> 00:05:52.959 and bowing before the throne? 00:05:54.879 --> 00:06:00.000 I think this passage we're coming to, what we call the transfiguration, 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:08.800 is just one gracious, God-given reason to help us know. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:17.540 Someone described this passage as like the whole gospel in a microcosm, 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:19.719 so I feel a bit intimidated by that. 00:06:20.060 --> 00:06:22.040 We can't unpack everything here. 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:23.240 There's just so much in here. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:28.120 But amidst the darkness of living in a sinful world, 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:30.399 we are given this glimpse into heaven. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:37.699 I think first, we can have no doubt about who Jesus is. 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:44.519 And second, we see that we can know that suffering is God's appointed pathway to glory. 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:47.919 We can have no doubt about who Jesus is. 00:06:47.919 --> 00:06:51.759 And we can know that this is the pathway to glory. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:56.579 So let's get into the story. 00:06:56.939 --> 00:07:01.399 It's really uncommon in the Gospels to find a specific time reference. 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:03.379 So six days later in verse 1. 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:08.540 So six days after he has been confessed to be the Christ, 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:13.199 after he has made plain his plan to suffer and die, 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:22.719 and after he has called all who would follow him to die to self and die to the world, 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:26.839 we're given this six days later. 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:29.799 These are dark days. 00:07:31.219 --> 00:07:34.679 There's been wonderful things that have happened in the past three years of his ministry, 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:38.659 all the healing and everything that has happened. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:41.439 But he's now talking about his death. 00:07:41.919 --> 00:07:44.719 He's now saying you need to die to self and the world. 00:07:45.719 --> 00:07:46.919 There's a lot of gloom. 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:49.759 These are the last few weeks of his life. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:59.219 But for a brief moment, we get to look into his nature before he entered this world. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:05.079 For a brief moment, we get to see what Jesus is like this very moment in heaven. 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:10.980 For a brief moment, we get a glimpse of what all people are going to see one day when he returns, 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:15.300 when every knee will bow when they see him like this. 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.599 They will confess he is Lord. 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:19.580 We get this glimpse. 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:28.960 You don't need to wait for a dream or a vision by the Holy Spirit to see into heaven 00:08:28.960 --> 00:08:32.860 if you realise that this is recorded for you. 00:08:33.460 --> 00:08:35.080 This is recorded for our sake. 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:41.399 So Jesus takes with him Peter, James and John up a high mountain. 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:44.519 These three were something of the inner circle of the twelve, 00:08:44.680 --> 00:08:46.759 but I first wondered why only three? 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:48.120 Why not the rest of the disciples? 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:53.580 But I think a better question is, why did he take anyone with him at all? 00:08:54.919 --> 00:09:00.200 There's other really significant events that happened to Jesus that no one was with him for, 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:04.159 and the Holy Spirit records it for us, like his temptation in the wilderness, 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:08.340 or him praying in the Garden of Gethsemane when the disciples are asleep. 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:10.340 Why did he take three with him? 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:15.800 I think he took three. 00:09:15.800 --> 00:09:22.940 The fact that he takes three of the disciples with him suggests that what happens here isn't primarily for his sake. 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:24.460 He didn't need confirmation. 00:09:25.420 --> 00:09:30.280 It's primarily for their sake and for our sake, reading the Gospel today. 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:38.500 There are plenty of people who claim to have had visions of heaven, 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:49.580 but the problem with that is Scripture tells us the adversary, Satan can appear as an angel of light. 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:53.639 Can you really trust that, what one person says? 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:58.399 Can you even trust your own experience? 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:03.000 You've got to test it with a grain of salt, according to Scripture. 00:10:03.899 --> 00:10:06.419 But here we have three witnesses. 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:08.759 This isn't happening in their minds. 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:11.679 Three witnesses are saying, 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:14.319 this is what happened. 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:15.779 This phenomenon happened. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:20.620 The word vision is used in verse 9, 00:10:20.719 --> 00:10:23.359 but that doesn't mean that this was some out-of-body experience. 00:10:23.479 --> 00:10:26.579 That word vision can just mean what they saw with their eyes. 00:10:30.459 --> 00:10:33.099 Here we can have three eyewitnesses saying, 00:10:33.459 --> 00:10:34.519 this happened. 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:36.459 You can have confidence in this. 00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:41.720 He was transfigured before them, 00:10:42.920 --> 00:10:46.519 and his face shone like the sun, 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:53.820 and his clothes became white as light. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:59.460 How are you going to make sense of that? 00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:04.780 Where does that fit in your categories of reality? 00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:09.620 When we say a lady is, 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:14.040 a girl is glowing and radiant, 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:18.160 we are not meaning that we're scared 00:11:18.160 --> 00:11:19.360 that if we keep looking, 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:21.379 our retinas are going to be burnt. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:23.019 We're not meaning that. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:24.780 But they are. 00:11:25.920 --> 00:11:26.800 I just had a go. 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:27.820 Preparing this week, 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:28.600 I just had a go. 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.800 I'm not encouraging this, 00:11:29.940 --> 00:11:30.639 especially children, 00:11:30.780 --> 00:11:32.780 but I had a go at staring at the sun for a second. 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:34.840 One second, I was like, 00:11:34.900 --> 00:11:35.460 no, I'm out. 00:11:35.460 --> 00:11:37.100 I don't want to go blind. 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:40.560 His face shone like the sun. 00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:43.639 What is that? 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:48.100 Where are you going to fit that in your category of Jesus, 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:49.720 of reality? 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:56.820 I think there could be two barriers to knowing what to do with this. 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:01.399 I think one barrier is to make a joke of it, 00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:03.779 like the memes, 00:12:04.300 --> 00:12:06.120 and people say, 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.620 like, oh, who does his laundry? 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:11.620 That's a pretty poor joke. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:13.960 Thanks, Matt. 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:17.180 But why make a joke about this? 00:12:19.780 --> 00:12:26.340 I wonder if it's very similar to why we call the top student in our class a nerd. 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:28.280 Like, oh, we try and make fun of them. 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:30.819 I think because they're a threat. 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:37.759 Because their brilliance shines on our inadequacy, 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:39.459 and they're a threat. 00:12:40.459 --> 00:12:43.240 So I think if you make a joke about this, 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:44.220 really, 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:49.399 it's just you're trying to avoid the threat of what is going on here. 00:12:49.579 --> 00:12:50.339 Can I encourage you? 00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:51.699 Don't do that. 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:52.620 Just take a look. 00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:54.240 Take a long, hard look. 00:12:58.280 --> 00:13:04.340 The second barrier may be simply we don't know the Old Testament imagery 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:06.520 that is just packed into this passage. 00:13:07.060 --> 00:13:08.560 And maybe we don't want to know, 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.140 because it is threatening, 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:12.160 but maybe we just don't know. 00:13:12.540 --> 00:13:13.840 That could be another barrier. 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:18.780 Because when the Israelites were set free from Egypt, 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:24.079 the Lord travelled with them in a bright cloud, 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:25.539 the glory cloud, 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:27.059 that looked like a cloud by day, 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:28.620 but fire by night. 00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:32.459 And this cloud destroyed Egypt's army. 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:36.259 When they arrived at Mount Sinai, 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:38.360 when this cloud descended on the mountain, 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:40.759 it turned into like a volcano, 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.720 and it was shaking, 00:13:43.419 --> 00:13:46.459 and no one was to go up that mountain. 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.280 If they did, 00:13:47.400 --> 00:13:49.000 God would break out against them. 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:50.900 Even Moses said, 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.840 let me have a look. 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:52.540 And God says, 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:53.060 no, 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:53.879 you will die. 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:58.440 He only saw the back of God, 00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:00.019 and he came back glowing, 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:01.160 his face glowing, 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:02.560 which dimmed over time. 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:05.280 Something like the moon reflecting the light. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:09.360 Then we've also got the prophet Elijah. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.420 In 1 Kings 19, 00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:14.379 he had an encounter with God up on Mount Horeb. 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:17.860 He heard powerful phenomena, 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.639 and heard his voice, 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:22.200 and here we are going up a high mountain again 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:24.700 with these two men who encountered God. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.659 Here we have the bright cloud, 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.399 the glory cloud, 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:32.500 that produces terror when you hear his voice. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.259 But what's different? 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:39.980 What's different here to Moses and Elijah's day? 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:44.960 The divine splendour 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.480 is now radiating out of a person. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.080 The Apostle Paul met this same blinding light 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:58.080 during the middle of the day. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:02.500 He was blinded by it when Jesus showed himself. 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:06.980 Psalm 104 says, 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:09.460 you are clothed with splendour and majesty, 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:12.000 covering yourself with light 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.539 as with a garment. 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:19.759 This guy bursts any category of angel. 00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:22.419 He bursts any category of prophet. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.460 What we see here is what Hebrews 1 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:28.080 puts in a statement form. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:31.759 He is the radiance of the glory of God. 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:35.320 The exact imprint of his nature. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:40.440 He is not like a Moses and Elijah 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:42.799 who point to ultimate reality. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:46.500 He is ultimate reality. 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:59.059 I found what historian N.T. Wright said, 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.259 I found it helpful. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:04.000 How can you live with the terrifying thought 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:06.240 that the hurricane has become human, 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:09.419 that fire has become flesh, 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:12.960 that life, capital L, life itself, 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:16.340 became life and walked in our midst? 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.940 Christianity either means that 00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:20.700 or it means nothing. 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:25.100 It is either the most devastating disclosure 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:27.420 of the deepest reality of the world 00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:30.400 or it is a sham, a nonsense, 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.700 a bit of deceitful play acting. 00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:36.060 Most of us, unable to cope with saying 00:16:36.060 --> 00:16:37.139 either of those things, 00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:39.800 condemn ourselves to live in the shadow world 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.419 in between. 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:47.139 How are you going to make sense of this Jesus? 00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:50.719 Why is it so threatening? 00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:54.500 I think it's threatening because it displaces self 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:57.539 or anything else from the centre of your world, 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.399 of my world. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:02.840 To know him, to live for him 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:04.839 is what life is all about. 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:12.200 He's a threat because he displaces self and the world. 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:15.559 I think he's also a threat because 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:19.420 it exposes any impurity in us. 00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:24.920 And Peter, true to form, 00:17:25.340 --> 00:17:26.820 puts his foot in his mouth 00:17:26.820 --> 00:17:29.560 just to demonstrate for us. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.380 But verse 4, 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:32.120 he offers to build three tents, 00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:34.880 three tabernacles can be the word. 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:37.340 One for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:40.400 And he might be thinking of the Jewish Feast of Booths, 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:42.640 which was to remember the wilderness period 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.140 before getting to the Promised Land. 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:45.460 And so that was, 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.880 to live in tents was to look forward 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.960 to the kingdom coming. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:53.240 So his offer to build tents was actually, 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.880 it wasn't a bad one. 00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:57.480 It's not what he said 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.860 in terms of building tents 00:17:58.860 --> 00:18:01.279 that he was rebuked for. 00:18:05.060 --> 00:18:07.320 Mark's Gospel adds an interesting detail. 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:10.680 Peter said this because he did not know what to say 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.900 for they were terrified. 00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:15.920 They were terrified of the glory 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:17.539 that they saw in this Jesus. 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:21.619 And do you remember what the tabernacle was for? 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.879 What was the temple for? 00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:26.019 It was so that God could live with his people, 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.420 but not too close. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:30.639 You had to keep distance from this holy God. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:37.580 Otherwise, he will break out and consume sinful people. 00:18:39.800 --> 00:18:42.880 Now, that might sound a bit yuck and offensive 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.759 that God would, 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:47.500 that such brilliance would kill sinful people, 00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:50.720 but just like staring into the sun. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:53.839 Like, my physical eyes just can't cope 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:59.039 with the brilliance of that. 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.759 So too spiritually, 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:03.079 we were made to be in God's presence. 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.220 We were made for that, 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:06.000 to be able to handle it. 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.680 But because of our sinful nature, 00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.779 because of our sin, 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:10.299 we just can't cope. 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:14.759 The good news is that Jesus has come 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.220 so that we can cope again, 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.980 to restore us. 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:21.379 So Peter's saying, 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.799 let's build three tents, 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:24.419 three tabernacles. 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.879 I think what he's saying is, 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:28.059 we want to stay and enjoy this, 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.559 but we need protection. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:31.419 We need a bit of a barrier here. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:35.599 There's too much glory for us to handle. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:40.019 And if they felt unworthy 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:43.179 seeing Jesus' face shine like the sun, 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:46.119 they must have been terrified 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:48.399 when that cloud came towards them. 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.919 Like, they're with Moses and Elijah. 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:51.639 They would know what, 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:55.319 I assume they knew who was coming. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.359 And then they hear God's voice 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:01.500 and they fell on their faces, 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.859 filled with terror. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:07.879 Stop speaking, Peter. 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:09.819 You think you're being respectful, 00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:14.279 but you're uttering blasphemy 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:18.719 to put Jesus alongside Moses and Elijah. 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:23.379 This is my beloved son, 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.059 with whom I am well pleased. 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.219 Listen to him. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.639 And then they only saw Jesus. 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:35.040 His error was to try and reduce Jesus 00:20:35.040 --> 00:20:37.180 to lawgiver or prophet. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.220 No. 00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:42.759 They were servants. 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:46.960 He is the son of God. 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:49.880 They experienced the glory of God. 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:52.300 He is the glory of God. 00:20:52.299 --> 00:21:00.839 So how did these finite, 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:04.279 sinful disciples survive this encounter with God? 00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:09.639 I think we get a little glimpse of it 00:21:09.639 --> 00:21:15.960 with Jesus coming and touching 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:18.319 and restoring them 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.339 and offering them a word of peace. 00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:25.480 I think the opening to John's gospel 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.839 helps us understand 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:28.559 from his fullness 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:31.980 we have all received grace upon grace. 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:33.899 For the law was given through Moses, 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:36.500 but grace and truth 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:38.740 came through Jesus Christ. 00:21:38.959 --> 00:21:41.319 A better mediator than Moses is here. 00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:44.240 A better mediator. 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:47.639 One who in his own being 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:49.480 combines God and man. 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:52.640 A better mediator than the law. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:55.940 Because when the law comes close to you, 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:58.579 it exposes all the ways 00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.900 that I've broken the law. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.059 It condemns. 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:04.039 But this mediator, 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.460 when he comes close, 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:09.660 we're terrified of him getting close. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.480 But what we find, 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:12.140 if we let him, 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:14.900 is he says, 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.640 have no fear. 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.480 Rise, 00:22:16.540 --> 00:22:20.160 have no fear. 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:21.880 You're in the presence of God. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.780 Have no fear. 00:22:23.040 --> 00:22:23.980 How is that possible? 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:27.259 You are accepted. 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:33.400 It's possible because of what his mission is. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:37.120 The father's soul delights in his son 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:39.840 and that includes his son's mission 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:42.379 so that you and I can have no fear 00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.519 in the presence of God. 00:22:45.179 --> 00:22:46.899 And that brings us to 00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:48.819 verses 9 to 13, 00:22:48.959 --> 00:22:49.179 which 00:22:49.179 --> 00:22:54.079 I'm not sure I fully understand it. 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:55.179 I'm going to admit that. 00:22:56.179 --> 00:22:56.740 I don't know. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.019 I think overall, 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.740 we can understand what's going on. 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:02.339 But they're complex verses. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.799 These disciples have no doubt 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:07.980 of who Jesus is. 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.779 But what is clear, 00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:12.880 they can't comprehend yet 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:17.120 how God's pathway to glory 00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:18.559 includes suffering. 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:21.380 So on the way back down the mountain, 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.380 the lights have gone off, 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:23.980 so to speak. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:25.480 They're entering the gloom again. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:27.720 Jesus again talks about his death. 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:31.180 Now how much they understood about Elijah, 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.860 I'm not sure. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.440 But 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:36.420 Jesus answers the deeper question. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:38.279 Even if they weren't asking the deep question, 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.819 he answers the question, 00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.980 at least they should have been asking. 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:44.279 Because the last thing we read 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.039 in the Old Testament 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:47.019 is a promise that Elijah will come 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:49.200 and restore all things. 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:51.019 He will turn the hearts back. 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.700 Whereas the first Elijah 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.799 who was sent, 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:57.720 even though he was 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:59.299 an awesome prophet, 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.899 Israel didn't turn 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.859 from idolatry 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:04.279 to serve God again. 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:05.899 Now there was some, 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:07.000 there was a remnant who did, 00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.180 but overall 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.139 it was a failure. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.559 But the last promise we get 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.500 in the Old Testament is 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.980 when Elijah comes, 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.279 he will restore all things. 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:19.099 So the question is, 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:19.879 how, 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:22.259 if all Israel 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:24.379 are restored back to God, 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.280 how could then 00:24:25.280 --> 00:24:26.500 people 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:28.340 cause God's king 00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:28.940 to suffer? 00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:32.260 If they're worshipping God, 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:33.740 how could they reject his king? 00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:36.500 I think, 00:24:36.780 --> 00:24:37.700 stepping back, 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.740 they're kind of asking, 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:40.020 how can success 00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:40.800 and suffering 00:24:40.800 --> 00:24:41.480 go together? 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.940 They seem mutually exclusive. 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:48.500 So, 00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:50.000 trying to paraphrase 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.680 Jesus' answer, 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.160 yes, 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.720 Elijah comes first, 00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:53.880 John the Baptist. 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:55.299 And yes, 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.980 his mission 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.000 was a success. 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.320 People did repent. 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.259 But, 00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:02.420 just like the prophets 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:02.920 of old, 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.180 God's will 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:05.340 was for his mission 00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:06.059 not to 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.920 avoid 00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.840 suffering and rejection, 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.700 his mission 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.400 was accomplished 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:11.080 in the midst of, 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:12.599 even because of 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:14.859 suffering and rejection. 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.599 So you should think 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.240 of my mission. 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.659 Don't think success 00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:23.259 and suffering 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.199 can't go together. 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.019 It is God's 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.980 appointed pathway 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.599 to glory. 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:34.139 If we compare 00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:35.579 how people 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.259 in this world 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.579 see suffering 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:39.799 to success 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.339 to what 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.399 God does, 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:44.139 we have totally 00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:44.879 different two 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:45.539 points of view. 00:25:48.679 --> 00:25:49.859 In the play, 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.359 Jesus Christ Superstar, 00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:52.720 apparently, 00:25:52.899 --> 00:25:53.799 I haven't seen it, 00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:54.679 but I've heard 00:25:54.679 --> 00:25:55.220 this is the case. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.259 I watched the little 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.159 clip on YouTube 00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:58.619 for this scene 00:25:58.619 --> 00:26:00.099 and when Jesus 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.179 comes to Pilate, 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.799 Pilate says 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.359 these words, 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:04.859 who is this 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.939 broken man 00:26:05.939 --> 00:26:07.480 cluttering up 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.500 my hallways. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.440 So this is 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.299 Jesus Christ. 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:12.680 I'm really 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.599 quite surprised. 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.860 You look so small. 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.799 Not a king at all. 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.220 It's powerful. 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.860 You look so small. 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.880 You're not a king at all. 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:30.900 I've got the power 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.720 to crucify. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.960 That's how the world 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.920 sees suffering 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.660 and success. 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:40.319 But when the 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.180 father looks at 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.759 his son 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.660 choosing to go 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.319 to the cross, 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.840 he is pleased 00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.579 with his son. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.100 It's not in spite 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:50.759 of suffering. 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.920 It's because 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.880 he chose to suffer 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.579 that his mission 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.460 is his success. 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.200 I think the big 00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.920 point we should 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.740 take away from this 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.960 is we can be 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:04.059 sure that God's 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:04.980 appointed pathway 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.599 to glory 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:07.180 is through 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.740 suffering. 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.920 It's always 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.519 been the case 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.220 for the prophets 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.660 before. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.099 Our life depends 00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:16.599 on the fact 00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.039 that Jesus 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.900 died for us 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:20.980 and his call 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.759 for us to follow 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.539 him and take up 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.039 our cross, 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.120 we should be 00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:25.759 sure it really 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:27.000 is the pathway 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.539 to glory. 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:34.139 So how 00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:34.639 should we 00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:35.559 respond to 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:37.500 what we've 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.299 seen in this 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.299 event? 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:39.839 I'm going to 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.379 suggest three 00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:40.779 ways. 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:44.659 First, 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.019 we should 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.700 marvel at his 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:48.139 self-humiliation 00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:49.000 for your sake. 00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.299 Like for a 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.319 brief moment, 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.119 we see 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:54.839 who he is, 00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.240 like his 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.799 nature, 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:57.700 his face 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.419 shone like 00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:59.099 the sun. 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.099 Not only 00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:02.379 does he 00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:02.839 become an 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.500 ordinary human 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:03.899 being, 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:04.659 not only 00:28:04.659 --> 00:28:04.980 does he 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.819 associate with 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.680 nobodies and 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.399 sinful people, 00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:09.039 he became so 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.740 small, 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.379 not a king 00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:11.799 at all. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.419 The light 00:28:15.419 --> 00:28:16.720 was extinguished 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:19.359 for our 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.700 sake, 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.379 so that he 00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:20.980 could say to 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.200 us, 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:22.000 rise and have 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.500 no fear. 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.720 I've dealt 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.059 with your 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:24.419 sin, 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.259 I've dealt 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.600 with your 00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:26.100 impurity. 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.600 You don't 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:28.920 have to be 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.420 afraid of 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:29.700 God. 00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.420 You can 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:33.880 have full 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.580 access to 00:28:34.580 --> 00:28:35.460 him and 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.080 have joy 00:28:36.080 --> 00:28:36.820 in his 00:28:36.820 --> 00:28:37.279 presence, 00:28:37.840 --> 00:28:38.519 no fear, 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.259 all because 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.980 this blazing 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:44.820 sun emptied 00:28:44.820 --> 00:28:45.259 himself. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:52.720 even though 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.759 we once 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.559 loved the 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:55.980 darkness, 00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.019 this 00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.480 son of 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:58.779 God 00:28:58.779 --> 00:29:00.220 gave it 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.700 all up 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.059 so that 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.500 he could 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.460 unite us 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.180 to himself. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.619 This is 00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.480 something I've 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:04.859 been blown 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:05.420 away with. 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:06.960 We're told 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.720 elsewhere in 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:07.960 scripture, 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:08.920 we're united 00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:09.480 to Jesus 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.180 closer than 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.700 marriage, 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.039 closer than 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.700 one body. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:15.080 this is the 00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:15.720 Jesus we're 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.420 united to. 00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:19.220 I can't 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.700 quite get my 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.100 head around 00:29:20.100 --> 00:29:20.360 that. 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.240 He lost 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:23.779 it all to 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.200 bring us 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.980 that far 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.680 into glory. 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.120 He's already 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.840 told us in 00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:28.580 Matthew 13, 00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:29.640 the parable 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.340 of the 00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:31.759 wheat and 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.819 the chaff, 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.180 is it? 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:33.660 That sounds 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:33.880 right. 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:36.140 The end of 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:36.580 that parable 00:29:36.580 --> 00:29:38.340 is when the 00:29:38.340 --> 00:29:39.180 kingdom comes, 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.019 the righteous 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.720 will shine 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.140 like the 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.400 sun. 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.039 That's 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.579 incredible. 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:43.980 We're going 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.519 to share 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:44.860 in this 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.240 glory. 00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.980 So the 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.400 first thing 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:50.720 is we 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.059 need to 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:51.900 marvel at 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.680 his self 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.299 humiliation 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.980 for our 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.299 sake. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.380 And if 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:57.839 we marvel 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.240 at him, 00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.480 if we see 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.400 that he is 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:01.799 ultimate 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.259 reality, 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:02.839 he is 00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.460 life, 00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:03.900 capital 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:04.240 L 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.740 life, 00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:07.180 then we 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:07.980 must listen 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.360 to him 00:30:08.360 --> 00:30:08.940 to find 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.360 life, 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:11.179 to obey 00:30:11.179 --> 00:30:11.579 him. 00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:12.339 Listen 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.379 also means 00:30:13.379 --> 00:30:13.659 obey. 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.219 To obey 00:30:14.219 --> 00:30:14.699 him is 00:30:14.699 --> 00:30:15.299 always 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:15.839 choosing 00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.500 life. 00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:18.619 You 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:19.119 never have 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:19.719 to choose 00:30:19.719 --> 00:30:20.240 between 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:22.779 life and 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.740 following 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.219 Jesus. 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.599 They're the 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.259 same choice. 00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:30.879 In 00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:31.339 comparison 00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:31.859 to his 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.240 light, 00:30:32.719 --> 00:30:33.079 everything 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:33.559 else is 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.000 just like 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.779 tinsel in 00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:35.159 Christmas. 00:30:35.639 --> 00:30:36.379 We think 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:36.959 it's gold. 00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:38.199 It's not. 00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:38.939 Look at 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.559 his light. 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:40.799 Now, 00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.080 it doesn't 00:30:41.080 --> 00:30:41.539 feel that 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:41.720 way, 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.059 does it? 00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:42.980 It doesn't 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.400 feel that 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:43.860 way when 00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:45.460 we just 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.080 don't want 00:30:46.080 --> 00:30:46.320 to let 00:30:46.320 --> 00:30:46.880 go of 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.140 what we 00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:47.700 know Jesus 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.240 is calling 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.600 us to. 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:48.940 It doesn't 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.640 feel like 00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:49.940 that. 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.900 But looking 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.299 at him, 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.660 we should 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.240 trust that 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:53.980 choosing to 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:54.360 listen to 00:30:54.360 --> 00:30:54.660 him is 00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:55.180 always 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.640 choosing 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.120 life. 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:58.539 And so 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.660 I suggest 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.380 invite him 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:00.580 in. 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:01.320 Where don't 00:31:01.320 --> 00:31:01.759 you want 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.299 him to 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:02.779 speak 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.100 into? 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:03.640 Where's 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.160 the last 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:04.680 place you 00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:04.980 would want 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.240 him to 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:05.500 speak 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:05.799 into? 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:09.119 Why don't 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:09.460 you go 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:11.180 command me? 00:31:12.139 --> 00:31:12.759 Because I 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:14.980 know what 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.740 you say is 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.240 life. 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.539 So we 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.200 should marvel 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.579 at his 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:22.379 self-humiliation. 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:23.879 We should 00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:24.460 listen to him 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:24.919 because it's 00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:25.899 always choosing 00:31:25.899 --> 00:31:26.659 the path to 00:31:26.659 --> 00:31:26.980 glory. 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.639 It's always 00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:28.399 choosing life. 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:30.680 And finally, 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.560 I think we 00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:32.620 ought to 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:34.000 trust that 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.300 when we 00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:34.900 follow him, 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:35.880 no matter 00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:36.759 how dark 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.259 it is, 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.160 glory is 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:38.660 at work. 00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.180 Not giving 00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:41.480 up the 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:41.900 struggle with 00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:42.500 our sins, 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.180 even with 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.900 sickness and 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:45.600 anxious thoughts 00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.160 aren't taken 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:46.540 away. 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.120 When the 00:31:48.120 --> 00:31:49.200 relational cost 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:49.700 of following 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:50.560 Jesus is 00:31:50.560 --> 00:31:52.320 real and 00:31:52.320 --> 00:31:52.720 high, 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.620 it will 00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.180 feel very 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.660 dark. 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:55.700 work, 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.080 but we 00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:58.380 can be 00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:59.220 sure it's 00:31:59.220 --> 00:31:59.700 the pathway 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.279 to glory. 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.320 Glory is 00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:01.779 at work. 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.040 In us, 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:05.860 but also 00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:06.740 more than 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.160 just in 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.420 us. 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.300 If he 00:32:11.300 --> 00:32:13.160 is our 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.720 life, 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.360 if he is 00:32:14.360 --> 00:32:14.880 our joy, 00:32:15.040 --> 00:32:16.500 then we 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:16.960 want others 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.680 to see his 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.340 life through 00:32:18.340 --> 00:32:18.759 us. 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:19.900 And some 00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.320 of the best 00:32:20.320 --> 00:32:21.100 opportunities to 00:32:21.100 --> 00:32:21.720 do that is 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:23.100 when we're 00:32:23.100 --> 00:32:23.320 in the 00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:23.640 darkness. 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:24.980 And people 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.200 say, 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.620 what is 00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:26.160 the hope 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:26.519 that you 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:26.860 have? 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.080 So amidst 00:32:33.080 --> 00:32:33.600 the darkness, 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.460 here in this 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.000 passage, we've 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.340 been given 00:32:35.340 --> 00:32:36.059 this glimpse 00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.779 of heaven. 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.240 I've been 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.720 given a 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.340 taste for 00:32:41.340 --> 00:32:42.500 something that 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.180 nothing in 00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:43.700 this world 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:45.220 can satisfy. 00:32:46.600 --> 00:32:47.220 But I 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.580 know, 00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:49.480 I know 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:50.259 that a time 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:50.700 is coming 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.360 when I will 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.120 be in 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:52.559 glorious 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.059 delight. 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:56.519 let's 00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.440 marvel at 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:57.599 his 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.440 self-humiliation. 00:32:59.139 --> 00:32:59.359 Let's 00:32:59.359 --> 00:32:59.899 listen to 00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.480 him because 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.179 it's always 00:33:01.179 --> 00:33:01.940 choosing life 00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:02.299 and let's 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:02.879 trust him 00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:03.839 that as 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.339 painful as 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:04.720 it is, 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.500 glory is at 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:05.940 work in 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.319 us and 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:07.039 through us 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.019 to bring 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:09.119 others into 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:09.899 the life of 00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.399 knowing him. 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.639 Let's pray. 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:15.560 Lord, in 00:33:15.560 --> 00:33:17.460 the splendour of 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.520 how you've 00:33:18.520 --> 00:33:19.120 shown yourself 00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:19.840 in your 00:33:19.840 --> 00:33:20.420 word today, 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.259 I pray 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.300 particularly for 00:33:22.300 --> 00:33:24.060 those who 00:33:24.060 --> 00:33:26.840 are really 00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:27.960 afraid that 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:29.259 their sin is 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.100 too great and 00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:30.800 too constant 00:33:30.800 --> 00:33:33.259 to really have 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.860 no fear in 00:33:33.860 --> 00:33:34.340 your presence. 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:34.940 I pray that 00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:35.560 your word 00:33:35.560 --> 00:33:37.660 would pierce 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.220 through that 00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:39.920 and reassure 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:41.539 that you 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.480 really have 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:43.180 paid it all 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:44.640 and that 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:47.579 we can 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.140 call on you 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:48.680 as father. 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.600 Lord, give 00:33:50.600 --> 00:33:51.039 that deep 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.980 assurance so 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:53.700 that we 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.700 can let 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.680 go of 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.579 what we 00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:57.200 cling to 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:57.860 so much 00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:58.180 in this 00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:59.440 world so 00:33:59.440 --> 00:33:59.819 that others 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.220 might see 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.759 the light 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.880 that we 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.940 have through 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.220 us. 00:34:03.880 --> 00:34:04.120 I pray 00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:04.420 this in 00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:04.600 Jesus' 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:04.900 name. 00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:05.420 Amen. 00:34:08.219 --> 00:34:09.219 Amen.