WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone. It's great to gather with you to worship. Please turn with me in your

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! Bibles to Matthew chapter 17. If you're visiting, my name is Sean. I'm one of the pastors of Trinity

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! Cambridge Church. It's my great joy and honor to preach God's Word to you this morning. If you don't

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 have a Bible, you can raise your hand. We'll give you a copy that you can have. We need one over here.

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 David, thank you for getting that. I was texting with Pastor Kyle Huber, who preached at one of

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 our retreats a couple years ago. He told me that I think they're not meeting because they're in New

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 Jersey. They're snowed out and they canceled. He said, you're probably the only Sovereign Grace

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 Church that's having service this morning east of New Mexico and north of Florida.

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 But hey, they canceled our rental permit, but we didn't know. We showed up this morning. The

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 custodian wasn't there. And we called him and he came and opened the door for us. He didn't know

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 that it was canceled either. So praise God. So he's letting us meet. They changed at last minute

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 because the first email was saying that only after 1 p.m. permits are canceled, but now everything is

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 canceled. But here we are. So they're letting us meet graciously. I'm so grateful to God for that.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word. Heavenly Father, we are here

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 because you have the words of eternal life and there is no one else to whom we can turn.

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 Lord, we are here because salvation is found in Christ, in Jesus alone. And we are here to behold

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 him. So Lord, exalt your name and exalt your son. Fix our eyes on him as we pay attention and listen

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 to your word. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Please stand if you are able to honor God as I read from

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 Matthew 17, 1 through 13.

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 And after six days, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, his brother,

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 and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them. And his face

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 shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses

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 and Elijah talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good that we are here.

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 If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.

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 He was still speaking when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud said,

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 this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.

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 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

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 But Jesus came and touched them saying, rise and have no fear. And when they lifted up their eyes,

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 they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them,

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 tell no one the vision until the son of man is raised from the dead. And the disciples asked him,

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 then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? He answered, Elijah does come and he will

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 restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come and they did not recognize him,

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 but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the son of man will certainly suffer at their hands.

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 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. This is God's holy and

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 authoritative word. Please be seated. There's a popular class of YouTube videos that often go viral.

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 And it's the kind where someone who is very famous and talented in something goes undercover to surprise

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 people. Do you know the, I mean, sure you know the kind of videos I'm talking about. The all NBA,

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 all-star point guard, you know, gets professional makeup done to look like an 80-year-old grandpa.

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 And then he goes to some basketball court in Chicago and then jukes and dunks on all the street

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 ballers, you know. And a Grammy-winning singer disguises herself as a homey accountant.

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 And then she goes into a karaoke bar and starts singing all of her own songs to the amazement of

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 all the people at the bar, you know. Or an elite power lifter who, I was talking about with this

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 Aubrey the other day, an elite power lifter who goes undercover as a janitor at a gym.

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 And then, and then proceeds to outlift every hulking gym bro in the gym.

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 And at the end, there's a great reveal and cheers all around as people stand in awe and get autographs

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 and take selfies with these people. I think this kind of video appeals to people for a number of

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 reasons, but a main one certainly is that, that element of surprise and satisfaction that you get

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 when a celebrity's true talent and identity is recognized in a genuine unscripted encounter.

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 There's a sense of validation and vindication.

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 The transfiguration of Jesus we see in Matthew 17 is kind of like that.

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 Jesus walked this earth as a son of man.

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 Isaiah 53 said that there is no beauty or majesty to attract us to him in his earthly appearance.

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 And that wasn't a disguise, of course. Jesus really took on human flesh.

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 But nonetheless, by emptying himself and taking the form of a servant, being found in human form,

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 as it says in Philippians 2, Jesus' divine glory was veiled from those around him.

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 This is why shortly before his death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus prays in John 17, verse 5,

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 Now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

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 That eternal glory of the Son of God was veiled during his life and ministry here on earth.

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 And that's partly why so many people did not recognize him.

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 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

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 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

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 John 1, 10.

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 In the preceding passage, Jesus declared to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem

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 and suffer many things from the elders and the chief priests and scribes and be killed,

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 and on the third day be raised.

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 And that prediction flew in the face of all Jewish first century messianic expectations.

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 The Messiah was supposed to come and conquer.

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 He was supposed to come and judge.

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 He was supposed to come and rule.

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 He was supposed to overthrow the Roman oppressors and restore Israel to its dynastic glory.

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 Trying to get Jesus' disciples to understand this aspect of Christ's mission was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

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 They couldn't wrap their minds right.

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 So much so, as we saw in last week's passage that Ed preached on, Peter even rebuked Jesus.

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 Jesus, stop with this nonsense.

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 Far be from you.

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 This will never happen to you.

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 What are you talking about?

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 You're the Christ.

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 You just told me I was right.

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 You're the Christ, the son of the living God.

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 How can you go suffer at the hands of the chief priests and the scribes?

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 And how can you die?

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 Remember what you told me?

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 On this rock, I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

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 You and me, that's us.

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 We're going all the way.

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 Nothing can stop us.

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 And then Jesus splashes cold water in Peter's face, proverbially speaking, to wake him up from his Satan-inspired delusions.

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 Get behind me, Satan.

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 You are a hindrance to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.

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 This would have caused much confusion and consternation.

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 How can the glorious son of God suffer and die?

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 It's impossible.

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 It's not supposed to happen.

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 A suffering son of man cannot be the glorious son of God.

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 Or can he?

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 As doubt and insecurity creep into the minds of the disciples, God peels back the veil

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 and reveals the radiance of Christ's divine glory.

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 And as Christ is transfigured before the eyes of Peter, James, and John,

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 he is validated and he is vindicated as the son of God.

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 This is who he is, no matter what happens to him in the coming days.

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 And that's the main point of this passage.

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 The suffering son of man is the glorious son of God to whom we should listen.

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 I'm going to first talk about the glorious son of God in verses 1 to 8.

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 And then secondly, I'll talk about the suffering son of man in verses 9 to 13.

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 But I'm going to give most of my time to that first eight verses.

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 Verse 1 begins,

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 As Ed noted last week, in all three of the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke,

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 the transfiguration of Jesus occurs right on the heels of Peter's confession

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 and Jesus' prediction of his suffering and death and resurrection.

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 So the phrase, after six days, intentionally ties the transfiguration

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 back to that pronouncement by Jesus.

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 The transfiguration in this way serves as a foretaste of,

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 foretaste of the fulfillment of the coming of the kingdom of God in power

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 after Jesus' death and resurrection and ascension.

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 In Luke 19, 12, Jesus tells a parable that's meant to be a corrective to people

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 who suppose that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

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 Jesus says to them,

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 A noble man went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

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 Jesus speaking of himself.

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 He's going to go into a far country.

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 He's going to die.

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 He's going to be raised.

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 He's going to ascend to the right hand of the Father.

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 And he's going to be that son of man in Daniel 7, 13, 14,

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 approach to God, the ancient of days,

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 and receive from him eternal dominion and authority and a kingdom.

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 That's when the son of man comes into his kingdom

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 and the kingdom comes in power.

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 And this is why immediately before he is crucified,

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 Jesus says this in Matthew 26, 64,

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 from now on you will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power

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 and coming on the clouds of heaven.

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 So that's the fulfillment,

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 but the transfiguration is a foretaste and a preview of that coming reality.

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 It's like a movie trailer.

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 It's not the full thing,

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 but it's made up of the real thing.

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 It's a glimpse of the real thing.

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 Verse 1 continues,

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 And after six days,

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 Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, his brother,

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 and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

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 Jesus usually travels everywhere with his 12 apostles,

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 but there are especially intimate occasions

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 when he takes only his inner circle of Peter, James, and John.

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 For example, three occasions are noted in the Synoptic Gospels

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 when he is raising up Jairus' daughter from the dead.

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 He only has with him Peter, James, and John.

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 When he goes into the Garden of Gethsemane

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 and leaves the rest of the apostles there to go in further

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 to pray and agonize before God,

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 he only takes with him Peter, James, and John.

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 And so likewise, here at the transfiguration,

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 it's only Peter, James, and John who get to behold this vision.

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 And why these three in particular?

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 It doesn't say,

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 but they are each crucial foundational building blocks

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 of the church of Christ.

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 Peter, as we talked about a few weeks ago,

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 is the leader among the apostles.

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 He's the tip of the spear.

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 He's the one, he's the rock on whom Jesus said,

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 I will build my church.

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 James is the first of the 12 apostles

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 to be martyred in Acts chapter 12, verse 1.

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 And John is the beloved disciple

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 who wrote the last gospel, the gospel of John,

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 and the last book of the Bible, the Revelation.

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 He is known as the apostle of love and light

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 because those themes of love and light

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 dominate his letters and all of his writings.

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 And they're prominent themes,

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 more prominent in John's writings

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 than any other New Testament authors.

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 It's these three that go along with Jesus

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 up a high mountain by themselves.

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 And I think having three of them is no accident

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 because according to biblical Old Testament criteria,

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 a charge may be established only on the testimony

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 of two or three witnesses, Deuteronomy 17, 6.

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 So three is in one sense the minimal number

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 of witnesses that is required

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 to give credible testimony regarding the transfiguration

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 of Jesus and his identity as the son of God.

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 So recounting this event later in 2 Peter 1, 16 to 18,

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 Peter writes,

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 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths

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 when we made known to you the power

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 and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 But we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

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 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father

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 and the voice was born to him by the majestic glory,

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 this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.

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 We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven

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 for we were with him on the holy mountain.

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 So there needed to be three

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 to bear witness to who Jesus is, his identity.

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 And what is this holy mountain

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 where the transfiguration takes place?

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 Mountains are often the place of divine revelation,

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 divine encounter in scripture.

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 The high mountains function in some ways

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 as a halfway point, a bridge between heaven and earth.

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 In fact, you could write and trace

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 almost the entire redemptive history

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 from just looking at what happens on mountains in scripture.

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 The first creation, the Garden of Eden,

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 was on a mountain.

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 Genesis doesn't tell us that,

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 but Ezekiel 28, 13 to 14 does.

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 It says that Eden, the Garden of God,

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 was on the holy mountain of God.

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 And then after humanity's fall

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 and after their utter depravity,

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 God judges the earth with a flood covering it.

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 And after the floodwaters subside

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 and new creation is born,

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 and where is that new creation born?

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 On the mountain,

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 mountain of Ararat.

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 And of course, one of the most famous mountains,

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 Mount Horeb,

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 which is frequently called the Mountain of God

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 and known, better known as Mount Sinai,

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 the two probably just refer to the same.

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 Sinai might refer to the region

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 because there is also called Wilderness of Sinai.

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 And maybe Horeb is the peak in a similar way.

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 Mount Everest is the peak within the Himalayas.

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 It was at Horeb that God appeared to Moses

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 in the burning bush in Exodus 3.

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 It was in Horeb that God,

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 that descended in the cloud of smoke

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 and fire and thunder and lightning and earthquake

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 in Exodus 19 to 24

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 to give to Israelites the Ten Commandments.

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 It was at Horeb that Moses, Aaron, and Nadab, and Abihu,

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 and the 70 elders of Israel

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 ascended at least partway up Mount Horeb in Exodus

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 to behold God

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 and to eat with Him.

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 It was from Horeb that God declared His name

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 and passed before Moses

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 declaiming the Lord, the Lord,

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 the compassionate and gracious God,

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 slow to anger and abounding

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 in steadfast love and faithfulness.

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 Exodus 34.

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 Similarly, it was at Horeb in 1 Kings 19

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 when after confronting the prophets of Baal

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 and defeating them in a spectacular showdown,

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 Elijah flees Jezebel,

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 who is trying to kill him.

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 He ends up at Mount Horeb

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 where the Lord God meets with Elijah

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.859
 and speaks to him.

00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:11.699
 And similar to how Moses took up Aaron,

00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:13.719
 and Nadab, and Abihu up Mount Horeb

00:18:13.719 --> 00:18:14.699
 to see God,

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:17.259
 here Jesus takes Peter, James, and John

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.139
 up a high mountain

00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:22.299
 to behold the divine glory of the Son.

00:18:23.479 --> 00:18:24.579
 And it says in verse 2

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:26.579
 that Jesus was transfigured before them

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:28.199
 and His face shone like the sun

00:18:28.199 --> 00:18:30.719
 and His clothes became white as light.

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:34.720
 Only heavenly beings are described

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.779
 in such a manner.

00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:38.400
 Only those who are in the presence of God Himself

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.220
 in His throne room.

00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:41.819
 At Jesus' resurrection and ascension,

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.100
 angelic beings appear

00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:45.480
 and they are described in Matthew 28 verse 3

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:47.299
 as having an appearance like lightning

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:49.640
 and His clothing white as snow.

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:53.660
 This is the glory that prophet Daniel saw

00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:55.500
 in his vision of the Son of Man.

00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:58.180
 In Daniel chapter 10 verse 5 to 6,

00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:00.160
 This man was clothed in linen.

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.560
 His body was like beryl.

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:04.120
 His face like the appearance of lightning.

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:06.140
 His eyes like flaming torches.

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.500
 Try to imagine that for a moment.

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:13.600
 Jesus is transfigured before your very eyes.

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:17.460
 His face shines like the sun.

00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:19.660
 Imagine that brilliance.

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:25.500
 People say that a tiny piece of the sun

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:27.060
 the size of a thumbnail

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:30.200
 is brighter,

00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:33.259
 is as bright as a million candles

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.339
 shining at once.

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:39.019
 We can't even stare at the sun

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.779
 without its brilliant light

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:42.119
 burning our retina.

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:45.159
 The sun is the brightest thing

00:19:45.159 --> 00:19:46.599
 people see day after day.

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:48.079
 The only thing brighter than the sun

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.700
 is lightning.

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.299
 The face of Jesus

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:53.599
 when it shines with divine glory

00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:55.460
 is compared to both the sun

00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.420
 and the lightning

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.460
 in the scriptures

00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.980
 because they're the brightest things

00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.940
 known to human experience.

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:07.039
 And what is this supposed to reveal

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.620
 about Jesus?

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.700
 What Peter declared earlier on?

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.500
 That he is the Christ,

00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.920
 the Son of God.

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.940
 Because God is described

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.460
 in Psalm 104 verse 2

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:21.900
 as covering himself with light,

00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.059
 as with a garment.

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:26.539
 Because as 1 Timothy 6.16 says,

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:29.179
 God dwells in unapproachable light.

00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:31.119
 1 John 1.5,

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.019
 God is light

00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:34.859
 and in him is no darkness at all.

00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:37.700
 These descriptions capture

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:39.700
 the perfect holiness

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:42.640
 and radiance of God.

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:46.519
 In God there is no imperfection,

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.240
 no blemish,

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.460
 no evil,

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.920
 no sin.

00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:53.340
 Even in the brightest

00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:55.840
 and sunniest places on earth

00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.400
 in the world

00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:58.220
 there are lurking shadows.

00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:00.080
 There are dark,

00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:01.720
 there's darkness everywhere we go

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:04.460
 but in God there is no such thing.

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:07.940
 He is the Father of lights

00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:10.500
 with whom there is no variation

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:12.539
 or shadow due to change.

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:15.120
 Can you imagine such perfection?

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.980
 Can you imagine such beauty?

00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:25.400
 All that is good

00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.620
 and beautiful in this world

00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:28.400
 are but dim reflections

00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:30.220
 of the glory of God.

00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:33.140
 Even the most transcendent

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:35.099
 of arts and music

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:38.220
 do not attain perfection.

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.559
 Perfection eludes

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.839
 all of our human endeavors.

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:44.319
 But God is perfection.

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:46.380
 What is it like

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.380
 to behold such beauty?

00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:49.520
 Jonathan Edwards

00:21:49.520 --> 00:21:50.920
 reflecting on God's glory

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.880
 and beauty wrote this.

00:21:52.780 --> 00:21:53.460
 For as God

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.200
 is infinitely

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.240
 the greatest being

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:56.860
 so he is allowed

00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:57.900
 to be infinitely

00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.240
 the most beautiful

00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.120
 and excellent.

00:22:01.080 --> 00:22:02.200
 And all the beauty

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.900
 to be found

00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:04.220
 throughout the whole creation

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.700
 is but the reflection

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:07.160
 of the diffused beams

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.100
 of that being

00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:09.920
 who hath an infinite fullness

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.380
 of brightness and glory.

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:14.320
 God is the foundation

00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:15.440
 and fountain

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.059
 of all being

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.580
 and all beauty.

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.360
 Isn't this our

00:22:22.360 --> 00:22:23.180
 dearest hope?

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:28.259
 Blessed are the pure in heart

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:30.259
 for they shall see God.

00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:32.720
 Now

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:34.860
 it says in 1 Corinthians 13

00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:36.539
 we see in a mirror dimly

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:38.279
 but then

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:40.360
 face to face

00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:42.980
 now I know in part

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.500
 but then

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:45.000
 I shall know fully

00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.220
 even as I have

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.279
 been fully known.

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.700
 Imagine that.

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.980
 Knowing God

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.720
 fully

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:53.299
 as you have been

00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:53.819
 fully known

00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.640
 by God himself.

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.099
 One day

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.019
 we shall be

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.700
 like him

00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:01.160
 because we shall

00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:02.059
 see him

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.360
 as he

00:23:03.360 --> 00:23:04.220
 is.

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.019
 It says in

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.740
 1 John 3

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.039
 2.

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.480
 Isn't that

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.299
 our dearest hope?

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:12.079
 Isn't the dearest hope

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.779
 of the beloved

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.460
 to behold

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.119
 the lover?

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.559
 One thing

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.279
 have I asked

00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.779
 of the Lord

00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.919
 and this

00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:21.220
 I will seek

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.700
 after

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.919
 to dwell

00:23:22.919 --> 00:23:23.759
 in the house

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.240
 of the Lord

00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.059
 all the days

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.659
 of my life

00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.740
 and to gaze

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:28.180
 upon the beauty

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:28.879
 of the Lord

00:23:28.879 --> 00:23:30.480
 and to inquire

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.019
 in his temple.

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:33.779
 Peter,

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:34.680
 James,

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.180
 and John

00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:36.079
 have the privilege

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.679
 of beholding

00:23:37.679 --> 00:23:38.579
 Jesus face

00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.059
 to face

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.659
 in his

00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.839
 divine glory.

00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:44.059
 But as they

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:45.220
 behold Jesus

00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.759
 they are

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.679
 distracted

00:23:46.679 --> 00:23:48.939
 by the presence

00:23:48.939 --> 00:23:49.899
 of two

00:23:49.899 --> 00:23:50.740
 prominent

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.819
 individuals

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.819
 from the Old Testament.

00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.679
 Moses and Elijah

00:23:55.679 --> 00:23:56.379
 who are talking

00:23:56.379 --> 00:23:57.319
 with Jesus.

00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.000
 I think there are

00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.539
 several reasons

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.619
 why Moses and Elijah

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.220
 in particular

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.019
 show up here.

00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:03.480
 Many people have said

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.679
 Moses represents

00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:05.259
 the law.

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.420
 Elijah represents

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.059
 the prophets

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.900
 and that together

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.480
 the law

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.220
 and the prophets

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.279
 and therefore

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.480
 their coming down

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.859
 now is a visual

00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:13.379
 representation

00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:14.279
 of what Jesus

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.319
 taught in Matthew

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.079
 5.17

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.059
 that he is the one

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:18.059
 who fulfills

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.519
 the law

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.460
 and the prophets.

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.019
 That's certainly

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.519
 possible.

00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:24.480
 I think there's

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.339
 maybe even more

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.200
 immediate reasons

00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:26.839
 contextually.

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:27.940
 First,

00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:28.559
 both Moses

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.180
 and Elijah

00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:30.180
 were closely

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.859
 associated

00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.640
 with Jewish

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.200
 messianic

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.759
 expectations.

00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.440
 We already know

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.640
 from Matthew 16.14

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.320
 that the crowds

00:24:36.320 --> 00:24:37.240
 were speculating

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.080
 that Jesus

00:24:38.080 --> 00:24:39.700
 might be Elijah

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:42.240
 or he might be

00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.100
 one of the prophets.

00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:45.259
 Since Malachi 4.5

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.039
 prophesied

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:47.240
 that Elijah

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.039
 would come

00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.080
 before the coming

00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:49.900
 of God,

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.279
 they expected,

00:24:53.620 --> 00:24:54.140
 they waited

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.380
 for an Elijah.

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.380
 Similarly,

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.840
 Deuteronomy 18.15

00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:58.519
 prophesied

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.360
 that God

00:24:59.360 --> 00:24:59.940
 would raise up

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.440
 for his people

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.160
 a prophet

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:02.060
 like Moses.

00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:03.640
 So again,

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.460
 they were expecting

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.519
 someone like Moses

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.560
 to come again.

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.380
 And the fact

00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:09.820
 that both

00:25:09.820 --> 00:25:10.740
 Moses and Elijah

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.759
 met supernatural

00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.279
 ends

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.160
 fueled this

00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.779
 messianic

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.580
 fervor

00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:15.900
 because Elijah,

00:25:16.080 --> 00:25:16.540
 as you remember,

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.600
 did not die.

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.960
 He was carried

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.660
 up to heaven

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.320
 in a whirlwind

00:25:21.320 --> 00:25:22.259
 in chariots

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.740
 of fire,

00:25:23.540 --> 00:25:24.540
 2 Kings 2.11.

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:25.960
 And Moses,

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:26.480
 likewise,

00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:27.420
 even though he did

00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:27.820
 die,

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.620
 it says in Deuteronomy

00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.479
 34.6,

00:25:29.959 --> 00:25:30.519
 it says that

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.679
 God himself

00:25:31.679 --> 00:25:32.519
 buried him

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.619
 so that no man

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.419
 knows where he

00:25:34.419 --> 00:25:34.879
 was buried.

00:25:36.939 --> 00:25:37.779
 So it is no

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:39.119
 coincidence that

00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:39.839
 these two figures

00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:40.479
 in particular

00:25:40.479 --> 00:25:41.299
 appear in light

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:41.979
 of these messianic

00:25:41.979 --> 00:25:42.479
 expectations.

00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:43.739
 And secondly,

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:44.619
 both Moses

00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:45.419
 and Elijah

00:25:45.419 --> 00:25:46.639
 are individuals

00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.599
 in the Old Testament

00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.299
 who came

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:50.219
 tantalizingly close

00:25:50.219 --> 00:25:51.539
 to seeing God

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.339
 in the Old Testament.

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.239
 They are the only

00:25:55.239 --> 00:25:56.279
 two individuals

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.539
 of whom it is said

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.199
 in the Old Testament

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.840
 that the Lord

00:25:58.840 --> 00:25:59.799
 God personally

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.960
 passed by

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.799
 in front of them

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:04.940
 to reveal himself.

00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.960
 In Exodus 33-34

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.600
 at Mount Horeb,

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.559
 God put Moses

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.440
 in the cleft

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.019
 of a rock

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.880
 and then covered

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:12.180
 him so that

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:12.799
 he cannot see

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.299
 his face

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.100
 lest he die.

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:14.819
 And then he

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:16.080
 passed before him

00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:16.640
 so that Moses

00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.880
 could see his back.

00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:19.940
 And then when

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.660
 Moses saw

00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.980
 God's back,

00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:23.000
 he fell face

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.640
 down on the ground

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.460
 and worshipped him.

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.539
 Similarly,

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.620
 in 1 Kings 19,

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.059
 again,

00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:28.019
 at Mount Horeb,

00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.200
 God told Elijah

00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.160
 to stand

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:30.879
 on the mount

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.700
 before the Lord

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.639
 and then God

00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.859
 proceeded to pass

00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:34.759
 by him.

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.779
 But he says repeatedly

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.720
 that Elijah did not

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.680
 see God.

00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:40.359
 He only heard

00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.480
 his voice.

00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.579
 And when he hears

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.240
 God's voice,

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.279
 Elijah's response

00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.160
 is similar to Moses.

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.480
 He wraps his face

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.799
 with his cloak

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:51.980
 so as not to see

00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.220
 God.

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.259
 God.

00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.440
 And God,

00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.100
 in his grace,

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.360
 reveals to Moses

00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:00.000
 and Elijah

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.700
 in this instance

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.880
 at the transfiguration

00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:04.740
 what they did not

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.420
 get to behold

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.200
 during their life

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.640
 on earth.

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:10.920
 Again,

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.860
 on a holy mountain,

00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.279
 they get to behold

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.299
 the glory of God

00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:15.319
 in the face

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.160
 of Jesus Christ.

00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:16.200
 Christ.

00:27:18.040 --> 00:27:18.759
 But Peter,

00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:21.340
 as he has a tendency

00:27:21.340 --> 00:27:21.740
 to do,

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.380
 puts his foot

00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:22.860
 in his mouth.

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.680
 Verse 4,

00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:25.100
 Lord,

00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.460
 it is good

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.320
 that we are here.

00:27:27.840 --> 00:27:28.560
 If you wish,

00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.140
 I will make

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.240
 three tents here,

00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:31.180
 one for you

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:31.900
 and one for Moses

00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.860
 and one for Elijah.

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.420
 In their accounts

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.320
 of the transfiguration,

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.160
 Mark and Luke

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:38.480
 explicitly comment

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.120
 that Peter

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:40.040
 did not know

00:27:40.040 --> 00:27:40.740
 what he was saying.

00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.900
 He's confused.

00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:46.780
 He says in Mark 9, 6,

00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:47.560
 he did not know

00:27:47.560 --> 00:27:48.240
 what to say

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.780
 for they were terrified.

00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:51.519
 Awestruck,

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.160
 flat-footed,

00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:55.240
 Peter awkwardly tries

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:56.620
 to make himself useful.

00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.800
 It's a simple,

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.820
 hospitable gesture

00:28:00.820 --> 00:28:02.140
 to extend

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:03.640
 the stay of the guests.

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.400
 Whoa,

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.320
 some really important

00:28:05.320 --> 00:28:06.000
 people are here.

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.400
 How can we extend

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.160
 this a little longer?

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.840
 It's good for us

00:28:08.840 --> 00:28:09.100
 to be here.

00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:10.300
 Let's linger a little while.

00:28:10.540 --> 00:28:11.640
 Let's make some tents.

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.800
 I could do that.

00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.500
 I'm a fisherman,

00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:15.519
 but I know how to do that.

00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:21.500
 The import of

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.259
 what he's saying

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.019
 escapes him

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:24.620
 because the word tent

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:26.060
 is the same word

00:28:26.060 --> 00:28:26.900
 that is translated

00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:28.680
 in the Greek translation

00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.400
 of the Old Testament

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:30.500
 as tabernacle.

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.780
 So Peter,

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:35.019
 Peter's offer,

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.900
 he recalls

00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.460
 the feast

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.320
 of the tabernacle,

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:37.980
 which recalls

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.620
 how God's people

00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:39.360
 dwelled in tents

00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:39.940
 during their time

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.400
 in the wilderness

00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:41.740
 and how they built

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:43.100
 for God himself

00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:43.980
 a tabernacle

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.720
 to dwell in,

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:47.000
 the tent of meeting

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.680
 where they met

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.360
 with God.

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.980
 So Peter is trying

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.840
 to honor these

00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.519
 esteemed guests

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.900
 by making three tents.

00:28:53.060 --> 00:28:53.280
 However,

00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:54.360
 this well-meaning gesture

00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:55.820
 is very misguided.

00:28:56.780 --> 00:28:57.880
 It's so misguided

00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:58.860
 that while Peter

00:28:58.860 --> 00:28:59.820
 is still talking,

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.320
 he says,

00:29:00.780 --> 00:29:01.460
 in verse five,

00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:02.720
 God interrupts him.

00:29:04.800 --> 00:29:05.380
 Hold it.

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:07.460
 when behold,

00:29:07.560 --> 00:29:08.600
 a bright cloud

00:29:08.600 --> 00:29:09.680
 overshadowed them

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.320
 and a voice

00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.240
 from the cloud said,

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:14.300
 this is my beloved son

00:29:14.300 --> 00:29:16.340
 with whom I am well pleased.

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.920
 Listen to him.

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.680
 While Peter

00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.460
 is entertaining

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.180
 the thought

00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:23.180
 of honoring

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:24.320
 the three esteemed men

00:29:24.320 --> 00:29:24.900
 with tents,

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:25.980
 God the Father

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.660
 stops him

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.360
 right in his tracks

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.460
 and then with his voice

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.400
 puts a bright

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:31.240
 neon sign arrow

00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.720
 pointing to Jesus

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:34.680
 only and says,

00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:37.279
 this is my beloved son

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:39.220
 with whom I am well pleased.

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:41.180
 Listen to him.

00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.180
 This is reminiscent

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.200
 of Jesus' baptism

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.880
 when he was baptized

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.720
 in chapter three.

00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.539
 The spirit of God

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.740
 descends upon him

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.200
 like a dove

00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:49.860
 and the father

00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:51.240
 cries out from heaven

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.640
 saying,

00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:53.299
 this is my beloved son

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:55.220
 with whom I am well pleased.

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.480
 We saw all three persons

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:57.980
 of the Trinity

00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:59.200
 there at Jesus' baptism

00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:00.740
 and we see the same thing

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.779
 in our passage this morning.

00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:04.420
 God the Father speaks

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:07.300
 from the cloud of glory,

00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:08.980
 his delight over his son.

00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:10.039
 God the son

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.920
 is transfigured

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:12.560
 to reveal his divine glory

00:30:12.560 --> 00:30:14.180
 and God the spirit

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:15.320
 appears in the form

00:30:15.320 --> 00:30:16.920
 of this numinous cloud.

00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:19.100
 Look at how this cloud

00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:20.360
 is described in verse six.

00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.240
 Behold,

00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.680
 a bright cloud

00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:24.140
 overshadowed them.

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:26.100
 That's a rare word

00:30:26.100 --> 00:30:26.900
 in the New Testament,

00:30:27.060 --> 00:30:27.660
 overshadow.

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.519
 It's used in the gospels

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:31.180
 to describe the transfiguration

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:33.400
 only with one exception,

00:30:33.820 --> 00:30:34.620
 Luke 135,

00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:36.880
 where the angel Gabriel

00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.940
 announces to Mary,

00:30:38.140 --> 00:30:39.320
 the Holy Spirit

00:30:39.320 --> 00:30:40.740
 shall come upon you

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.680
 and the power

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.640
 of the Most High

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.960
 will overshadow you.

00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:46.360
 Therefore,

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.360
 the child to be born

00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:47.900
 will be called

00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:48.799
 the Son of God.

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.000
 Overshadowing

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.700
 in the gospels

00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:52.220
 is what the Holy Spirit does.

00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:56.000
 It is no surprise

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.839
 in that the ancient

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.720
 Greek translation

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:59.400
 of Exodus 40, 35,

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.279
 which describes

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.940
 the cloud of God's presence,

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.279
 the glory of God

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.700
 filling the tabernacle,

00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.620
 the tenth of meeting,

00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:07.420
 it uses the exact same

00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:08.059
 Greek word

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:09.319
 to say that the cloud

00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:11.519
 overshadowed the temple,

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.460
 the tabernacle.

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.440
 This is what

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.759
 later Jewish theology

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:17.440
 called the Shekinah glory,

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.519
 the dwelling

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:21.600
 of the visible glory of God.

00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:23.240
 This is the Holy Spirit.

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:26.160
 And the Spirit of God

00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:27.620
 manifests the glory of God

00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:28.920
 as a bright cloud.

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.980
 It's the same great cloud

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.579
 with brightness around it

00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.440
 that Ezekiel saw

00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.100
 in his vision

00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:35.920
 of the glory of God

00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.860
 in Ezekiel 1, 4.

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.380
 But if you think about it,

00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.940
 a bright cloud

00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:41.680
 is an oxymoron.

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:45.240
 If you look up

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.059
 a thesaurus

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:47.400
 for the word cloud,

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.799
 it will suggest

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.360
 words like darkness,

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.120
 shadow,

00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:53.740
 shroud,

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.519
 not things

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.259
 that you would describe

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.700
 as radiant or bright.

00:31:58.579 --> 00:32:00.240
 When something is clouded,

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.259
 it is hidden.

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.640
 But this is a bright,

00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:05.140
 radiant cloud

00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.519
 that gives forth light.

00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:09.680
 This paradoxical description

00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.240
 captures

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:12.740
 how the incomprehensible,

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.660
 unknowable God

00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:16.600
 reveals himself

00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:18.380
 and makes himself known.

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:22.440
 Isaiah 45, 15 says,

00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:22.860
 truly,

00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:24.220
 you are a God

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.500
 who hides himself,

00:32:25.820 --> 00:32:26.740
 O God of Israel,

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.460
 the Savior.

00:32:27.840 --> 00:32:29.200
 There is knowledge of God

00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:30.640
 that is hidden from us.

00:32:31.080 --> 00:32:32.480
 We can never fully

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.720
 wrap our minds

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:35.080
 around who God is.

00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:37.760
 We are too puny for that.

00:32:39.820 --> 00:32:40.320
 And yet,

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.060
 throughout history,

00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:42.300
 we see that God

00:32:42.300 --> 00:32:43.860
 graciously condescends,

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.960
 comes down to our level,

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:46.360
 to reveal himself

00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.900
 to us time and time again.

00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.340
 And we read earlier

00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:50.500
 from our call to worship,

00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.819
 it says in Hebrews 1, 1-2,

00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:52.519
 long ago,

00:32:52.840 --> 00:32:53.700
 at many times

00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.559
 and in many ways,

00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:55.660
 God spoke to our fathers

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.380
 by the prophets.

00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.960
 But in these last days,

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.920
 he has spoken to us

00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:59.960
 by his Son,

00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.259
 whom he appointed

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.259
 the heir of all things,

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.200
 through whom also

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:04.140
 he created the world.

00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:06.059
 He is the radiance

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:07.400
 of the glory of God

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:09.000
 and the exact imprint

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.640
 of his nature.

00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:12.060
 God has revealed

00:33:12.060 --> 00:33:13.400
 himself to us

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:14.300
 in his Son.

00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.840
 No one has seen God.

00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:17.860
 God,

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:19.000
 the only Son

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:20.160
 who is at the Father's side,

00:33:20.300 --> 00:33:22.200
 he has made him known,

00:33:22.300 --> 00:33:23.020
 John 1, 18.

00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:25.580
 This is why Jesus can say

00:33:25.580 --> 00:33:26.640
 in John 14, 9,

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:28.040
 whoever has seen me

00:33:28.040 --> 00:33:29.660
 has seen the Father.

00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.900
 And in John 14,

00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:33.920
 John 10, 30,

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.540
 I and the Father are one.

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:40.500
 All the fullness of God

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:42.000
 is pleased to dwell

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.059
 in Jesus,

00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:44.420
 the Son.

00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.720
 So do you see

00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.599
 what's happening here?

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.759
 The triune God

00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:50.980
 is revealing himself

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:52.680
 in Jesus

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:54.460
 in a way

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.379
 that he has never

00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.619
 revealed himself before.

00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:00.680
 Here is Jesus Christ,

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.839
 God's Son,

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:03.019
 the radiance of the glory

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.299
 of God

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:04.279
 and the exact imprint

00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:04.879
 of his nature,

00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:06.400
 radiating the very

00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:07.820
 glory of God.

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.480
 What I would give

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.140
 to see that.

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.619
 And one day soon,

00:34:16.740 --> 00:34:18.880
 we shall all see that,

00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.680
 all those who belong

00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:20.180
 to Christ.

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.619
 So God,

00:34:23.660 --> 00:34:24.000
 the Father,

00:34:24.180 --> 00:34:25.599
 is rebuking Peter here.

00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:26.500
 Peter's

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:28.539
 poor guy, right?

00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.220
 He just got rebuked

00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:29.680
 by Jesus.

00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.300
 Now he gets rebuked

00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:31.619
 by God,

00:34:31.680 --> 00:34:32.079
 the Father.

00:34:33.160 --> 00:34:33.720
 No, no,

00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:34.820
 there is no need

00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:35.720
 for three tents.

00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:39.240
 Moses and Elijah

00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:40.600
 have not appeared

00:34:40.600 --> 00:34:41.100
 to you,

00:34:41.240 --> 00:34:42.220
 James and John,

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:43.059
 so that you can

00:34:43.059 --> 00:34:44.000
 gawk at them.

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:44.960
 No,

00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:47.100
 they are fans.

00:34:48.120 --> 00:34:48.460
 They're here

00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.100
 to see Jesus.

00:34:51.600 --> 00:34:52.880
 And what they could

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:54.320
 not do previously

00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.420
 during their lives

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.080
 on earth,

00:34:56.740 --> 00:34:57.940
 their greatest desire

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:59.519
 that did not bear fruit

00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:00.200
 in their life

00:35:00.200 --> 00:35:00.760
 on earth,

00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:02.140
 now comes to

00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:03.359
 glorious fruition

00:35:03.359 --> 00:35:04.519
 as they behold

00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.699
 Jesus Christ

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:06.519
 whom they have

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.639
 been waiting for.

00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:14.079
 Listen to him.

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.639
 Don't worry about

00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:19.299
 these other guys.

00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:22.819
 The days of the tabernacle

00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:23.319
 and the temple

00:35:23.319 --> 00:35:24.119
 are no more

00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:26.599
 because John 1, 14

00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:26.879
 says,

00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.880
 the word became

00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:28.920
 flesh and dwelt

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.700
 among us

00:35:29.700 --> 00:35:30.320
 and we have

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.119
 seen his glory.

00:35:31.240 --> 00:35:32.039
 Glory is of the only

00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:32.940
 son from the father.

00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:34.260
 And that word,

00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:35.400
 dwelt among us,

00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:35.940
 is literally

00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:36.980
 he pitched a tent

00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.559
 among us.

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:39.340
 He tabernacled

00:35:39.340 --> 00:35:39.980
 among us.

00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:41.740
 Jesus is himself

00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:42.720
 the very dwelling

00:35:42.720 --> 00:35:43.760
 place of God.

00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:45.140
 He is the new

00:35:45.140 --> 00:35:45.780
 temple,

00:35:45.880 --> 00:35:46.780
 it says in John 2,

00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:47.500
 19 to 20.

00:35:47.660 --> 00:35:48.940
 And all who are

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.940
 united to

00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:51.000
 Jesus Christ

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.820
 by faith,

00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:53.340
 God is building

00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:54.599
 into his dwelling

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.019
 place.

00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.800
 You all are

00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.259
 the dwelling

00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:57.159
 place of God.

00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.119
 The house

00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:00.699
 of his spirit.

00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:02.059
 You don't need

00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:02.860
 tents anymore.

00:36:03.860 --> 00:36:04.579
 You don't need

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:06.019
 tabernacles anymore.

00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:08.440
 Imagine how shocking

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.059
 this revelation

00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:09.579
 would have been

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:11.739
 for these good Jews,

00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.840
 Peter, James, and John.

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:14.559
 John 9, 28 to 29,

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:17.219
 a man born blind

00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:17.559
 from,

00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:18.980
 a man who was born blind

00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:19.860
 is healed by Jesus

00:36:19.860 --> 00:36:20.739
 and he starts to

00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:21.679
 bear witness to Jesus

00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.320
 and tells people

00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:22.900
 about Jesus.

00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:24.059
 I once was blind

00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:24.940
 but now I see

00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:26.280
 and then the Pharisees

00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:27.059
 sneer at him

00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.019
 and they revile him

00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:28.300
 saying,

00:36:28.780 --> 00:36:30.559
 you are his disciple

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:34.780
 but we are disciples

00:36:34.780 --> 00:36:35.260
 of Moses.

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:38.539
 We know that God

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:40.400
 has spoken to Moses

00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:42.159
 but as for this man,

00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:43.179
 we do not know

00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:44.019
 where he comes from.

00:36:45.619 --> 00:36:46.599
 That's how much

00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.920
 the Jews revered

00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:49.679
 and trusted in Moses

00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:52.019
 but in the transfiguration,

00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:53.319
 God the Father

00:36:53.319 --> 00:36:55.299
 draws his lines

00:36:55.299 --> 00:36:56.599
 very, very clearly.

00:36:58.699 --> 00:36:59.839
 As Hebrews 3,

00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:00.639
 3 to 6 says,

00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:02.139
 for Jesus has been counted

00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:04.379
 worthy of more glory

00:37:04.379 --> 00:37:05.099
 than Moses.

00:37:05.759 --> 00:37:07.099
 As much more glory

00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:07.719
 as the builder

00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:08.239
 of a house

00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:08.940
 has more honor

00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:09.879
 than the house itself.

00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:11.359
 For every house

00:37:11.359 --> 00:37:12.199
 is built by someone

00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:12.779
 but the builder

00:37:12.779 --> 00:37:13.480
 of all things

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.119
 is God.

00:37:14.399 --> 00:37:15.139
 He's saying Jesus

00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:15.739
 is God.

00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:17.559
 Now Moses was faithful

00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:18.819
 in all God's house

00:37:18.819 --> 00:37:20.019
 as a servant

00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:21.139
 to testify

00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:21.939
 to the things

00:37:21.939 --> 00:37:23.039
 that were to be spoken later

00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:24.779
 but Christ is faithful

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.739
 over God's house

00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:27.419
 as a son.

00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:29.759
 Moses is merely

00:37:29.759 --> 00:37:30.359
 a servant.

00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:32.959
 Christ is God's son.

00:37:35.379 --> 00:37:37.019
 When Moses came down

00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:37.919
 from Mount Sinai

00:37:37.919 --> 00:37:38.979
 after talking with God,

00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:40.000
 the skin of his face

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.959
 shone, it says.

00:37:40.960 --> 00:37:42.559
 But this glory

00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:43.260
 as we see

00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:44.320
 in 2 Corinthians 3,

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:44.960
 13 and 15

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.460
 is a fading glory.

00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:49.780
 It's merely

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:51.380
 an external reflection

00:37:51.380 --> 00:37:53.139
 of the glory of God

00:37:53.139 --> 00:37:54.099
 that he had just been

00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:55.159
 in the presence of.

00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:56.780
 But in the case of Jesus,

00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.820
 his glory

00:37:57.820 --> 00:38:00.460
 shines from his essence,

00:38:00.679 --> 00:38:01.920
 from his very being,

00:38:02.220 --> 00:38:03.440
 from the inside out.

00:38:04.340 --> 00:38:06.179
 This is an essential glory,

00:38:06.280 --> 00:38:07.099
 the unveiling

00:38:07.099 --> 00:38:08.340
 of the divine glory

00:38:08.340 --> 00:38:08.920
 that Jesus,

00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:10.920
 earlier we saw from John,

00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:11.480
 that he said

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:12.840
 he had before

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:15.039
 with the Father

00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:16.019
 in eternity past.

00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:20.079
 Moses' light

00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:20.559
 was the light

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.159
 of the moon,

00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.220
 merely reflecting

00:38:22.220 --> 00:38:23.099
 the light of the sun.

00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.220
 Jesus' light

00:38:25.220 --> 00:38:26.119
 is the light

00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:26.760
 of the sun.

00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:30.679
 So the Father says,

00:38:30.900 --> 00:38:32.940
 this is my beloved son.

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:35.699
 Yeah, sure,

00:38:35.800 --> 00:38:37.139
 Moses' beloved servant,

00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:37.440
 great.

00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:38.699
 Elijah,

00:38:38.699 --> 00:38:41.480
 this is my beloved son

00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:44.379
 with whom I am well pleased.

00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:45.439
 Listen to him.

00:38:46.799 --> 00:38:48.299
 This is why in verse 8,

00:38:48.359 --> 00:38:49.039
 I love this,

00:38:49.419 --> 00:38:50.199
 when they lifted up

00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:50.759
 their eyes,

00:38:50.919 --> 00:38:52.559
 they saw no one

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:54.679
 but Jesus only.

00:38:54.679 --> 00:39:00.379
 all three transfiguration accounts

00:39:00.379 --> 00:39:00.779
 in Matthew,

00:39:00.899 --> 00:39:01.099
 Mark,

00:39:01.139 --> 00:39:01.500
 and Luke

00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:03.179
 emphasize this,

00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:04.339
 that at the end,

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:05.519
 Moses and Elijah

00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:06.139
 were gone.

00:39:07.139 --> 00:39:07.799
 No one

00:39:07.799 --> 00:39:08.699
 but Jesus

00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:09.519
 only

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.460
 remained.

00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.000
 Why?

00:39:11.399 --> 00:39:11.960
 Because

00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:12.599
 Jesus

00:39:12.599 --> 00:39:13.699
 only

00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:15.019
 is the Christ,

00:39:15.239 --> 00:39:15.879
 the son

00:39:15.879 --> 00:39:17.139
 of the living God.

00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:18.719
 Because

00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:19.339
 Jesus

00:39:19.339 --> 00:39:20.119
 only,

00:39:20.339 --> 00:39:21.339
 there's salvation

00:39:21.339 --> 00:39:22.659
 in no one else,

00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:24.019
 for there is no other name

00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.839
 under heaven

00:39:24.839 --> 00:39:25.539
 given to mankind

00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:27.519
 by which we must be saved,

00:39:27.799 --> 00:39:29.019
 but the name of Jesus

00:39:29.019 --> 00:39:30.159
 only.

00:39:31.299 --> 00:39:31.839
 Because

00:39:31.839 --> 00:39:33.799
 there is one God

00:39:33.799 --> 00:39:35.559
 and one mediator

00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:36.859
 between God and man,

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:38.259
 and that's the man,

00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:39.379
 Christ Jesus.

00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:41.019
 It says in 1 Timothy 2, 5.

00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:42.199
 Because

00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:43.000
 Jesus says

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:44.219
 in John 14, 6,

00:39:44.319 --> 00:39:45.259
 I am the way,

00:39:45.359 --> 00:39:45.899
 the truth,

00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:46.819
 and the life,

00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:47.819
 and no one

00:39:47.819 --> 00:39:48.579
 comes to the Father

00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:49.920
 except through me.

00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:51.500
 because

00:39:51.500 --> 00:39:52.000
 Jesus

00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:53.400
 is the only one.

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.180
 So no,

00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:58.559
 I don't mean

00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:59.119
 to be rude,

00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:00.139
 but Jesus

00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:01.059
 and Moses

00:40:01.059 --> 00:40:01.880
 and Elijah

00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:03.260
 are not in the same category.

00:40:05.340 --> 00:40:06.420
 No civic

00:40:06.420 --> 00:40:07.980
 or religious leader,

00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:09.400
 no wise man

00:40:09.400 --> 00:40:10.280
 or guru

00:40:10.280 --> 00:40:11.000
 or monk

00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:11.940
 or prophet

00:40:11.940 --> 00:40:13.980
 in all of human history

00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:15.820
 is in the same category

00:40:15.820 --> 00:40:16.400
 as Jesus.

00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:16.619
 Jesus

00:40:16.619 --> 00:40:26.519
 we're talking about this

00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:27.039
 in our CG.

00:40:27.239 --> 00:40:28.079
 It upsets me

00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:29.299
 that his name

00:40:29.299 --> 00:40:29.880
 gets mentioned

00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:31.059
 alongside all these people

00:40:31.059 --> 00:40:32.239
 as if he's just one of them.

00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:33.739
 One of many.

00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:37.460
 He's not one of many.

00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.339
 There's only one.

00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:42.799
 I pray,

00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:44.019
 this is my prayer for you

00:40:44.019 --> 00:40:45.319
 that whenever you come

00:40:45.319 --> 00:40:46.119
 to worship here,

00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:47.719
 you gather

00:40:47.719 --> 00:40:48.779
 with Trinity Cambridge Church

00:40:48.779 --> 00:40:49.579
 that you leave

00:40:49.579 --> 00:40:50.940
 with an eye full

00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.880
 of Jesus

00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:53.099
 only.

00:40:56.239 --> 00:40:56.900
 No one

00:40:56.900 --> 00:40:57.579
 but Jesus

00:40:57.579 --> 00:40:58.139
 only.

00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:03.099
 It's quite the privilege

00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:03.480
 for Peter,

00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:03.739
 James,

00:41:03.799 --> 00:41:04.119
 and John,

00:41:04.179 --> 00:41:04.519
 isn't it?

00:41:06.440 --> 00:41:07.699
 But this glorious vision

00:41:07.699 --> 00:41:08.739
 is predictably

00:41:08.739 --> 00:41:09.679
 terrifying

00:41:09.679 --> 00:41:10.880
 for the disciples.

00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:13.199
 It says in verse 6,

00:41:13.259 --> 00:41:13.719
 when the disciples

00:41:13.719 --> 00:41:14.400
 heard this,

00:41:14.579 --> 00:41:15.559
 heard the Father speak,

00:41:15.559 --> 00:41:16.799
 they fell on their faces

00:41:16.799 --> 00:41:17.739
 and were terrified.

00:41:18.759 --> 00:41:20.019
 This was the response

00:41:20.019 --> 00:41:20.420
 of Moses

00:41:20.420 --> 00:41:22.159
 when he fell upon his face

00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:22.719
 on the ground

00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:23.559
 and worshiped God.

00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:25.139
 This is what Elijah did

00:41:25.139 --> 00:41:26.179
 when he wrapped his face

00:41:26.179 --> 00:41:26.940
 to cover himself

00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:28.099
 from the presence of God.

00:41:28.239 --> 00:41:29.559
 This is what Isaiah did

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.420
 when he was called

00:41:30.420 --> 00:41:30.799
 and saw,

00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:31.740
 Woe is me,

00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:32.760
 for I am lost,

00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:33.539
 for I am a man

00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:34.580
 of unclean lips

00:41:34.580 --> 00:41:35.800
 and I dwell in the midst

00:41:35.800 --> 00:41:36.300
 of a people

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:37.240
 of unclean lips,

00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:38.160
 for my eyes

00:41:38.160 --> 00:41:39.039
 have seen the King,

00:41:39.120 --> 00:41:39.980
 the Lord of hosts.

00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:42.100
 This is how

00:41:42.100 --> 00:41:43.960
 every sinful human being

00:41:43.960 --> 00:41:44.460
 reacts

00:41:44.460 --> 00:41:45.380
 when they are faced

00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:46.080
 with the light

00:41:46.080 --> 00:41:47.620
 of the glory of God

00:41:47.620 --> 00:41:48.180
 in the face

00:41:48.180 --> 00:41:49.060
 of Jesus Christ.

00:41:50.340 --> 00:41:51.600
 He is pure light

00:41:51.600 --> 00:41:53.380
 and there is no darkness

00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:54.340
 in him at all.

00:41:54.820 --> 00:41:55.160
 God,

00:41:55.320 --> 00:41:55.539
 it says,

00:41:55.580 --> 00:41:57.039
 is of purer eyes

00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:58.400
 than to see evil.

00:41:58.400 --> 00:41:59.039
 So,

00:41:59.039 --> 00:42:00.180
 in Habakkuk 1.13,

00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:01.760
 so holy is he

00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:03.320
 that the priests

00:42:03.320 --> 00:42:04.019
 and the Levites

00:42:04.019 --> 00:42:04.480
 were allowed

00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:06.200
 to enter the tabernacle,

00:42:06.500 --> 00:42:07.300
 only the priests

00:42:07.300 --> 00:42:07.980
 and the Levites,

00:42:08.180 --> 00:42:09.019
 so that it says

00:42:09.019 --> 00:42:09.740
 in Numbers 18,

00:42:09.820 --> 00:42:10.539
 21 to 22,

00:42:10.840 --> 00:42:11.920
 the people of Israel

00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:12.860
 do not come near

00:42:12.860 --> 00:42:13.619
 the tent of meeting

00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:15.700
 lest they bear sin

00:42:15.700 --> 00:42:16.480
 and die.

00:42:19.539 --> 00:42:21.559
 How can a sinful man

00:42:21.559 --> 00:42:22.900
 like me

00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:27.780
 with overweening pride

00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:30.240
 self-sufficient arrogance

00:42:30.240 --> 00:42:33.019
 and self-focused insecurity

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:35.260
 and selfish impatience

00:42:35.260 --> 00:42:36.440
 and sinful anger?

00:42:36.680 --> 00:42:38.640
 How can a man like me

00:42:38.640 --> 00:42:40.980
 enter into the cloud

00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:42.519
 of divine glory

00:42:42.519 --> 00:42:44.380
 and behold the face of God?

00:42:54.260 --> 00:42:56.100
 I will bear my sin and die.

00:42:57.780 --> 00:43:05.320
 My sinfulness alone

00:43:05.320 --> 00:43:06.440
 is disqualifying enough,

00:43:06.540 --> 00:43:07.400
 but to make this point

00:43:07.400 --> 00:43:08.120
 even clearer,

00:43:08.740 --> 00:43:10.580
 when he gives the requirements

00:43:10.580 --> 00:43:11.420
 for the priests

00:43:11.420 --> 00:43:12.440
 in Leviticus 21,

00:43:12.560 --> 00:43:13.420
 16 to 21,

00:43:13.540 --> 00:43:14.000
 he says,

00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:15.700
 it's not enough

00:43:15.700 --> 00:43:16.560
 that you're a descendant

00:43:16.560 --> 00:43:16.960
 of Aaron,

00:43:17.820 --> 00:43:19.540
 of the priestly class.

00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:20.820
 No,

00:43:21.080 --> 00:43:21.560
 any,

00:43:21.660 --> 00:43:23.100
 any Levite

00:43:23.100 --> 00:43:25.240
 that has any blemish

00:43:25.240 --> 00:43:26.600
 is not allowed

00:43:26.599 --> 00:43:27.599
 in the presence of God.

00:43:31.559 --> 00:43:33.239
 And these so-called blemishes

00:43:33.239 --> 00:43:34.360
 get quite specific.

00:43:35.559 --> 00:43:36.539
 No hunchback

00:43:36.539 --> 00:43:37.659
 or a dwarf

00:43:37.659 --> 00:43:39.480
 or a man

00:43:39.480 --> 00:43:40.239
 with a defect

00:43:40.239 --> 00:43:40.920
 in his sight

00:43:40.920 --> 00:43:41.980
 or an itching disease

00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.679
 or scabs

00:43:42.679 --> 00:43:44.059
 to list just a few.

00:43:45.400 --> 00:43:46.279
 This is not because

00:43:46.279 --> 00:43:46.960
 God is an,

00:43:47.400 --> 00:43:48.159
 what do you call it,

00:43:48.199 --> 00:43:49.219
 an ableist

00:43:49.219 --> 00:43:49.980
 or whatever.

00:43:50.920 --> 00:43:51.579
 Is that right?

00:43:51.699 --> 00:43:52.179
 But because,

00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:53.039
 it's not because

00:43:53.039 --> 00:43:53.699
 that because he's,

00:43:53.739 --> 00:43:54.639
 it's because he's trying

00:43:54.639 --> 00:43:55.099
 to teach us

00:43:55.099 --> 00:43:56.139
 that God is holy.

00:43:59.339 --> 00:44:00.900
 Approaching the living God

00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:02.940
 is no casual thing.

00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:04.619
 It is a fearful thing.

00:44:05.139 --> 00:44:06.159
 And no man

00:44:06.159 --> 00:44:07.799
 with any blemish,

00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:09.119
 any sin,

00:44:09.500 --> 00:44:10.739
 any imperfection

00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:12.159
 can approach him.

00:44:12.159 --> 00:44:16.920
 I'm not a hunchback

00:44:16.920 --> 00:44:18.379
 or a dwarf,

00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:20.079
 but I do have

00:44:20.079 --> 00:44:22.519
 ugly hunched shoulders.

00:44:23.739 --> 00:44:24.519
 I'm diminutive

00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:25.199
 in stature.

00:44:25.940 --> 00:44:27.139
 And I have all kinds

00:44:27.139 --> 00:44:27.960
 of scabs

00:44:27.960 --> 00:44:28.940
 and scars

00:44:28.940 --> 00:44:30.139
 and blemishes

00:44:30.139 --> 00:44:31.679
 that only Hannah

00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:32.420
 has ever seen.

00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:35.559
 Right?

00:44:38.139 --> 00:44:39.119
 How am I supposed

00:44:39.119 --> 00:44:39.899
 to approach God?

00:44:39.900 --> 00:44:47.840
 Soon our city

00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:48.360
 is going to be

00:44:48.360 --> 00:44:49.340
 blanketed with snow,

00:44:50.039 --> 00:44:50.880
 pristine snow,

00:44:51.780 --> 00:44:53.260
 if the weather

00:44:53.260 --> 00:44:54.059
 focus is right.

00:44:57.400 --> 00:44:58.400
 And I love

00:44:58.400 --> 00:44:59.539
 that part

00:44:59.539 --> 00:45:00.360
 of our city,

00:45:00.760 --> 00:45:01.400
 our area.

00:45:03.340 --> 00:45:04.280
 I would miss

00:45:04.280 --> 00:45:05.039
 seeing the snow

00:45:05.039 --> 00:45:05.720
 if I were to move

00:45:05.720 --> 00:45:06.519
 away from here

00:45:06.519 --> 00:45:06.960
 to a place

00:45:06.960 --> 00:45:07.760
 that has no snow.

00:45:08.599 --> 00:45:09.680
 It's so beautiful.

00:45:09.900 --> 00:45:10.260
 Pure.

00:45:12.340 --> 00:45:13.660
 But soon thereafter,

00:45:14.539 --> 00:45:15.660
 probably within hours,

00:45:16.360 --> 00:45:17.099
 the white snow

00:45:17.099 --> 00:45:18.119
 is going to be

00:45:18.119 --> 00:45:18.680
 soiled

00:45:18.680 --> 00:45:20.680
 by our muddy shoes,

00:45:21.660 --> 00:45:22.440
 blue salt,

00:45:23.539 --> 00:45:24.880
 and dog urine

00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:25.599
 and feces.

00:45:29.639 --> 00:45:30.840
 Have you ever felt

00:45:30.840 --> 00:45:31.400
 hesitant

00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:33.000
 to step on

00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:33.960
 virgin snow?

00:45:35.360 --> 00:45:36.260
 Wake up early

00:45:36.260 --> 00:45:36.720
 in the morning,

00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:37.920
 go out to Gore Park,

00:45:38.019 --> 00:45:38.559
 which I've done

00:45:38.559 --> 00:45:39.019
 in the past,

00:45:39.139 --> 00:45:40.619
 not a single footstep

00:45:40.619 --> 00:45:41.380
 on the field.

00:45:42.320 --> 00:45:42.579
 Like,

00:45:42.639 --> 00:45:43.420
 you feel hesitant.

00:45:44.420 --> 00:45:45.259
 I don't want to be

00:45:45.259 --> 00:45:45.739
 the first person

00:45:45.739 --> 00:45:46.519
 to ruin that.

00:45:50.279 --> 00:45:51.320
 Have you ever wished

00:45:51.320 --> 00:45:52.320
 that snow could stay

00:45:52.320 --> 00:45:53.139
 unsullied

00:45:53.139 --> 00:45:55.299
 like they are

00:45:55.299 --> 00:45:55.940
 when they first

00:45:55.940 --> 00:45:57.099
 freshly fall?

00:45:58.099 --> 00:45:59.019
 What sinner

00:45:59.019 --> 00:46:00.900
 dares to approach

00:46:00.900 --> 00:46:02.039
 the pure

00:46:02.039 --> 00:46:03.719
 and holy God

00:46:03.719 --> 00:46:05.039
 with their

00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:06.339
 dirty hands

00:46:06.339 --> 00:46:08.079
 and unclean lips

00:46:08.079 --> 00:46:10.339
 and impure hearts?

00:46:11.980 --> 00:46:12.980
 What sinner

00:46:12.980 --> 00:46:13.899
 dares to do that?

00:46:18.679 --> 00:46:20.259
 We must be cleansed.

00:46:21.019 --> 00:46:22.659
 We must be purified.

00:46:23.659 --> 00:46:24.699
 But how?

00:46:25.699 --> 00:46:26.699
 This is why

00:46:26.699 --> 00:46:27.759
 the glorious

00:46:27.759 --> 00:46:28.639
 Son of God

00:46:28.639 --> 00:46:30.119
 must be,

00:46:30.119 --> 00:46:31.519
 it is necessary

00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:32.359
 that he be

00:46:32.359 --> 00:46:33.339
 the suffering

00:46:33.339 --> 00:46:34.099
 Son of Man.

00:46:36.099 --> 00:46:37.259
 Jesus must die

00:46:37.259 --> 00:46:37.920
 as the atoning

00:46:37.920 --> 00:46:39.079
 sacrifice for sin

00:46:39.079 --> 00:46:39.940
 to cleanse us

00:46:39.940 --> 00:46:41.500
 of all unrighteousness.

00:46:42.139 --> 00:46:42.859
 This is why

00:46:42.859 --> 00:46:43.960
 Jesus again

00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:44.839
 returns to this

00:46:44.839 --> 00:46:46.219
 unpopular topic

00:46:46.219 --> 00:46:47.799
 of his impending death

00:46:47.799 --> 00:46:49.039
 in verses 10 to 13.

00:46:49.480 --> 00:46:50.259
 He tells them

00:46:50.259 --> 00:46:50.960
 the prophesied

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:51.900
 Elijah already

00:46:51.900 --> 00:46:52.519
 has come.

00:46:52.599 --> 00:46:53.500
 That was John the Baptist.

00:46:53.859 --> 00:46:54.699
 He's already prepared

00:46:54.699 --> 00:46:55.079
 the way.

00:46:55.460 --> 00:46:56.819
 And these Jewish leaders

00:46:56.819 --> 00:46:57.719
 and these Gentiles

00:46:57.719 --> 00:46:58.299
 did to him

00:46:58.299 --> 00:46:59.119
 whatever they wanted.

00:46:59.119 --> 00:47:00.359
 They beheaded him

00:47:00.359 --> 00:47:01.119
 and killed him.

00:47:01.460 --> 00:47:02.319
 And you know what?

00:47:02.359 --> 00:47:03.039
 The Son of Man

00:47:03.039 --> 00:47:03.799
 is going to suffer

00:47:03.799 --> 00:47:05.480
 in the same way.

00:47:08.319 --> 00:47:09.119
 This is why

00:47:09.119 --> 00:47:10.059
 Jesus commands them

00:47:10.059 --> 00:47:10.719
 in verse 9,

00:47:10.839 --> 00:47:12.000
 tell no one the vision

00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:13.219
 until the Son of Man

00:47:13.219 --> 00:47:14.420
 is raised from the dead.

00:47:14.599 --> 00:47:15.500
 Because if the other

00:47:15.500 --> 00:47:16.500
 disciples find out

00:47:16.500 --> 00:47:17.239
 about what happened

00:47:17.239 --> 00:47:17.839
 on the mountain

00:47:17.839 --> 00:47:19.019
 and what the

00:47:19.019 --> 00:47:19.880
 transfiguration

00:47:19.880 --> 00:47:20.659
 that took place,

00:47:20.980 --> 00:47:21.839
 it will hinder

00:47:21.839 --> 00:47:22.639
 his mission

00:47:22.639 --> 00:47:23.880
 to seek and save

00:47:23.880 --> 00:47:24.339
 the lost

00:47:24.339 --> 00:47:25.679
 by dying on the cross

00:47:25.679 --> 00:47:26.359
 for their sin.

00:47:26.599 --> 00:47:27.759
 They will not allow it.

00:47:27.819 --> 00:47:28.299
 No, no, no.

00:47:28.300 --> 00:47:29.760
 You are the glorious

00:47:29.760 --> 00:47:30.360
 Son of God.

00:47:30.440 --> 00:47:31.380
 That's not the path

00:47:31.380 --> 00:47:31.800
 for you.

00:47:35.080 --> 00:47:36.019
 But Jesus knew

00:47:36.019 --> 00:47:36.800
 that was the path

00:47:36.800 --> 00:47:37.180
 for him.

00:47:40.820 --> 00:47:41.480
 Notice how

00:47:41.480 --> 00:47:42.580
 this whole experience

00:47:42.580 --> 00:47:43.320
 was intended

00:47:43.320 --> 00:47:45.000
 to prepare

00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:45.440
 Peter,

00:47:45.580 --> 00:47:45.800
 James,

00:47:45.860 --> 00:47:46.160
 and John

00:47:46.160 --> 00:47:46.760
 as witnesses

00:47:46.760 --> 00:47:48.440
 in verse 2.

00:47:48.539 --> 00:47:48.760
 It says,

00:47:48.840 --> 00:47:49.760
 He was transfigured

00:47:49.760 --> 00:47:51.120
 before them.

00:47:51.780 --> 00:47:52.420
 Verse 3,

00:47:52.920 --> 00:47:53.320
 Behold,

00:47:53.420 --> 00:47:53.860
 there appeared

00:47:53.860 --> 00:47:54.700
 to them

00:47:54.700 --> 00:47:55.640
 Moses and Elijah

00:47:55.640 --> 00:47:56.400
 talking with Jesus.

00:47:56.400 --> 00:47:57.280
 Verse 5,

00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:57.660
 Behold,

00:47:57.740 --> 00:47:58.539
 a bright cloud

00:47:58.539 --> 00:47:59.960
 overshadowed them

00:47:59.960 --> 00:48:01.500
 and God the Father

00:48:01.500 --> 00:48:02.920
 speaks to them

00:48:02.920 --> 00:48:03.260
 saying,

00:48:03.380 --> 00:48:04.300
 listen to him.

00:48:04.579 --> 00:48:05.860
 This whole experience

00:48:05.860 --> 00:48:06.460
 is designed

00:48:06.460 --> 00:48:07.160
 to help Peter,

00:48:07.280 --> 00:48:07.519
 James,

00:48:07.559 --> 00:48:07.980
 and John

00:48:07.980 --> 00:48:08.559
 to see

00:48:08.559 --> 00:48:10.039
 and never forget

00:48:10.039 --> 00:48:11.099
 that Jesus

00:48:11.099 --> 00:48:12.139
 is the glorious

00:48:12.139 --> 00:48:12.900
 Son of God

00:48:12.900 --> 00:48:14.960
 because their faith

00:48:14.960 --> 00:48:15.680
 will be tested.

00:48:16.760 --> 00:48:17.440
 They will see

00:48:17.440 --> 00:48:18.019
 this glorious

00:48:18.019 --> 00:48:18.579
 Son of God

00:48:18.579 --> 00:48:19.579
 get flogged

00:48:19.579 --> 00:48:20.599
 and sped on

00:48:20.599 --> 00:48:21.800
 and stripped naked

00:48:21.800 --> 00:48:22.559
 and crucified

00:48:22.559 --> 00:48:23.320
 as a suffering

00:48:23.320 --> 00:48:23.960
 Son of Man.

00:48:23.960 --> 00:48:27.440
 But they must

00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:28.420
 remember this vision

00:48:28.420 --> 00:48:29.900
 that the death

00:48:29.900 --> 00:48:30.599
 and the resurrection

00:48:30.599 --> 00:48:31.380
 of the Messiah

00:48:31.380 --> 00:48:33.420
 is God's salvation

00:48:33.420 --> 00:48:34.920
 plan after all.

00:48:38.599 --> 00:48:39.559
 Just because

00:48:39.559 --> 00:48:40.539
 Jesus was born

00:48:40.539 --> 00:48:41.840
 of Mary,

00:48:42.599 --> 00:48:43.199
 just because

00:48:43.199 --> 00:48:44.099
 he was a baby

00:48:44.099 --> 00:48:44.800
 like us

00:48:44.800 --> 00:48:45.720
 we all once were,

00:48:45.780 --> 00:48:46.179
 just because

00:48:46.179 --> 00:48:46.960
 Jesus walked

00:48:46.960 --> 00:48:48.179
 the dusty roads

00:48:48.179 --> 00:48:49.000
 of the Middle East

00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:50.000
 like millions

00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:50.740
 before him

00:48:50.740 --> 00:48:51.199
 and since,

00:48:51.300 --> 00:48:51.840
 just because

00:48:51.840 --> 00:48:52.500
 Jesus died

00:48:52.500 --> 00:48:53.079
 a shameful

00:48:53.079 --> 00:48:54.059
 death on the cross,

00:48:54.279 --> 00:48:55.779
 do not be tempted

00:48:55.779 --> 00:48:56.759
 to disbelieve

00:48:56.759 --> 00:48:57.199
 that he is

00:48:57.199 --> 00:48:57.739
 the glorious

00:48:57.739 --> 00:48:58.519
 Son of God.

00:48:59.340 --> 00:49:00.159
 Jesus needed

00:49:00.159 --> 00:49:00.739
 to die

00:49:00.739 --> 00:49:01.480
 on the cross.

00:49:02.139 --> 00:49:02.679
 It is there

00:49:02.679 --> 00:49:03.380
 he dies

00:49:03.380 --> 00:49:04.099
 and he spills

00:49:04.099 --> 00:49:04.659
 his blood

00:49:04.659 --> 00:49:05.460
 because blood

00:49:05.460 --> 00:49:06.679
 is what atones

00:49:06.679 --> 00:49:07.699
 for sin

00:49:07.699 --> 00:49:08.599
 and as the glorious

00:49:08.599 --> 00:49:09.319
 Son of God

00:49:09.319 --> 00:49:09.960
 his blood

00:49:09.960 --> 00:49:10.719
 is sufficient

00:49:10.719 --> 00:49:11.619
 to atone

00:49:11.619 --> 00:49:12.779
 for all of our sins

00:49:12.779 --> 00:49:13.500
 so that when we

00:49:13.500 --> 00:49:14.579
 put our trust

00:49:14.579 --> 00:49:15.199
 in Jesus

00:49:15.199 --> 00:49:16.219
 and when we

00:49:16.219 --> 00:49:17.380
 confess our sins

00:49:17.380 --> 00:49:18.480
 and all of our

00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:19.840
 soiled snow

00:49:19.840 --> 00:49:21.079
 and repent of it,

00:49:21.079 --> 00:49:24.880
 as Brittany read

00:49:24.880 --> 00:49:25.360
 from Isaiah

00:49:25.360 --> 00:49:26.000
 1.18

00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:27.159
 this morning

00:49:27.159 --> 00:49:28.279
 in her prophecy,

00:49:29.719 --> 00:49:30.440
 though your sins

00:49:30.440 --> 00:49:31.840
 are as red

00:49:31.840 --> 00:49:32.799
 as scarlet,

00:49:34.079 --> 00:49:35.840
 it shall be

00:49:35.840 --> 00:49:36.559
 as white

00:49:36.559 --> 00:49:37.279
 as snow.

00:49:44.480 --> 00:49:45.340
 When I was

00:49:45.340 --> 00:49:45.880
 giving you guys

00:49:45.880 --> 00:49:46.279
 earlier

00:49:46.279 --> 00:49:46.900
 a biblical

00:49:46.900 --> 00:49:47.539
 theology

00:49:47.539 --> 00:49:48.360
 of mountains,

00:49:48.360 --> 00:49:49.680
 I left out

00:49:49.680 --> 00:49:50.519
 one very,

00:49:50.640 --> 00:49:51.059
 very important

00:49:51.059 --> 00:49:51.460
 mountain,

00:49:52.420 --> 00:49:53.120
 perhaps the most

00:49:53.120 --> 00:49:53.840
 important mountain,

00:49:55.280 --> 00:49:56.920
 it's Mount Zion

00:49:56.920 --> 00:50:00.579
 where Solomon

00:50:00.579 --> 00:50:01.500
 builds his temple

00:50:01.500 --> 00:50:03.780
 where atoning

00:50:03.780 --> 00:50:04.720
 sacrifices

00:50:04.720 --> 00:50:05.519
 for sin

00:50:05.519 --> 00:50:06.640
 are made

00:50:06.640 --> 00:50:10.059
 and that mountain

00:50:10.059 --> 00:50:11.660
 has another name,

00:50:11.900 --> 00:50:12.840
 we find this out

00:50:12.840 --> 00:50:14.260
 in 2 Chronicles 3.1

00:50:14.260 --> 00:50:15.880
 this mountain,

00:50:16.140 --> 00:50:16.660
 Mount Zion

00:50:16.660 --> 00:50:17.680
 is also called

00:50:17.680 --> 00:50:19.120
 in earlier era

00:50:19.120 --> 00:50:20.400
 Mount Moriah

00:50:20.400 --> 00:50:24.180
 where Abraham

00:50:24.180 --> 00:50:25.460
 first offered

00:50:25.460 --> 00:50:27.060
 his only son,

00:50:27.540 --> 00:50:28.920
 his beloved son,

00:50:30.120 --> 00:50:30.560
 Isaac,

00:50:31.040 --> 00:50:32.060
 as a sacrifice

00:50:32.060 --> 00:50:35.500
 and God

00:50:35.500 --> 00:50:37.940
 provided a substitute,

00:50:38.580 --> 00:50:39.080
 a ram,

00:50:39.380 --> 00:50:39.920
 to die

00:50:39.920 --> 00:50:40.780
 in the place

00:50:40.780 --> 00:50:41.780
 of his son

00:50:41.780 --> 00:50:42.480
 so that he might

00:50:42.480 --> 00:50:43.140
 live

00:50:43.139 --> 00:50:45.460
 do you think

00:50:45.460 --> 00:50:45.839
 God's been

00:50:45.839 --> 00:50:46.440
 planning this

00:50:46.440 --> 00:50:47.019
 all along?

00:50:47.799 --> 00:50:47.980
 Yeah.

00:50:49.179 --> 00:50:50.179
 From Mount Moriah,

00:50:50.619 --> 00:50:51.059
 the place

00:50:51.059 --> 00:50:51.779
 of sacrifice

00:50:51.779 --> 00:50:52.539
 that's substitute

00:50:52.539 --> 00:50:54.039
 to Mount Zion

00:50:54.039 --> 00:50:57.119
 where sacrifices

00:50:57.119 --> 00:50:57.599
 offered,

00:50:57.759 --> 00:50:58.460
 lamb is offered

00:50:58.460 --> 00:50:58.879
 on the day

00:50:58.879 --> 00:50:59.539
 of atonement

00:50:59.539 --> 00:51:02.940
 and then

00:51:02.940 --> 00:51:03.579
 to the

00:51:03.579 --> 00:51:03.879
 Mount

00:51:03.879 --> 00:51:05.039
 of crucifixion

00:51:05.039 --> 00:51:07.819
 where we all

00:51:07.819 --> 00:51:08.739
 deserve to die

00:51:08.739 --> 00:51:10.539
 and God

00:51:10.539 --> 00:51:11.420
 gives instead

00:51:11.420 --> 00:51:13.240
 his only son.

00:51:20.240 --> 00:51:21.340
 If Mount Horeb

00:51:21.340 --> 00:51:21.800
 is the place

00:51:21.800 --> 00:51:22.380
 where we receive

00:51:22.380 --> 00:51:22.980
 God's law,

00:51:23.099 --> 00:51:23.860
 Mount Zion,

00:51:24.360 --> 00:51:24.960
 Mount Moriah

00:51:24.960 --> 00:51:26.079
 is where we receive

00:51:26.079 --> 00:51:26.740
 the mercy

00:51:26.740 --> 00:51:27.800
 and grace

00:51:27.800 --> 00:51:28.380
 of God.

00:51:30.700 --> 00:51:31.220
 So,

00:51:31.420 --> 00:51:32.340
 all you,

00:51:32.420 --> 00:51:33.180
 my brothers and sisters

00:51:33.180 --> 00:51:33.880
 who long

00:51:33.880 --> 00:51:34.680
 for that

00:51:34.680 --> 00:51:35.280
 Mount

00:51:35.280 --> 00:51:36.680
 of Transfiguration,

00:51:37.400 --> 00:51:37.780
 remember,

00:51:37.780 --> 00:51:39.100
 that path

00:51:39.100 --> 00:51:39.700
 to Mount

00:51:39.700 --> 00:51:40.920
 Transfiguration

00:51:40.920 --> 00:51:42.340
 leads through

00:51:42.340 --> 00:51:42.980
 the Mount

00:51:42.980 --> 00:51:44.300
 of crucifixion.

00:51:50.200 --> 00:51:51.240
 It is when we

00:51:51.240 --> 00:51:51.780
 behold

00:51:51.780 --> 00:51:53.460
 the light

00:51:53.460 --> 00:51:54.140
 of the knowledge

00:51:54.140 --> 00:51:54.740
 of the gospel

00:51:54.740 --> 00:51:55.540
 of Jesus Christ,

00:51:55.640 --> 00:51:56.460
 the glory of God

00:51:56.460 --> 00:51:57.480
 revealed in the face

00:51:57.480 --> 00:51:58.380
 of Jesus Christ

00:51:58.380 --> 00:51:59.960
 who died for us

00:51:59.960 --> 00:52:00.840
 on that cross.

00:52:00.840 --> 00:52:03.400
 that's when we

00:52:03.400 --> 00:52:06.000
 are redeemed,

00:52:06.460 --> 00:52:06.920
 forgiven,

00:52:07.840 --> 00:52:09.000
 united with Christ

00:52:09.000 --> 00:52:09.680
 and

00:52:09.680 --> 00:52:11.820
 sanctified

00:52:11.820 --> 00:52:12.660
 to be more

00:52:12.660 --> 00:52:13.480
 and more like him.

00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:18.140
 And this is why

00:52:18.140 --> 00:52:19.300
 Jesus gives

00:52:19.300 --> 00:52:19.760
 that main

00:52:19.760 --> 00:52:20.300
 exhortion,

00:52:20.400 --> 00:52:21.079
 anyone who would

00:52:21.079 --> 00:52:21.860
 come after me

00:52:21.860 --> 00:52:22.940
 must carry his

00:52:22.940 --> 00:52:23.980
 cross and follow me.

00:52:23.980 --> 00:52:26.240
 yes,

00:52:26.320 --> 00:52:26.760
 we long

00:52:26.760 --> 00:52:27.260
 for that

00:52:27.260 --> 00:52:28.139
 glory,

00:52:28.880 --> 00:52:29.820
 the divine glory

00:52:29.820 --> 00:52:30.579
 of the Son of God

00:52:30.579 --> 00:52:31.519
 and we will see it

00:52:31.519 --> 00:52:31.980
 one day.

00:52:33.019 --> 00:52:33.900
 We will be

00:52:33.900 --> 00:52:34.980
 transported

00:52:34.980 --> 00:52:36.420
 into heavenly

00:52:36.420 --> 00:52:37.800
 eternal ecstasy

00:52:37.800 --> 00:52:38.579
 and when we

00:52:38.579 --> 00:52:39.539
 behold that

00:52:39.539 --> 00:52:40.559
 beatific vision,

00:52:40.880 --> 00:52:41.440
 that blessed

00:52:41.440 --> 00:52:42.719
 vision of God

00:52:42.719 --> 00:52:43.300
 seeing him

00:52:43.300 --> 00:52:44.539
 face to face

00:52:44.539 --> 00:52:45.559
 and we long

00:52:45.559 --> 00:52:45.940
 for it

00:52:45.940 --> 00:52:46.679
 and we wait

00:52:46.679 --> 00:52:46.940
 for it,

00:52:46.960 --> 00:52:48.059
 we pine for it

00:52:48.059 --> 00:52:49.360
 but as we do that

00:52:49.360 --> 00:52:50.659
 we live this life

00:52:50.659 --> 00:52:51.559
 knowing that

00:52:51.559 --> 00:52:52.579
 we must carry

00:52:52.579 --> 00:52:53.380
 our cross

00:52:53.380 --> 00:52:54.280
 through the

00:52:54.280 --> 00:52:54.619
 mount of

00:52:54.619 --> 00:52:55.340
 crucifixion

00:52:55.340 --> 00:52:59.039
 and then

00:52:59.039 --> 00:52:59.500
 we will get

00:52:59.500 --> 00:52:59.760
 there.

00:53:00.960 --> 00:53:01.640
 Let's pray

00:53:01.640 --> 00:53:02.000
 together.

00:53:08.140 --> 00:53:08.740
 Heavenly

00:53:08.740 --> 00:53:09.140
 Father,

00:53:11.140 --> 00:53:12.480
 please,

00:53:13.300 --> 00:53:14.340
 please

00:53:14.340 --> 00:53:18.519
 enlarge our

00:53:18.519 --> 00:53:19.360
 vision of

00:53:19.360 --> 00:53:19.880
 your Son

00:53:19.880 --> 00:53:20.599
 Jesus Christ.

00:53:23.380 --> 00:53:25.019
 oh,

00:53:25.240 --> 00:53:25.619
 Father,

00:53:26.500 --> 00:53:28.380
 if we could

00:53:28.380 --> 00:53:29.180
 see

00:53:29.180 --> 00:53:30.140
 his beauty,

00:53:31.280 --> 00:53:35.900
 oh,

00:53:35.960 --> 00:53:36.660
 all these

00:53:36.660 --> 00:53:38.740
 trifling

00:53:38.740 --> 00:53:41.220
 temptations

00:53:41.220 --> 00:53:42.039
 of this world

00:53:42.039 --> 00:53:44.180
 would lose

00:53:44.180 --> 00:53:44.720
 all their

00:53:44.720 --> 00:53:45.160
 luster.

00:53:45.159 --> 00:53:51.779
 open up

00:53:51.779 --> 00:53:52.299
 the eyes

00:53:52.299 --> 00:53:52.759
 of our

00:53:52.759 --> 00:53:53.119
 hearts

00:53:53.119 --> 00:53:53.440
 so that

00:53:53.440 --> 00:53:54.159
 by eyes

00:53:54.159 --> 00:53:54.819
 of faith,

00:53:55.000 --> 00:53:55.159
 Lord,

00:53:55.980 --> 00:53:56.259
 we might

00:53:56.259 --> 00:53:56.920
 behold

00:53:56.920 --> 00:53:57.659
 Jesus

00:53:57.659 --> 00:53:59.460
 more clearly

00:53:59.460 --> 00:54:00.139
 today than

00:54:00.139 --> 00:54:00.500
 we ever

00:54:00.500 --> 00:54:01.159
 have before.

00:54:09.159 --> 00:54:10.279
 In his

00:54:10.279 --> 00:54:12.739
 precious name

00:54:12.739 --> 00:54:14.219
 we pray.

00:54:14.219 --> 00:54:15.419
 Amen.