Incandescent Week 2: Light Show

Introduction

This is my favorite time of the year.

Its cold outside; here is Christmas music playing everywhere you go; the mountains are full of snow; holiday drinks are available at every coffee shop… Christmas to me has always been somewhat of a happy place.

This is what I picture when I’ve ben asked the question, “if you could have a conversation with any three people, dead or alive, who would those people be?”

I picture for whatever reason it being Christmas time, were at a coffee shop, of course, and we are sitting there having a conversation as the snow falls outside.

But that question, “if you could have a conversation with any three people, dead or alive, who would those people be?” is an interesting one. I think that answer probably changes as time goes on. As you mature and priorities change, the answer to that does too.

As a matter of fact, let’s try something. Turn to the person next to you and lets take two minutes, “if you could have a conversation with any three people, dead or alive, who would those people be an why?”

RECAP LAST WEEK

Last week we started a series called INCANDESCENT and nick walked us through the story of Nicodemus and the contrast between the darkness and light. He challenged us to ask ourselves the question, “Where do I need to step into the light to overcome fear and find freedom?”

Today we are going to be looking at how when the light of Jesus is presented in its full glory before us, how do we respond?

If you have your Bibles turn to Matthew 17.

SEE THE LIGHTListen

Before we read the passage, its important to know what is going on.

Jesus is near the end of his time on earth. He has being doing ministry with the disciples and, as Nick alluded to last week, some people aren’t sure about Jesus.

He has some who believe

He also those who have met him with resistance.

Then there are some who believe, but don’t understand the full magnitude of who Jesus

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Matthew 16:13–14 (NIV)

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

People are confused about who Jesus so they try to do what we all do and rationalize it by what we know or what we’ve heard.

Even the disciples did this. At times they weren’t sure how to answer. So you see this tension of figuring out who Jesus is.

After some time had been spent in Caesarea, the passage picks up in Chapter 17.

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Matthew 17:1 (NIV)

1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

So six days pass and Jesus takes the Disciples that are always seen with him up to a mountain top.

If you have read portions of the Bible, you know that mountains are a big deal.

Mountains are mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible and are actually oftentimes used as landscape markers for important “God-Encounters.”

Moses received tablets on a mountain

The lord spoke to Elijah on Mount Sanai

Matthew mentions mountains are where Jesus preached, healed, was tempted, and as we later see where he prayed before his crucifixion.

The mountaintop experiences are big in scripture.

So they are on the mountain...

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Matthew 17:2–3 (NIV)

2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Jesus was transfigured before the disciples… what on earth does that mean?

The passage uses the word “transfiguration” which translates to Metamorphoomai which means “to transform.”

Transformation as a concept is not one that is particularly difficult to understand right?

The disciples would go through waves of transformation just as we do now.

SLIDE: Pictures of me through the years.

From a practical stand point, understanding physical transformation is not that hard to do.

Internal transformation is harder to see, but it does lead to physical change.

We see this all throughout scripture

We talk about this as a church even. One of our values is Transformation is our aim. We celebrate the steps that people take in their lives towards living a transformative life in Jesus.

What if someone is perfect though? Jesus’ “step” is shown in the fullness of his glory. The fullest version of Godlyness imaginable.

Jesus in this moment is transforming and the disciples are witnessing a wholistic change. a Change where Jesus steps into the fullness of who he is outside of the bounds of this earth.

It says his face shone like the sun. It was bright and brilliant. Have you ever tried to look at the sun? You can’t. Its that bright of a light.

His clothes became pure and white. So white that it radiated like the light.

Imagine change that physically emanates the glory of who Jesus is.

But Jesus isn’t the only person they see.

Moses was seen as the first “redemption” figure in the Bible. At this time, the only “Bible” that the people has was the Pentateuch which means that their idea of a savior comes directly from the stories of triumph told in the first 5 books of the Bible.

Disciples seeing him would be significant based on their understanding on Scripture and their nation’s history.

Elijah was seen as one of the great prophets. He was present during turbulent time in Israel’s history.

In the midst of Israel worshipping false Gods, Elijah was there to show Israel their evil and encourage them to return to the Lord.

His name means “The Lord is my God.”

He also never died

These characters are huge in the minds of the disciples.

But “Jesus, shines brighter than the brightest lights.” SLIDE

Even amongst the greatest heroes the disciples have known, Jesus is greater than even them.

Amongst the greatest of our heroes, Jesus is greater than even them. Can you see him shining? Can you see him in glory?

“Jesus shines brighter than the the brightest lights”

Listen to the Light

Now the disciples are witnessing this in real time. You can imagine they are probably amazed and in awe of what they are witnessing. And Peter responds probably how most of us would.

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Matthew 17:4 (NIV)

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Petere is hyped!

Here are the greatest heroes he has ever heard of!

Remember the three people you would chose to talk to?

These are probably his three people.

I grew up loving basketball and my biggest hero on the court was Kobe Bryant. I got the chance to meet him when I was in college and I promise you my response looked similar to this. Im pretty sure I called him Mr. Bryant like 15 times in two minutes cause I didn’t know what to say.

Think about one of your people in this scenario.

Is it an author?

Is it a historical figure?

Maybe its a loved one you lost too soon.

Or someone who is no longer in your life that you wished you could’ve said more.

How would you respond?

I would venture to see with the same eagerness wrapped in shock and awe just like Peter. And as he responds he hears a voice.

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Matthew 17:5 (NIV)

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Just as God appeared in the form of a cloud to provide shade for Moses and Israel while they were in the wilderness. God appears here in the form of a cloud and echoes the words spoken on Jesus’ Baptism. “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Then he gives a command. What does that say?

It doesn’t say build and alter and honor all of the heroes standing in front of you. It says “listen.”

There are a couple of things going on here. First can you imagine what Jesus is feeling in this moment.

The validation you get from your father that they are pleased with you. The validation that you get that he is with you knowing what is coming next. Knowing how you have to suffer, first you get what every kid is looking for, the “I am proud of you” statement.

Can you here your parents saying that to you?

In this moment, Jesus is being elevated in authority in front of the disicples. Who by the way had to know someone was coming after Moses. They were told a such in Deuteronomy 18:15

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Deuteronomy 18:15 (NIV)

15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

He is validating scripture and prophesy that they have known for what I would imagine has been their whole lives. This is the one they have been promised since Moses.

But, Peter being Peter doesn’t stop to hear these words from God first.

How many times do we respond like Peter? So quick to jump on the opportunity to do what we think is right that we don’t stop to listen to the voice of God.

SLIDE: “When we respond to quickly, sometimes we can miss the voice of God.”

Are you listening for what God has to say before taking action on what you think is right?

“When we respond to quickly, sometimes we can miss the voice of God.”

Respond to the Light

Peter responds way too quickly and he hears the voice of God elevating Jesus above Elijah and Moses and then he and disciples do exactly what you would expect them to.

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Matthew 17:6 (NIV)

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

Uhh yeah.

This response makes sense.

You see in front of you something terrifying, try to respond the way you think you should, get corrected on that and here a voice from Heaven. I would be terrified too.

But it is more than just a scary scene.

The reverence the disciples have for what they just witnessed and the understanding of what they just heard to fall Facedown before Jesus. Almost as if to say, “we are not worthy of witnessing such glory.”

But then also the terrifying nature of what it looks like to be exposed in a way that shows someone for who they truly are.

Transformation is incredible and we celebrate it, but sometimes it can bring up things that make us uncomfortable.

In this moment, Jesus is modeling full openness in a way that exposes the glory of God, but that wouldn’t be the same for us would it?

Put yourself in that moment. imagine you are the person being exposed in the fullness of who you are. What things are going to be brought up that you might not want the world to see?

Addiction?

Pride?

Sin?

Depression?

But in the midst of reverence and fear, Jesus responds

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Matthew 17:7–8 (NIV)

7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

The disciples realize how Great Jesus is and in the midst of the fear they feel associated with that, Jesus reaches out and touches them and tells them “Do not be afraid.”

He does the same for us doesn’t he?

In the midst of fear and reverence. When we don’t feel worthy of witnessing his glory. When we fear the reality of what exposing our faults can lead to, Jesus meets us there and tells us not to be afraid.

In that situation who do you see? Who do you see standing there? Are you clouded by the heroes you think you want to see, or do you see Jesus? In his full glory, Jesus came to the disciples as he does for us.

Remember the happy place I described earlier? The coffee and the snow and my family… Jesus stepped out of his. He stepped out of perfect glory with God and came to earth to die a sinners death so we would have life. We celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus because we know it leads to victory in the end.

But sometimes the magnitude of what he did gets lost in the celebration. Even being modeled here. Jesus is experiencing that happy place again for just a moment before suffering for us. In the midst of that as the disciples experience fear, Jesus reaches out.

That’s how much he loves us.

When transformation brings up things that are uncomfortable, how do you respond? When fear tries to grab a hold of you, who do you see standing in front of you?

SLIDE: When we respond in fear, Jesus says “do not be afraid”

Conclusion

As you consider this Christmas season and everything in it. As you open up the family advent boxes we gave our or wrap presents and make hot cocoa. As you enter into your happy place or you mourn the loss of the people you wish you could spend the holidays with, can you see Jesus?

Can you see the light radiating in his transformative glory?

Are you listening? Before taking action and reacting in the excitement of Christmas, are you stopping to listen to the voice of God?

How are you responding? When fear hits. When you don’t know how to respond, are you listening to voice of Jesus saying “do not be afraid” and seeing him in all his glory?

As you go this week, look to Jesus and listen so you don’t miss the voice of God. - SLIDE

Lets Pray