With Unveiled Faces
Notes
Transcript
Greeting: “Peace be with you.”
1 And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” 2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; 3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. 7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” 8 All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. 10 They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. 11 They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 “But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”
Prayer: “Father, may your will be done. Jesus, may your word be proclaimed. Holy Spirit, may your work be accomplished in us, we pray. AMEN.”
With Unveiled Faces.
With Unveiled Faces.
As we gather on this final Sunday of Epiphany and transition into the next season of the life of the Church with Lent, you may not have realized that we have been on a journey with Jesus these past few Sundays. Epiphany began with Jesus’ disciples inviting us to “come and see” if anything good can come from Nazareth. Jesus, himself, has also invited us to “come and follow” him in his ministry. Each Sunday since, we have been hearing about all that Jesus has been doing. But today is a special moment in our journey as this chapter comes to a close and the next chapter begins. Today we are not merely told about Jesus, but we are shown Jesus.
It is one thing to be told something, but it is a different thing, entirely, to be shown. You have been told that you are a sinner. But it is when you suffer the consequences of your sinful actions that you actually bear witness that you are in deed a sinner. Likewise, you have been told that if you believe in Jesus you will be saved and be given the Holy Spirit and begin to live a new life. And when you have experienced victory over your addictions and sinful habits, forgiven those who offend you, humbled your pride, seek peace with those around you, exercised patience to receive from the Lord, and find no greater joy than to be with the people of God in His house, all these things bear witness and have encouraged you to see that salvation has taken root in your life. The point is that we are a people who not only need to be told but also have to be shown.
This season of Epiphany we will do just that. We were invited at the beginning to “Come and See”; and by the end of our time together this morning, we will be able to say, we “Came and Saw.” And when we see Jesus, we will look upon him and not only see Him, but will see what WE are to become. For today we will be shown the glory of Christ and we will see Jesus unveiled in glory, so too, will we see ourselves unveiled. Let us now go together upon the mountain and see what takes place there. So, without further ado, lets begin looking at Jesus with unveiled faces. For Paul tells us,
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
I. The Transfiguration
I. The Transfiguration
The transfiguration is often surrounded by mystery and intrigue. As least for me, when I have read or heard about the transfiguration of Jesus it has left me thinking that it is a very special moment but the significance has been somewhat lost upon me. So what has happened at the transfiguration and what is the significance? I hope to remedy my own curiosity and yours today.
There are several observations about the Transfiguration I would like make that I believe reveal its significance and results in a few implications for our lives.
A. Observations:
A. Observations:
1. Suffering Servant.
1. Suffering Servant.
3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Jesus doesn’t abscond from suffering but embraces it and shows us how to live despite it. To all those who are suffering, look to Christ and walk through it with Him.
Veiled in Humanity.
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus who has veiled himself in humanity, takes on our flesh, and commitments himself to live a life we all have been committed to live. But here, these few, see for the first time, a Jesus unveiled!
2. Glimpse of Glory
2. Glimpse of Glory
2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;
When the veil is lifted what do they see? They see His glory, they see Him as He truly is and He is one who holds all offices. Let us examine them together…
3. New Adam.
3. New Adam.
2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;
It may not be in the minds of the three that go to go up the mountain. I doubt they were counting the days, but Mark under the inspiration of the Holy Spirits offers his readers a detail to point to a theological truth, that man was created on the 6th day and on this 6th day we see Jesus as the Second Adam.
4. High Priest.
4. High Priest.
3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
The High Priest on the day of atonement would where linens on white. Jesus revealed as a high priest is one of the reason why Peter’s response it to setup tabernacles.
5. Prophet.
5. Prophet.
4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.
1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” 2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3 “You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. 5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
Jesus is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and Prophet of Prophets. He alone is the voice we heed.
6. Son of God.
6. Son of God.
7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”
Following Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, God the Father confesses that Jesus is not just the Anointed one but His own son.
7. Sharing in His Glory.
7. Sharing in His Glory.
30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
It is not only Jesus shining in glory but also Moses and Elijah. They are sharing in the glory of Christ. You cannot behold the glory of Christ without some of it getting on you. This is an astonishing revelation, that Jesus shares His glory with us. Let that sink in and we will talk more about that in a moment.
8. Back to Reality.
8. Back to Reality.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.
10 They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. 11 They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 “But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”
On the mountain, Jesus removes his veil and we see Him for who He full is. One who represents the full potential of humanity, one who speaks to us truth, one who intercedes on our behalf, and one who is the Son of God. We behold the glory of God with unveiled faces. This is a tremendous moment. The Fullness of Christ has been veil until this time. Jacob never saw with whom he wrestled because The Lord left before the sun rose. But the limp that would keep Jacob company the rest of his life would remind him of the night he wrestled with God and prevailed. Likewise, Moses asked to see the face of God but He only revealed his back to Him. And the veil that was draped upon Moses faces was a reminder of that he was friends with God. But now the three that follow Christ upon the mountain, they beheld the full glory of Christ. God has now unveiled himself in Jesus Christ and seeing Christ we see God! So, how are we to take what we have seen upon this mountain and incorporate it into our lives?
B. Implications:
B. Implications:
1. Jesus can Sympathize: Cast your Cares on Christ.
1. Jesus can Sympathize: Cast your Cares on Christ.
Because Christ took on flesh, he sympathizes with our weakness and shows us how to overcome. So take courage. The challenges we face, the trails we suffer, the battles we fight will come to an end and it will be a glorious end; one that surpasses all you could ever imagine or hope for. Take encourage in this. This is Peter’s encouragement to you after having experienced the transfiguration:
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
2. From falling short of the glory of God, to sharing in the Glory of God.
2. From falling short of the glory of God, to sharing in the Glory of God.
At the transfiguration we are no only given a glimpsed of an unveiled Jesus but we are also given a glimpse of humanities full potential through Jesus. Romans 3:23 clues us in on the fact that man’s present problem is that they have settled for less. That we all are not meeting the mark of our true intent and purpose. We fall short of the glory of God. Which means that the true purpose and aim of humanity is to not fall short but to share in the glory of God. This is the significance found in the shining faces of Moses and Elijah. That as Christ is glorified, so too will He share his glory with those who find themselves in Christ and live a life like His. Paul affirms this…
17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
When we share in His glory, we become the means by which others see God: John says…
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
What keeps you from living into your full potential?
So why live in the shadows keeping cloaked your potential. Could it be that you have a misguided understanding of what your potential is? Could it be that you are embarrassed to show your fill potential because it will set you apart from everything else in the world. Could it be that you don’t know how to live into your full potential? Whatever is holding you from your potential to live like Christ and pursue Holiness, make haste and remedy it today.
3. Living with Unveiled faces: The Life of a Christian.
3. Living with Unveiled faces: The Life of a Christian.
The life of the Christian is one lived uncovered. One that exposes constant light into a dark world. One that endures suffering with hope. We shine forth the light of all men. One that exercises the power of the Kingdom of Christ upon the world ruled by evil forces and riddled with sin. We uncover the truth to the world by walking into every room and turn on the lights, by ripping off the furniture covers and expose the glorious furnishings of the Kingdom, we unmask others so they can see for themselves their full potential in Christ- that they can share in His glory. We must be a people of unveiled faces that behold the glory of Christ.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
4. Shown me the glory.
4. Shown me the glory.
Why has Christ revealed himself to but a few disciples? Why has he revealed his unveiled self to us today? I believe it to be for two reasons:
1) That we are a people that not only need to be told but also to be shown.
We can’t just be told, we have to be shown. Jesus unveils his glory to his disciples so that they can see it heading into dark days that are coming. This reveals to us that we can’t just be told things, we have to be shown things. Think about this, you can’t just be told you’re a sinner, you have to be shown. You have often heard that you are a sinner, but when you suffer the consequences of sin is when being a sinner is revealed to you. This also works in the positive sense. you can’t just be told that you are loved, you have to be shown and that’s why The Father here doesn’t just speak “this is my son listen to him.” but also shows his love for his son by showing us his glory.
2) We are shown to tell.
What was revealed to them on the mountain, they witnessed to others. What is revealed to us ,we make known to others. So that when after they are told, will take root in their lives when they are shown God by our acts of love.