God Shines Forth, Part 2
Matthew: The King and His Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 41:22
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· 15 viewsThe revealed glory of the Father’s beloved Son compels the obedience of faith.
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Call to Worship
Call to Worship
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Adoration
Adoration
The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
Confession
Confession
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
your burnt offerings are continually before me.
I will not accept a bull from your house
or goats from your folds.
For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine.
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and its fullness are mine.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Message
Message
1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
The Son Displayed in Glory
The Son Displayed in Glory
Jesus refers to Himself as “the Son of Man” who was the OT figure in Daniel 7 that ascends to the Ancient of Days in glory and splendor.
Jesus is this Son of Man, both human and divine.
27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Glory moved from a place to a person.
Glory moved from a place to a person.
1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
Glory affirmed by Moses (the law) and Elijah (the prophets).
Glory affirmed by Moses (the law) and Elijah (the prophets).
The revealed glory of the Father’s beloved Son compels the obedience of faith.
The revealed glory of the Father’s beloved Son compels the obedience of faith.
Most of us struggle to read the Bible.
The Bible does say some complicated things that require great attention.
The difficulty and reading the Bible, though isn’t in the complicated sections, but in the clear.
We struggle to read the Bible in a fallen and broken world.
The Bible tells us, “God is love.”
Immediately within each of us we bring our own assumptions and presuppositions to the Scripture based upon our own experience.
A person who has grown up never experiencing the natural loves that many of us enjoy.
The love of a father, mother, or even people in authority over them.
A person who who thinks of things “logically” reasons that there is no logical reason for a loving God to exist.
A person who does not see within themselves reason to be loved.
All throughout the Old Testament, this tension exist existed.
God revealed himself to Moses on Mount Sinai in a Lake of fire and Shekinah glory.
A billowing cloud and majestic glory saying, Exodus 34.
Glory and splendor that could consume transgression and iniquity.
And mercy and tenderness that pardons sinners.
This tension has always been, or as John picks up and says that “God is light” and “God is love”.
God is sheer brightness and beauty in holiness; and He is tender-mercy and love.
3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
What were they talking about?
31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure (Gk: ἔξοδον, exodus), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Luke tells us Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus about His coming “departure” or “exodus.”
How do the disciples respond?
The disciples are no different from us.
4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
Why is Peter saying this?
First, Peter was speaking out of fear and folly.
First, Peter was speaking out of fear and folly.
Some surprised people become more reserved and silent. Others when they are taken back, ramble.
Even if they don’t know what they’re saying, they speak before they think.
6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
Mark says it was out of fear…
…not knowing what he said.
Luke says Peter didn’t even know what he was saying…
Second, Peter desired to build Jesus, Moses, and Elijah “tents” or “tabernacles.”
Second, Peter desired to build Jesus, Moses, and Elijah “tents” or “tabernacles.”
There is something more basic going on with Peter’s desire to prolong this moment.
The Shekinah glory in the OT was kept in a “tent” and the first thing Peter decides to do is build a tent.
This shouldn’t be looked down upon but reflects a human posture.
Peter will soon learn…
Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!
While Peter blunders along…
The majestic glory flashes forth, and we hear the father’s affirmation of the Son.
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
The phrased used for “overshadowed” is used explicitly in Exodus 40:34-38, when God’s glory would overshadow the place of worship.
The Son Affirmed as the Father’s delight
The Son Affirmed as the Father’s delight
Heralding from the glory cloud is a voice that affirms the Lord Jesus.
Affirmed His identity.
Affirmed His identity.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Here the disciples are clearly the recipients.
The Father speaks over the Son to the disciples that this One is His beloved Son.
Harkening back to Psalm 2, where Yahweh says of the King of Israel, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” (Psalm 2:7).
Jesus shares an intimate relationship with the Father.
Even more remarkable though is the second half of the commendation of Jesus.
Affirmed His relationship.
Affirmed His relationship.
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
“Amid all the brightness and light, what is trumpeted most clearly is the Father’s complete approval of his Son. Nothing and nobody else could more completely unveil, display, and thus please God the Father.” —Daniel Hames, God Shines Forth
The Father’s pleasure of delight is in the Lord Jesus.
Application in regard to our sin
Sin separates us from the delight of God the Father.
Sin is a serious affront to a Holy God most clearly because unholiness cannot dwell in His presence.
You and I, apart from Jesus, are displeasing to God.
We don’t like to think about being out of fellowship with other people, but it changes the whole tone and tenor to recognize that we are out of fellowship with the Father.
But Jesus on the other hand has never known a time where He was NOT the Father’s delight.
What does this mean for us?
Application to unbelievers.
This means that if you are found outside of Jesus, you’re outside of fellowship with the Father.
Application for believers.
But it also means that if you’re found in Jesus, you have fellowship with the Father.
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Notice the last half of the Father’s pronouncement of the Son…
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Affirmed His authority.
Affirmed His authority.
The authority of God from the cloud affirms the authority of the Lord Jesus.
18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.
If I asked my children to clean up their room and responded by NOT cleaning it up but making me ‘Father’s Day’ cards, would they love me?
Application to unbelievers
You may think you’re “good with God” but unless you’re walking obedience to this command… you’re NOT in fellowship with Him.
The Father has commanded that we all LISTEN and OBEY the SON.
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Unbeliever, your distance from the Lord Jesus in refusing to come reveals your destiny.
Application to children
This is especially important for you children.
Children, young and old.
Hear the Father commanding you to come to Jesus.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.
How do we know what Jesus will do with this authority?
In Hosea 11:8-9, Yahweh describes the uniqueness of his holiness.
His holiness is remarkably different than our own holiness.
Holiness is to be devoted unto Yahweh.
So for you and me to be holy, means that we will be separate from the world.
His holiness is his utter commitment unto himself and he is the God who is love.
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.
Jesus uses His authority in a vastly different way than all the tyrants of the earth.
Why do people love you?
Some are loved for what you do.
How you act.
Because you’re cute, or funny.
But the love of God does not respond to human loveliness.
The love of God is entirely different than the love of men.
The love of men is a responsive love.
God’s love is a creative love.
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
The Love of God doesn’t look at human loveliness and respond.
The Love of God comes and bears the sins of His people.
Notice though how the disciples respond…
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
But notice how Jesus responds to this…
The Son Received by the Disciples – Arise and Fear not!
The Son Received by the Disciples – Arise and Fear not!
This adds an extra layer of significance to what Jesus does to these fearful disciples.
It’s the touch of the Lord Jesus Christ; touching God, and touching men (Job 9:33) which enables them to stand and fear no more.
33 There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.
Received in fear and trembling.
Received in fear and trembling.
Fear is not all the same.
Some fear is that of the fear of a servant, fearing his masters wrath.
Some fear trembles sinfully before the Sovereign One.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
So fear is NOT all the same.
But fear and trembling is the right response.
Turning away in fear and trembling was the correct response of the people on Mt. Sinai’s response (Exodus 34:30).
Just as Moses (Exodus 3:6) hid himself from the presence of God, so to these disciples respond here.
“Christ was depicted as a grim tyrant, a furious and stern judge who demanded much of us and imposed good works as payment for our sins. . . . This makes us reluctant to go to Him. If my conscience is stricken with fear, I feel sufficiently repelled. . . . My heart and bad conscience quite naturally shun him whom I fear. Fear and terror prod and goad me away from him, so that I do not stay with him.”– Martin Luther
Sinful fear repels us from God.
Sinful fear stirred by our consciences take us further from Him.
You who struggle to receive the love of God in the gospel.
You’re looking at yourself and wondering, how could God love me?
And the answer is He doesn’t love you because you’re lovely.
He loves you with His self-creative love to make you lovely before Him.
Raised in fellowship and faith.
Raised in fellowship and faith.
Fear is a good thing.
A right fear is healthy.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
The Apostle John, one of the ones who stood on the mountain and received the touch of fellowship.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Sinful fear has to do with punishment.
But perfect love fears and trembles with a rejoicing and awe-inspiring heart.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus is Supreme about all things!
Every knee will bow and every tongue confess!
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
The revealed glory of the Father’s beloved Son compels the obedience of faith.
The revealed glory of the Father’s beloved Son compels the obedience of faith.
