2.11.15 3.10.2019 Mark 9.1-13 The Mountain of God

Entice: Welcome to a sermon with a lot of theology. I sure hope that you decide to stick with it. Theology gets a bum rap. It's not alone. Philosophy, linguistics, and historiography are not exactly primo topics either. Perhaps our culture has just determined that we no longer need to think deeply about how we communicate, where we have come from, and what the ultimate questions really are. Thankfully;

• Entice: Welcome to a sermon with a lot of theology. I sure hope that you decide to stick with it. Theology gets a bum rap. It's not

alone. Philosophy, linguistics, and historiography are not exactly primo topics either. Perhaps our culture has just determined that

Jesus and the early Church still considered those stubborn questions worth asking.

we no longer need to think deeply about how we communicate, where we have come from, and what the ultimate questions really

Thankfully Jesus and the early Church still considered those stubborn questions worth asking.

are. Thankfully Jesus and the early Church still considered those stubborn questions worth asking. The beautiful thing about

The beautiful thing about Christian Theology is that so often it is embedded in a thrilling story. You might not even be able to tell that you are being taught deep, profound, transforming thoughts because the story is so compelling.

Christian Theology is that so often it is embedded in a thrilling story. You might not even be able to tell that you are being taught

deep, profound, transforming thoughts because the story is so compelling.

Engage: Who is Jesus? To you? I know that last week we looked at Peter's confession and for some of us that is all of the uncomfortable introspection that we can stand. Sorry. Much of the rest of Mark's gospel, and a large part of the Jesus story told in the synoptics, the Gospel of John-actually the rest of the NT is all about this very question:

• Engage: Who is Jesus? To you? I know that last week we looked at Peter's confession and for some of us that is all of the

uncomfortable introspection that we can stand. Sorry. Much of the rest of Mark's gospel, and a large part of the Jesus story told

Who is this Jesus?

Mark 9:2–13 ESV

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

in the synoptics, the Gospel of John-actually the rest of the NT is all about this very question: "Who is this Jesus?"

Expand: He was embedded in but stood apart from the story of salvation found in the Old Testament. In today's text two heavy hitters from that tradition make cameo appearances.(Elijah & Moses). Representing the embryonic New Covenant James, John, and Peter-three of Jesus' most trusted disciples. Whichever way you come at Jesus from What the OT anticipates and the NT proclaims He is right in the middle of God's revelation in the middle of His new creation-because He dared to carry His cross to calvary, stare down death, and rise in triumph.

•

• Expand: He was embedded in but stood apart from the story of salvation found in the Old Testament. In today's text two heavy

hitters from that tradition make cameo appearances.(Elijah & Moses). Representing the embryonic New Covenant James, John,

and Peter-three of Jesus' most trusted disciples. Whichever way you come at Jesus from What the OT anticipates and the NT

Excite: That's why Jesus stand alone and apart. That is why we worship Him as Savior and Sovereign.

proclaims He is right in the middle of God's revelation in the middle of His new creation-because He dared to carry His cross to

calvary, stare down death, and rise in triumph.

Explore:

• Excite: That's why Jesus stand alone and apart. That is why we worship Him as Savior and Sovereign.

Jesus stands alone and apart as redeemer, revealer, and Lord.

• Explore: Jesus stands alone and apart as redeemer, revealer, and Lord.

Explain: Let's join Peter and his companions as they climb the mountain, and partner on the Journey that will end with Jesus at the center of everything…step 1 is a…

• Explain: Let's join Peter and his companions as they climb the mountain, and partner on the Journey that will end with Jesus at

the center of everything…step 1 is a…

Grand Vision.

A Vision of the...

▾ Grand Vision.

• Majesty of God's Presence.

A vision of the...

• Majesty of God's Proclamation.

Goofy Suggestion.

▾ Goofy Suggenstion

Peter’s misunderstanding of the moment, and the relationship between Jesus and the Old Covenant is a...

• Distraction from the saving purpose of Jesus.

from the saving purpose of Jesus.

Furthermore His goofy suggestion is a

• Distortion of Salvation History.

of Salvation History.

the antidote to distraction and distortion is to take the next step up discipleship’s sometimes steep mountain

▾ General Principle

General Principle

It's not the overwhelming visual spectacle of Jesus transfigured. It is not the awesome appearance of historical/prophetic heroes. It is not even being immersed in the glory-cloud of YHWH's presence that is to be remembered-but the words of the Son of Man

heroes. It is not even being immersed in the glory-cloud of YHWH's presence that is to be remembered-but the words of the Son

We are told to

of Man

• Listen to Jesus.

• Obey Jesus.

The last step of all…what empowers our faith and encourages the saints is our

▾ Grounding precept.

Grounding precept.

Resurrection

• Resurrection is our orientation

=making it all make sense.

• Resurrection as obligation=faithful to the essence of the message of Jesus.

• Resurrection as obligation

=faithful to the essence of the message of Jesus.

Christ our God to thee we Raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

• There is much misinformation about Jesus. Some of it very flattering, much of it detached from His message. When the three disciples on the Mt. of transfiguration-and by extension each of us is told to "listen to Him", Him being exalted above law and prophets, what is it-exactly that we are listening to? We are listening to His testimony to the His passion.

on the Mt. of transfiguration-and by extension each of us is told to "listen to Him", as He has been lifted above law and prophets,

Humiliation is coming.

what is it-exactly that we are listening to? We are listening to His testimony to the His passion. Humiliation is coming. The Cross

is looming. It all only makes sense when He is risen.

The Cross is looming.

The Tomb is yawning

It all only makes sense after He is risen.

• I am saddened that, after more than 20 centuries, the Church is so often confused and the world hears a witness which is

• I am saddened that, after more than 20 centuries, the Church is so often confused and the world hears a witness which is inaccurate, inarticulate, inadequate, and inexcusable.

inaccurate, inarticulate, inadequate, and inexcusable.

• The glory of the Father says it now as He did then. This is my Son. My Beloved. He stands alone and apart as Redeemer and Lord. Listen. To. Him.

• The glory of the Father says it now as He did then. This is my Son. My Beloved. He stands alone and apart as Redeemer and