The path to the Cross
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Preparing for the cross
Preparing for the cross
Matt 17
1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
One of the Greatest Preachers of all time was Charles Spurgeon, Who once said on the late 1800’s “Every time I open the Book I make a beeline to the cross” This is so true of one who considers everything that God has done through his only begotten son Jesus Christ.
This means that everything in the Scriptures points to Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins on the Cross.
Paul said,
2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
As we begin to look forward toward Easter, We find the Lord Jesus engaging His disciples in one encounter after another. It all pointed to the cross!
He was preparing them for the greatest event ever!
The transfiguration of our Lord Jesus was no exception
A Closer look to what happened between Jesus and his disciples on the mountain will help us to enhance our understanding of the eternal significance of all that Jesus was about to do for the undeserving sinful man woman and child that led him to the Cross for you. He gave all that day at Calvary as he willfully walked towards the cross To give his life for you for me So that you so that I might be saved from the eternal death instead have a chance at the everlasting life!
Jesus initiated this event because he wanted us to know His divine purpose for our redemption.
1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
Matt
Jesus Had prepared in what He did vs. 1
This was a deliberate act with a deliberate design. Jesus Took the disciples, led them, and demonstrated to them.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
ephe
My mother about this time last year was diagnosed with cancer in her intestines. She called my sisters and I over to the house to give us the news. She had been suffering for years from extreme Copd. Her pulminoologist did not feel comfortable with her having the surgery to remove the tumor. They had told her that she most likely would never be able to breathe again on her own. The cancer had a high chance of being malignant which would if not treated immediate could be fatal. My mother against the Pulminologist advice put her life in the hands of the surgeon. But that not the best part of the Story just a few months before my Mother who had been running far and fast from the Lord had rededicated her Life to Jesus so the Day she decided to go ahead with the surgery she really was not putting her life in the hands of the surgeon but in Christ.
She recognized that she was created by Christ for christ and if he willed it she would survive so that she could serve him and walk with him doing good in his name.
2.Jesus displayed His power in what he became vs 2
The power of his leading , transforming and his Resurrection shown
3. Jesus demonstrated truth in whom he raised vs 3
The truth in life after death which is our living hope is made clear
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
4. Jesus proved truth by allowing them to see what they saw
He allowed them to cross over the line of faith an have a glimpse of sight.
The transfiguration was a special event in which God allowed the few apostles to have the privilege spiritual experience that was ment to strengthen their faith for the Challenges they would later endure. But this was a temporary event not a permanent one.
In the same way certain times in ones life God may give certain people special experiences to strengthen their faith
We should welcome such experiences for the graces they are but not expect them to be continuous they are simply momentary glimpses of the Joy of heaven to sustain us and strengthen us for what God has planned through us.
On January 18, 1989, Don Piper, a minister, was on his way home from a church conference in Texas. But his trip was cut short when a semi-trailer truck rammed head-on into his car.
The minister described being crushed under the roof of the car, and the steering wheel impaling his chest. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
Piper’s lifeless body remained in the car for 90 minutes. The EMTs allowed a passing minister, Dick Onarecker, to enter the car and pray over him. Miraculously, Piper started breathing again.
In the 90 minutes that he was dead, Piper claims he saw heaven and met his deceased relatives there.
The allegedly resurrected Piper’s heavenly bliss was replaced by excruciating pain from his injuries. But nothing compared to the emotional dilemma he felt coming back to the world of the living.
Pastor Don struggled to readjust to living with his injuries after experiencing what he thought was heaven but finally he began to tell his story and seeing those who were so greatly impacted by his circumstance he went on to write his story to share it with the world.
5. Jesus appeased their fear by what He said vs 7
The fear of death was removed
6. Jesus Pointed them to the future by what He commanded vs 9
He once again, pointed to the power of His glorious Resurrection!
On that Mountain Jesus not only pointed to his death his burial his Resurrection but he also prepared the hearts of the disciples to know to see and to believe that salvation belongs to our God, He alone has the power over death the power of Resurrection.
All Roads lead to the Cross!
Are you on the road that brings life eternal, That leads to the Resurrection are you unsure ?
If you want to know with certainty dont wait. Jesus came to the Cross willingly for you
Jesus suffered and His blood was shed for you dont wait
Make today the day you give your life to him
That you come to a place that you hand your life over for a life with Him Dont wait
Maybe you have done that but today you need to get right with him maybe you have strayed from him living more for your desires than for him
Today is the day He is Calling he is Calling you today
He did not spare his only son but offered him up your you
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Lord Jesus,
For to long I have kept you out of my life at a arms distance I know that I am a sinner in need of a Saviour I know that I cannot do it on my own. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking when my concince is telling me when I feel you calling me. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation I am ready to truly trust you as my Lord and as my Saviour> Thank you Jesus for coming to this earth I do believe that you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave on the 3rd day giving me eternal life I believe that you are the truth. Come into my heart Lord Jesu Change me so that I may live for you by you have true life and be my Personal Savior Amen.