Behold the Savior’s Glory - Mark 9:2-13

Mark 9:2-13 Behold the Savior’s Glory 2019-12-22 Behold the Savior’s glory. We’ve just passed the shortest day of light for the whole year; the days will begin staying light longer. It’s quite fitting, really, that the days grow darker as we near our celebration of Christmas, and then begin to brighten around our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Jesus came into a world full of darkness, as the prophet Isaiah wrote about in Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” The apostle John, in his gospel, wrote John 1:9,14 “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In just a few days’ time it will be Christmas Day. What will be the focus of your celebration? Will it be family? Or food? Maybe presents or snow or family traditions? Scripture Passage: Mark 9:2-13 The passage before us this morning shows us that Jesus is worthy of our worship, that he must be the focus of our celebration. Behold the Savior’s glory. The Intrinsic Glory of Christ (vv.2-8) 1. v.2a “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.” - Six days following the sobering lesson on discipleship’s cost, and the requisite willingness to lose one’s life for the sake of Jesus and the gospel. Also six days after Jesus told them there would be some among the disciples who would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God come with power. 2. vv.2b-3 “And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.” - Jesus was transfigured, underwent metamorphosis, a change in form. He still had the form of a man, but now the intrinsic glory of Christ is shining through. This radiance wasn’t painted onto Jesus in this moment, but this glory belongs to him, comes from him, and now is revealed. 1. Matthew describes Jesus’ clothing as being white as light. Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.” 3. v.4 “And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.” - Elijah, representing the prophets and Moses, representing the Law. Luke tells us in his gospel that they were discussing Jesus accomplishing the Father’s will in Jerusalem by his death, resurrection, and ascension. This is now the focus; this is what’s on the mind of Jesus. 4. vv.5-6 “And Peter said to Jesus… For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” - Peter gets this peek at the glory of the Lord and fills the space with empty words about building three tents, perhaps to lengthen their stay on the mountain. 1. Compare this with Isaiah’s vision of the glory of the Lord in Isaiah 6:1-5. Isaiah has a vision of the glory of the Lord and rightly responds with, “Woe is me!” Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord and heard the seraphim declaring the holiness of the Lord, and came to realize his own uncleanness. He saw himself in stark contrast to the holiness of the Lord and it brought him to acknowledge and confess his sin. 5. vv.7-8 “And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud…” - I want you to feel something of the intensity of this. This cloud is a weighty cloud; not a cloud of gloom and doom and darkness, but of radiance and light, and it’s substantial. 1. Exodus 13:21 “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” 2. Exodus 24:15–17 “Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.” 3. Exodus 40:34–35 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” 4. 1 Kings 8:10–11 “And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.” 5. 2 Peter 1:16–18 “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.” 6. The word from the Father interrupts Peter and tells him to listen to the beloved Son. Paying attention to, listening and heeding the voice of Jesus was to be Peter’s work; this was to be his focus and attention. What voice dominates your hearing these days? Is it the voice of the culture at large, challenging your obedience to Jesus, speaking words of doubt and encouraging a departure from the Lord? It could come from classmates, co-workers, friends, media outlets, books you’re reading, even family members. Maybe the voice encouraging a departure from the Lord isn’t the voice you’re listening to. Perhaps instead the battle is more subtle. Not departure, but indifference, to take your discipleship less seriously. Don’t press in, don’t push on, but just cruise. Or maybe, like Peter, the voice you’re listening to isn’t speaking of departure or indifference, but it’s just noise distracting you. In this case it was Peter’s own voice. Can you relate to this? I can, even as one who isn’t overly talkative, but I’m constantly talking to myself in my head and distracting myself. There’s one voice we should learn to discern and obey, and that’s the voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18). He calls his sheep by name and leads them out. His sheep know his voice and follow. Transition: And just like that, Elijah and Moses are gone and Jesus has once again concealed his intrinsic glory. It’s time to start down the hill. The Essential Suffering of Christ (v.9-13) 1. vv.9-10 “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.” - Together they were questioning what rising from the dead meant. They were still slow to grasp the mission of Jesus, that he came to die. But when the Father tells the disciples to listen to him, this is what he has to talk about. While he was in the company of Elijah and Moses this is what he talked about. Now, headed down the hill with his disciples this is what he talked about. The intrinsic glory of Christ is a powerful sight, but the suffering of Christ is essential to accomplish redemption. 2. v.11 “And they asked him, ‘Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?’” - They’re beginning to think more about Jesus’ mission, and are wanting to better understand how it fits with what they’ve been taught. They didn’t expect a Messiah who would come to die, so they’re having to take what they’ve been taught through their lives and rethink it. They’re now asking Jesus and listening to him. This is progress! 3. vv.12-13 “And he said to them…” - Jesus answers their question about Elijah, that he does indeed come first. Matthew makes it more clear that the disciples understood Jesus to be talking about John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah. But even in the answer he gives to the disciples about Elijah he shows his focus remains on what he himself would suffer and endure. 1. Jesus keeps the focus where it should be. Not on secondary or tertiary interests, but on the primary issue, which is the gospel. Whether it be Christmas or Easter or any other day of the year, the primary issue is the gospel. Especially in these next few days ahead as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, remember what he had to accomplish in order to be our Savior. It wasn’t in his birth that he accomplished our salvation, but in his death and resurrection. Conclusion: Jesus, in this revelation of his glory, focuses on his suffering and death. He humbled himself, coming from such height to go so low to die for us. Down the mountain to the cross, and to his departure. But his departure was more than his death, but also his resurrection and ascension. And he will come again, riding on a white horse, eyes like a flame of fire, with an army arrayed in fine linen, white and pure on white horses. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:11-16). As we celebrate this Christmas, let’s proclaim glory to our newborn King! Psalm 29:1-4, 11 ily m a F December 22, 2019 Table Talk Sing! Joy to the world! The Lord is come Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven, and heaven and nature sing Joy to the world! the Savior reigns Let men their songs employ While fields and floods Rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy Repeat the sounding joy Repeat, repeat the sounding joy No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found Far as the curse is found Far as, far as the curse is found He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love And wonders of His love And wonders and wonders of His love Advent Reading... Week 4 Isaiah 40:1-5 Matthew 3:1-12 John 1:6-8, 15, 19-37 Matthew 17:1-13 John 3:16-21 Luke 2:1-7 Scripture Memory: Exodus 20:13-16 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (ESV) www.pillarhoodriver.org