The Transfiguration

You Never Knew What You Had Until You Lost It

Matthew 17:1–8 ESV

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 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.” 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.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

:1-8

Matthew 7:1–4 ESV

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?

Matthew 7

Matthew 7:4–9 ESV

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

Matthew

Christ’s Supremacy is Greater Than Comprehension

Christ’s Supremacy is Greater Than Comprehension

Who Moses Was

Who Elijah Was

Who Christ IS

Familiarity Breed’s Contempt

Christ desires relationship over regulation.

John 15:15 ESV

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

However, how do we show we love Christ?

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Soapbox moment.

Ever since I have become a Christian I have heard people say Christ wants relationship over religion… you can buy tshirts, bumper stickers, coffee mugs, etc. with that little saying.

I know that this may be splitting hairs, but relationship over religion is not in the Bible. While He does accept you as you are, He does not expect you to stay that way. His purpose is to change you in to the person you were created to be… a reflection of God’s goodness. This task cannot be completed without miraculous intervention.

If religion is a set of standards by which we live out life, then Christ is not just pro-religion, He died so you might live in it.

Let’s See this in Peter’s life.

Remember a few days ago

Matthew 16:16 ESV

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Mt 16:16

Remember when they first met

Luke 5:8 ESV

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

But in this moment Peter steps up and start’s delivering his own ideas.

They are on the mountain that many scholars believe was the very mountain where God wrote the commandments.

They are on the mountain where Moses saw the back parts of God and was so changed he began to glow so bright they had to make a veil for him.

Somewhere in Peter’s mind he had to be thinking something beyond incredible is about to take place.

So when we put all this together.

Jesus invites only 3 people onto this amazing historical place.

Jesus completely metamorphoses (that’s the greek) so that His face is as bright as the sun and clothes become as white as light.

Moses and Elijah show up.... I don’t know how that happens. In the movies all 3 of them are glowing but the Bible doesn’t say that. So my puny imagination has these guys showing up teleportation style and introducing themselves to Peter, James, and John.

Now if I’m Peter, I’d be freaking out right now. But that being said, he saw the fish, he saw the dead raised, the lame walk, the blind see, the demons cast out… so maybe he’s gotten used to it. So he thinks.. in this circle of glowing Jesus and probably the 2 greatest figures in the Old Testament… that his idea matters.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

extensive knowledge of or close association with someone or something leads to a loss of respect for them or it.

The Father’s Response

Sometimes we just need someone to stop us from our ignorance.

“While he was still speaking...”

This is my beloved son.... Moses was not. Elijah was not… Peter definitely was not.

They were discussing what was about to take place in Jerusalem () - You know… the redemption of mankind

To Moses - The Fulfillment of the Law

To Elijah - The Fulfillment of Prophecy

Listen to Him...

Hey I appreciate the input, but you should listen to Him… find out what He is doing and get in line.

Peter’s Response

Matthew 17:5–6 ESV

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.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

He went back to the beginning.

Revelation 2:5 ESV

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Christ’s Response

Rise and have no fear

God’s plan for you .. do not stay down

Once you learn the Jesus is the one and only..... there is no fear.

What You Have