Listen to Him!

Listen to Him!

Mark 9:2-13

I. Let’s talk about the transfiguration of Jesus

A. Why? It’s not the cross or the resurrection, so why spend so much time investigating this one event?

B. Three reasons

1. Reason #1 Because the transfiguration of Jesus provides an essential answer to the question, “Who do you say I am?”

a. Confidence in the true identity of Jesus is crucial for salvation and authentic discipleship

(1) Many today follow a god, a messiah, created in their own image

(2) To know Christ as He truly is

(a) Is to know Him as God

(b) Is to trust Him as Savior

(c) Is to serve Him as present and coming King

b. Confidence in the true identity of Jesus is crucial for assurance and comfort

(1) All God’s promises are “yes” and “amen” in Him, and in Him alone

(a) We enter into the Holy of holies in Him

(b) We are hidden with Him in God

(2) We cannot hope to receive the full blessing of God outside of Him

(3) We also cannot expect to receive less than the full blessing of God in Him!

c. Confidence in the true identity of Jesus is crucial for evangelism and mission.

(1) People who are uncertain about the identity of Jesus are likely to also be uncertain about the claims and promises of Jesus,

(2) and also likely to remain silent about Jesus and their faith in Him.

2. Reason #2 Because the times in which we live, our current cultural context, rage with satanic, spiritual deceit

a. The Character of the Times (

1) Godlessness 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (ESV) 1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

(2) Lovelessness Matthew 24:3-14 (ESV) 3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

(3) Deceitfulness

Revelation 13:4-10 (ESV) 4And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear: 10 If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

2 Timothy 3:12-13 (ESV) 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

b. The character of our times calls for disciples and witnesses fully confident in the true identity of Jesus

3. Reason #3 Because the time has come for the people of God in our day to fulfill the word and the purpose of God

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV) 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be soberminded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

II. So, let’s talk about the transfiguration of Jesus.

A. Transfiguration event components

1. Metamorphosis

a. Not a change in nature, but a change in form that reveals the essential nature

b. The caterpillar

(1) Undergoes metamorphosis in its cocoon

(2) When it emerges,

(a) It does not emerge

i) As a caterpillar

ii) Or as a cat

(b) It emerges as a butterfly, revealing that its nature was butterfly all along.

c. Jesus transfiguration is a change in form that reveals His true nature: God in all His glory!

2. Elijah and Moses

a. Next week

b. Sermon title: Days of Elijah

3. Peter speaks

a. v. 6 They are terrified

b. Peter, not knowing what else to do, speaks

(1) Rabbi - an ordinary label for an ordinary teacher

(2) Tents - an ordinary shelter for ordinary travelers

(3) Build - an ordinary hospitality for ordinary guests

c. There is nothing in this scene that falls into the category of “ordinary”

(1) Christ radiates the glory of God

(2) Two greats saints of the past are conversing with Jesus in the present

(3) The disciples are terrified (not their ordinary response to Jesus)

4. Cloud

a. The presence of God in all His glory

(1) like the cloud in the desert and on Sinai

(2) separates the disciples from Jesus

(3) voice silences Peter’s feeble efforts with extraordinary truth

b. Truth

(1) This is my beloved Son

(a) Affirms the true identity of Jesus

(b) Expresses God’s favor with Jesus

(c) Directs human attention to the Person and Purpose of Jesus

(2) Listen to Him

B. Listen to Him!

1. Listening v. Hearing

a. Hearing - the mechanical process of receiving, processing, and interpreting audible stimuli

b. Listening, includes hearing but is more than hearing

(1) Includes intellectual perception and appropriate response

(2) James 1:22 (ESV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

(a) Don’t just hear!

(b) Listen!

2. Listen to Him

a. John 14:6 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

b. Who is this man who says such a thing?

(1) God

(a) Revealed in the transfiguration

(b) Shares the essential nature of the Father

(2) Man

(a) John 19:28 (ESV) 28After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

(b) The utter frailty, vulnerability, and weakness of humanity

i) A need He cannot meet

ii) A position He cannot change

iii) A strength He does not have

(3) God-man

(a) A genuine offender able to answer adequately to the scope of an infinite offense.

(b) Hebrews 7:25 (ESV) 25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

c. He alone, by His nature as fully God and fully man, is the only possible sacrifice for sin and guilt, therefore, no one comes to the Father except through Jesus.

III. So, let’s listen to Jesus

A. Jesus’ affirmation of accomplishment

1. John 17:4 (ESV) I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

a. Obedience - accomplished

b. Faithfulness - accomplished

c. Atonement - accomplished

d. Reconciliation - accomplished

e. Redemption - accomplished

f. Satisfaction - accomplished

g. Substitution - accomplished

2. The man, Jesus Christ, revealed to be God at His transfiguration, has accomplished all that is necessary for any of us to find

a. Forgiveness of sin

b. Freedom from fear

c. Peace with God

B. What now?

1. Listen to Him!

a. Hear His invitation

b. Receive His love

c. Embrace His grace

2. Trust Him

a. Follow Him

b. Live for Him

c. Speak for Him