Matthew 17:1-8 "The Transfiguration of the King"

Matt 17:1-8 "The Transfiguration of the King" Marc Transparenti / General The King's Road of Preparation / Transfiguration / Mt 17:1-13 The Transfiguration Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! • Parents you may dismiss your kids! • If you don't have a Bible... • As a reminder, we are gathering on Friday's at 7pm for "Campfire Worship"...a time to pray, worship, and get to know one another. I hope you can join us this Friday! • If you are new to Calvary Chapel...I'm Pastor Marc, welcome! • Welcome Card... -------------------------------------------------------------- Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 17. Over the past couple of weeks we observed Jesus and His disciples in the region of Caesarea Philippi, about 30 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus revealed several things to His disciples...as the King prepares His disciples for that which is to come. • First, Jesus revealed who He is, as He asked, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" Peter responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus affirmed Peter was correct, as revealed by the Father...Jesus indeed is Messiah and God. • Second, Jesus revealed His plan for the church...that it would be founded on the rock...Jesus Himself, and the gates of Hades would not prevail against the church...and 2000 years later, the church remains. • Third, Jesus revealed that He would suffer, die, and rise again...which was too much for the disciples to grasp. Peter speaks against these revelations and is silenced as Jesus rebukes him, "Get behind me Satan" because anyone speaking against the cross is under the influence of Satan. • Peter does not address Jesus' revelation that He would rise again, because the doctrine of the resurrection was not heavily understood at that time... even though the OT spoke about resurrection... • Dan 12:2 is very clear..."And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt." • Other OT Prophets and books speak about or allude to the Doctrine of Resurrection as well....Genesis, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, and so forth. Still... hard for the disciples to grasp. • And, I can say that confidently because scripture affirms in Mark 9:9-10 "Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant." • Fourth, Jesus revealed what it meant to be a true disciple. One must deny themselves or surrender to the will of God, take up one's cross or submit to the authority and rule of God, and then follow Jesus or dedicate one's life to Jesus. • The order is very interesting: You must die and submit to God's rule before you can follow Him. Die first and then follow. • Last, Jesus reveals He is coming again to judge each according to their works. And, at the end of Chapter 16, Jesus says, "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." And, many scholars believe this promise was fulfilled in "The Transfiguration" ...one of the most glorious scenes in the Bible. In this scene, Jesus prepares His disciples for glory, and the Father directs all attention to Jesus, as He says, "Hear Him!" The title of today's message is "The Transfiguration of the King." Let's Pray! Matt 17:1-2 "Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves [Luke adds that He "went up on the mountain to pray"]; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 1. In Vss 1-2, we see the timing, characters, setting and why this scene is called "The Transfiguration." 2. The timing of this event, in Matthew and Mark, is "after six days" the previous scene...six days after entering the region of Caesarea Philippi. a. Luke 9:28 states, "...about eight days after these sayings..." b. This is not a contradiction, but can be reconciled in one of two ways... i. This is possibly a different way of observing the same event...Luke could be accounting for the days of the sayings...Day 1...Caesarea Philippi...Jesus asked "Who do men say that I am?" Then, six days of travel. Then, day 8...the sayings during the Transfiguration... ii. Or Luke (who wrote to the Greeks) could be using a Greek phrase indicating a general period of time... similar to how we say... "about a week later." c. Bible skeptics claim the Bible has contradictions, but it does not...difficult passages...yes, but contradictions...No. i. 2 Sam 22:31 states, "As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." ii. Ps 12:6 states, "The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times." iii. Ps 19:7-8 "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes..." iv. The Bible is infallible. 3. The initial characters Matt 17 are Jesus, Peter, James and John...and these three disciples form Jesus' inner circle of disciples present for special events. a. These three are grouped once in Matthew, 3x's in Mark and twice in Luke... i. These three were exclusively with Jesus at the healing of Jairus' daughter. ii. Here at the Transfiguration. iii. And, while Jesus took all of His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane...Jesus took these three a little further into the garden. iv. They alone witnessed Jesus in glory and some of His greatest moments of distress. b. So, why Peter, James, and John? i. The short answer is we don't know. 1. Some scholars believe Jesus just needed to keep a close eye on these three. Peter for obvious reasons...Mr. Act First / Think Later. a. And, James and John... known as the 'Sons of Thunder' possibly because they wanted to call down fire on the Samaritans. b. All three of these guys seemed to have an inclination towards trouble. c. When I was in 3rd grade, just like Jesus' disciples...my teacher also kept me close. She had a special place of honor for me. She moved my desk right up next to hers. An effective method in curtailing my trouble making, until I talked to her instead of doing my work. 2. So, maybe Jesus was keeping a close eye on these three, but here's what else we can observe... a. Peter, James, and John were some of the earliest disciples to follow Jesus, and these men were possibly being groomed for special roles in the ministry. i. Peter had a significant role in the early church...the first half of Acts centers much on Peter and his missionary outreaches. Peter would write two epistles, and early church fathers, attest that Mark was a disciple of Peter, thus the Gospel of Mark reflects much on Peter's experience with Jesus. ii. James and John, the Sons of Thunder, were known for their boldness. According Acts 12:2, James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred. iii. And, John suffered the martyrdom of a long life. He was the last of the Apostles to die. John would write the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation. 3. So, whatever the case...Jesus kept these three close. ii. Why three? Perhaps because of the 'Law of Two or Three Witnesses.' Deut 19:15 "...by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." 4. Next, in V1, we observe the setting. "Jesus led them up on a high mountain." a. There are 2 traditional sites: Mount Tabor or Mount Hermon. I have a map to help you see their locations. Mount Tabor is Southwest of the Sea of Galilee and Mount Hermon is North of the Sea of Galilee...right near Caesarea Philippi (the last geography mentioned Matthew 16). i. But, the Gospel writers do not state which mountain, only that it is a "high mountain." Another plausible location is Mount Meron, and I have a second map for you to see some other possibilities. ii. In Israel today, there is a Catholic church, built in 1924, on top of Mount Tabor called "The Church of the Transfiguration." Also, some early church Father's, such as Origen in the 3rd century mention Mount Tabor as the site for the Transfiguration. b. But, many scholars today argue against Mount Tabor for several reasons: height, archeology, time and distance. i. First, height... Matt 17:1 states the mountain was a "high mountain." Mount Tabor only stands 1,886 feet (and I have a picture of Mount Tabor), whereas Mount Hermon stands 9,232 feet (and I have a picture of Mt. Hermon with it's snow capped peaks... taken from the Sea of Galilee...you can ski Mt. Hermon today). Some scholars think Mount Hermon is too high, thus they favor Mount Meron at 3,963'. 1. To put these heights in perspective. Winona Lake, IN is about 817'. 2. Vail, CO is about 8,100' and the ski slopes above Vail reach the same heights and a little higher than Mount Hermon. Again, Mount Hermon is just above 9,200'. a. Mount Hermon was a "high mountain." Mount Meron is decently high. Mount Tabor, at 1800', was not high. ii. One of the strongest arguments against Mount Tabor is Archeology. 1. In the year 219 B.C., Antiochus III "the Great" (father of Antiochus IV "Epiphanes") built a fortress on top of Mount Tabor. In Jesus' day, it is thought the Romans continued to utilize this fortress...which would make it difficult for Jesus and His disciples to even approach Mount Tabor...let alone to have the privacy for all the glorious events of the Transfiguration. iii. Also, time and distance. Matthew 17:1 accounts for 6 days from Caesarea Philippi to the high mountain scene of the transfiguration. 1. From Caesarea Philippi to Mount Tabor the distance is about 54 miles...about 18 hours of walking. That's a far distance to travel in 6 days...possible though...9 miles a day on average. But, the next geography mentioned is the Galilee then Capernaum, so Mount Tabor would require back tracking to Capernaum...not the most logical. 2. And, traveling from Caesarea Philippi to Capernaum... Mount Meron is about a 9 hour detour by foot. 3. But, the southern ridge of Mount Hermon is only about 12 miles northeast of Caesarea Philippi. So, Mount Hermon is a scholarly favorite. c. "Well, that's all great Pastor Marc, but how does that apply to my life?" It doesn't. It's just free information...you're welcome! i. But look, as far as which of these mountains is the correct location...to me it's interesting...and observing what details we have in the Bible compared to historical, archeological, and geographical details versus traditions of men...it's all kind of fascinating to me, and I hope to you as well. But even more, I hope you feel more acquainted with the setting...even if it is a minor detail. 1. But, the main point is the Transfiguration of the King...so, let's get into it. 5. V2 states, "He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light." a. Mark 9:3 states, "His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them." b. Luke 9:29 states, "As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening." c. John, no doubt reflecting on this experience, wrote, Jn 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." i. When you think about it, the real miracle was that Jesus, besides the Transfiguration, ceased displaying His glory. ii. Spurgeon wrote, "For Christ to be glorious was almost a less matter than for him to restrain or hide his glory. It is forever his glory that he concealed his glory; and that, though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor." iii. Since prior to creation, Jesus was in glory...He restrained being in His glorious form to die for us...now He is back in glory. d. Transfigured in Gk. mĕtamŏrphŏō is the root word for our English word "metamorphosis." By def. "to transform or to change in form." i. A caterpillar goes through metamorphosis. It is transformed...it morphs from a caterpillar into it's true nature...a butterfly. ii. And, in this scene Jesus' true nature is revealed. White as light...shining...glistening...all depicting the Holy and pure nature of God. The concept of God's Shekinah Glory is in light here. iii. In the OT, there are numerous references to God's glory...often associated with a cloud. 1. In Exodus, the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night protected and guided Israel during their wilderness wanderings. a. Exo 40:34-35 states, "Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." 2. Ezekiel had visions of God and in Ezk 1:28, he describes God on the throne... "Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD." 3. When Solomon brought the Ark of the Lord into the Temple...2 Chr 5:13-14 records... "...the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God." 4. And, after Jesus' Millennial reign on Earth, in eternity we read this description of the New Jerusalem...Rev 21:23 "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light." 5. In the transfiguration of Jesus Christ, we are seeing Jesus in transformed in glory...this is His true nature...we are getting a sneak peak of how we will see Him for all eternity. iv. We are not only getting a glimpse of how Jesus will appear in eternity, but we are also getting a glimpse of how we shall appear in eternity...Just as Jesus has a glorified body, we will have a glorified body. 1. Phil 3:20-21 promises "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body..." a. This is a clear promise to the transformation we can expect in eternity...a glorified body...conformed to the image of His Son. 2. But, we can also expect transformation in this lifetime. a. D.A. Carson states 'transfigured' "...suggests a change of inmost nature that may be outwardly visible." Presently, a dramatic change is happening inside us...and people see the difference...some like the change, and some don't. b. The Gk word for "transfigured" mĕtamŏrphŏō in Matt 17:2 is used twice elsewhere in scripture (2 Cor 3:18 and Rom 12:2), but in those verses the transformation depicted focuses on us... c. In 2 Cor 3:18 "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed [mĕtamŏrphŏō] into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." i. In Exo 34, when Moses was with the LORD on Mount Sinai forty days and forty nights, receiving the Ten Commandments,... when Moses came off the mountain, "the skin of his face shone..." He was reflecting the glory of the Lord, and the Israelites feared Moses, so he put a veil on his face. But, over time, the glory faded...it was diminishing... ii. In contrast, the glory bestowed upon us is ever increasing. The phrase "from glory to glory" could also be rendered "from one stage of glory to another" or ever-increasing glory...eternal glory. iii. When the veil of unbelief is removed from our eyes, as 2 Cor 3:16 states, "...when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away..." at that moment, that process of ever increasing glory begins...our transformation...our metamorphosis begins... d. Rom 12:1-2 depicts this transformation...Rom 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed [mĕtamŏrphŏō] by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." i. Once the process of salvation has begun in our lives...Justification in the past...sanctification in the present...and glorification in the future... in response to all that God had done, is doing, and will do in our lives... 1. It's reasonable that we yield our body to holy living... 2. it's reasonable that our lives are separate from the world... 3. and it's reasonable that our mind (our thoughts, attitudes, and feelings) are being transformed and renewed where we see things how God sees them...as laid out in scripture. 4. There's a saying...'If Jesus died for me, the least I can do is live for Him.' ii. And, by living for God, we prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Or, as the ESV states, "...that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 1. 1 Thes 4:3 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification..." e. The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ reveals His diety...it's a glimpse of who He is in glory...no longer veiled by a body of flesh... when Jesus returns He will be glorious...the King of kings, and Lord of lords... no longer a lamb, but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. i. And, right now...day by day...as you yield your life to Him, you too are being transfigured into a Royal Priesthood...called out of darkness into His marvelous light...you are being transformed from glory to glory. 1. And, some days, you may not be feeling it. But, keep your eyes on Jesus...your lips in praise... your mind in His word and prayer... and your body away from the world ... and you will see heart transformation...you will yield fruit. 6. Continuing to VSS 3-4... Matt 17:3-4 "And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered [... ...Oh Peter...Peter, Peter, Peter...] 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." 1. Before I talk about Moses and Elijah, I have to address Peter. Listen to these additional details... a. Luke 9:32-33 states, "But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men [Moses and Elijah] who stood with Him. 33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-not knowing what he said." b. Mark 9:6 states, "...he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid." c. May I suggest that if you are just waking up and a glorious spiritual event is happening...and you're fearful and don't know what to say...then don't say anything at all! i. Luke also records Peter saying this as Moses and Elijah "were parting from [Jesus]." It's awkward when a group of men have just had a deep spiritual conversation, and then as the conversation is over and they start to head their separate ways...you real them back in with an off-the-wall comment. Don't do that. 1. Especially if those men are Jesus, Moses, and Elijah...I mean what value are you going to add to their conversation!?! Sometimes silence is best. ii. A motto I live by is... "When in doubt, DON'T!" iii. You can save yourself a lot of difficulties if you wait and restrain yourself from making decisions in life, or making comments when you are uncertain. 1. Pro 17:28 "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." 2. Pro 18:7 "A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul." 3. And, to all those who think the Bible is chauvinistic... I would like to highlight that the fool in this verse is masculine. You're welcome ladies. iv. Peter, by not restraining his tongue speaks out of turn. And, that idiom to "speak out of turn" is perfect because it means, "To say something erroneous or foolish at an inappropriate time, or to speak when one does not have the authority to do so." 2. Now that I have addressed Peter...let's look at Moses, and Elijah... a. The Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, is often referred to simply as "the Law and the Prophets." i. Moses represents the Law...the "Mosaic Law." God used him to write the Torah...the first 5 books of the Bible. ii. Elijah represents the Prophets, as he was one of the greatest sign prophets and reformers to the Nation. b. These men also represent the beginning and end of the Nation of Israel. i. The nation was founded with Moses and the Law. And, Elijah will return "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD." Mal 4:5 c. Now these men come to their Master, Jesus, and speak to Him... i. Luke 9:31 tells us Moses and Elijah "... appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." ii. Jesus' decease Gk. ĕxŏdŏs means "death or departure"... death was not Jesus' end, but a departure...an exodus, and His death is not failure...it's an accomplishment. In death, Jesus conquered sin and death and redeemed mankind once and for all. 3. Two observations about eternity in V3: i. One... the disciples, who never met Moses and Elijah, recognized them. Now I don't think they were wearing name tags...or lanyards...or one of those stickers, "Hi! My name is Moses." What's in view here, is that in glory we will know one another...even saints of old that we have never met. 1. 1 Cor 13:12 states "...then I shall know just as I also am known." ii. Two... this scene is proof that all who have faith in Messiah... OT or NT...are resurrected and alive eternally. 1. Moses died approximately 1400 year prior, and Elijah was taken up about 900 years prior...and both appear...both are alive in glory. 2. Jesus said, "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 4. VSS 5-8 Matt 17:5-8 "While he [Peter] was still speaking [this is a literal "divine interruption"], 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." 1. This cloud and voice is reminiscent of the OT "glory cloud" that we spoke about earlier. i. Spurgeon wrote, "When God draws near to man it is absolutely necessary that his glory should be veiled. No man can see his face and live. Hence the cloud, in this instance, and in other cases." ii. Interesting perspective...the cloud is a veil. 2. V5 is not only a "divine interruption" but also a "divine spanking." Peter got spanked by the Father. a. I find it very amusing that in the middle of Peter saying "Let's build tabernacles"... God interrupts. God silences Peter's suggestion to built tabernacles/tents. i. This was a truly a mountaintop experience...and sometimes we want to "camp out" there, but you can't live in that place. Spiritual mountaintop experiences are good and refreshing, but there is work to be done off the mountain. ii. Peter said, "...it is good for us to be here..." It may have been good for those on the mountain, but what about the rest of the disciples? What about the rest of the world? 3. Thus, God's re-direction, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" a. These are the same words the Father spoke at Jesus' baptism, but this time Father God adds, "Hear Him!" b. First God spoke to His people through the Law. Then, He spoke through the Prophets (who reinforced the Law)...and both the Law and the Prophets pointed to the coming Messiah. c. Now, Messiah had come...and the Father is speaking through Him... i. John 1:17 declares, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." ii. God said, "Hear Him!" d. In Deut 18:15 Moses wrote, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear..." i. The Jews lived in expectation of the coming Messiah. They expected a prophet like Moses to come. 1. Now...in fulfillment... Jesus was among them, and the Father confirms Jesus is a beloved and well pleasing Son, and who they should hear. 2. Peter was impacted by this...later Peter would write 2 Pet 1:17-18 "For He [Jesus] received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory [or Majestic Glory...only time in scripture the Father has this title]: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain." ii. And, for us today...we are hearing Him now by being in His word. And, you can hear Him everyday by being in His word...and when you can't read it..tune-in to sermons, Christian radio, worship, prayer... we have so much access to "Hear Him." iii. Isaiah 55:2-3 declares, "Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live..." 4. Notice the reaction of the disciples when the Father speaks... "...they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid." a. Throughout scripture, falling on one's face is the typical reaction when God reveals His presence: i. In Lev 9, the glory of the LORD appeared to the Jews, and they fell on their faces. ii. 3x in Numbers, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces when God speaks or when His glory appears. iii. In Judges 13, Manoah and his wife fell on their faces before the Lord and they thought they were going to die for seeing the Angel of the Lord (likely a Christophany)...Gideon also thought he would die seeing the Angel of the Lord in Judges 6. As did Isaiah, in Isa 6. iv. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah stood alone for God against 450 prophets of Baal, and when the fire of the LORD utterly consumed the sacrifice and the altar...all the people "...fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" Of course that's what they said. v. In 1 Chron 21, David, influenced by Satan, numbered his fighting men, which was wrong because he was supposed to trust in the Lord alone...so when the angel of the LORD appeared in judgment, David and his elders fell on their faces. vi. 4x Ezekiel reports falling on his face before the Lord and Daniel once. vii. And, in Rev 7 and Rev 11 the Twenty-Four Elders, a picture of the church, fell on their faces before God. b. And, if you are here today, and you are thinking, "Well, that's great for them, but I am NOT going to fall on my face before God." Let me tell you something friend, YOU ARE WRONG. i. You decide...you can bow now, and stand with Him for all eternity. Or, stand now in defiance, and bow in repentance for all eternity. God gives you a choice...but, don't take my word for it... ii. Paul in Rom 14:11 states, "For it is written [Quoting Isa 45:23]: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." EVERYONE...even atheists...will bend the knee and confess to God. 1. At the Judgement Seat of Christ...everyone will believe, and the former-atheists who withheld their prayers in this lifetime will be praying for all eternity... for mercy and forgiveness, but since they denied Christ in this lifetime...their prayers will not be answered...and mercy shall not be extended. And, that is a sobering thought. a. If you don't know him, may I suggest that you pray and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today? b. And then, in eternity, instead of being in condemnation...praying for mercy and forgiveness...you will be in glory praising Him for the mercy and forgiveness you received. 5. When the disciples heard the voice of the Father, they immediately fell on their faces afraid...and we read in V7 "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." a. The voice of the Father puts all attention on the One whom our attention should be upon...Jesus. The Father said, "Hear Him!" i. Moses and Elijah are now gone and Jesus only remains...all eyes are on Jesus as they should be. The supportive roles of Moses and Elijah fade away. Like John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I decrease." ii. All eyes are now on Jesus, and if the disciples had any doubts about Jesus' proclamation in the scene prior... that "He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day" (Matt 16:21)...the Transfiguration stands with purpose to reassure the disciples that Jesus is Messiah God...and His plan will succeed. Let's Pray! In that closing scene...the disciples were afraid, and we read... "Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." If you are here today, and you now realize who Jesus is, and you want to bow and submit your life to Him, but you are afraid....maybe Jesus is touching your heart now with those words, "...do not be afraid." If you know Him already...reflect...how many times in your life has our God tenderly reached out to touch and reassure you? And has He not been faithful? • No matter what you are going through ...or as crazy as the world gets... remember God is on the throne... "Arise, and do not be afraid." We will pick up next week in V9 as Jesus and the disciples come down from the mountain...Read ahead. "The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." ' Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:11 PM July 17, 2021.