SEEING GLORY

(S1) — The view from a mountain top…breathtaking...

Colorado Rockies — Royal Gorge

Ever had a mountain top experience? When you felt so good, it seemed like you had one foot in heaven?

When someone you love is struggling and haven't been able to do something, and then you witness them accomplishing that one little thing. For that moment, it is the most significant thing ever. Sue

Sea of Galilee… Sharon

(S2)

“When we have complete unity within ourselves and our surroundings. “This is it … everything fits … all I ever hoped for is here.” Henri Nouwen

We want them to last forever, because they can bring us closer to God —

This is the experience that Peter, James, and John had on the top of Mount Tabor when they saw Jesus’ face transformed before their eyes.

Luke 9:29 “the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus.”

(S3) — They were in the RADIANCE of God’s PRESENCE…It was a moment of seeing Glory

Can we know this closeness to God? See glory? How? Jesus is the way to seeing glory?

“Jesus Christ’s radiance and splendor reflects the glory of the Father, and is both revealed to and reflected in the lives of believers.”

An opportunity to see glory — Going to the mountain — The good news: When you worship your already half way there.

PRAYER

(S4) — Why this mountain? Why was Jesus’ changed? Why were only three disciples invited there?

Context — Movies without context — 9:28

Luke 9:28 (NIV) About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray

What did Jesus say?

9:20 “who do you say I am?”

It was early in Jesus ministry…going forward It was imperative that the disciples knew who Jesus was, and what his purpose was as the Messiah…

Peter’s reply, “You are the Messiah sent from God!” Did he really fully grasp it?

Jesus went on to warn them...

9:22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things...”

God’s plan was unfolding and they were a part of it...the road was going to get more difficult.

9:27 “ I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.””

This MTE was not only for them, but for Jesus. It was a moment of preparation for what was yet to come.

Luke 9:31 (NLT)

31 They were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.

(S5) — What did Jesus go there to do? Get ready…How? Pray — Drew close to his father in heaven

WORSHIP

Eighth day — First day of the week — Christian worship

O.T. The eight day was the culmination of all Holy days

N.T. it is the essence of the gospel of Jesus

Rose from the grave (Matthew 28:1)

Jesus stood among them (John 20:19)

He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:6-12)

They came together to break bread (Acts 20:7)

To deny WORSHIP is to deny ourselves of SEEING Glory

(S6) — For the disciples, this was a holy moment of worship. They would become witness — SEE GLORY

Three benefits of SEEING GLORY...

Luke 9:29 (NIV)

29 ...As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

Jesus’ changed before their eyes. He no longer look like what they were used to looking at. He looked different. He looked . . . more like who he really was.

Disciples perfect…? Following Jesus is about BECOMING…The disciples could not stay as they were…Peter (arrogant) — John (Prideful) — Luke (deceiver)

(S7) — Grace meets us as we are, but it isn’t meant to leave us as we are…

Seeing Glory...OPENS our EYES to the need to CHANGE

To see how God sees us…how we were meant to be

1 John 4:17 “And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live and look like Jesus here in this world.”

As followers of Jesus, if we think we have arrived then we are disillusioned by our own pride..

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

(S8) — Lent…is about opening eyes…Seeing glory reveals our need to change

Luke 9:30 (NIV)

Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.

Why Moses and Elijah? Dead (alive) — Law — Prophets — Their Faith — What they knew

(S9) — Seeing glory didn’t wipe out their past — God’s story

Seeing Glory...REMINDS us of God’s FAITHFULNESS

This is God’s story of love for us still today — Change doesn’t mean…we stop believing in what is true

Joni Erickson Tada

Psalm 119:90 “Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.”

(S9) — Seeing glory reminds us of God’s faithfulness...

Luke 9:32 (NIV)

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

They were tired…still dependent on their human spirit...

(S10) — Glory awakened them…light...

Seeing Glory...AWAKENS our SPIRIT to the PRESENCE of God

Ephesians 5:14 “for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.””

This awakening — New believer — Faithful Follower

The good news of Jesus is our awakening from darkness, sin and death to new life and the light of Christ in us...

(S11) — Seeing glory awakens our spirit to the presence of God with us

The need for change — God’s faithfulness — Awakens our spirit

Seeing glory means allowing God the opportunity to work in us...

(S12) — Peter’s response shows that he needed work…

Luke 9:34–35 (NLT)

But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”

How can we see glory in this life? By listening to the one who is glory!

Acts 3:22 “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’”

The problem with listening is we have to stop talking long enough to hear...

Listen for where change is needed...

Listen so that when it gets hard we will grow in faithfulness...

Listen for the living spirit to awaken us...

(S13) — Listen so that...

“Jesus Christ’s radiance and splendor reflects the glory of the Father, and is both revealed to and reflected in the lives of believers.”

Will we see glory in the way these disciples did…but we can go to the mountain, draw closer to the one who is glory by doing what Jesus did and expected of his disciples — Worship

Jesus’ praying in worship to his father in heaven — Being prepared…it was how he sustained his ministry to do the will of God...

Life as a follower of Jesus is not easy — By seeing Glory we to are being prepared…next story...

Seeing God — The need for change — God’s faithfulness — Awakens our spirit

Good news — When we worship, give praise to God and listen to Jesus, we are already half way there!