LUKE 9:28-36

“Listen to Jesus”

After a church service on Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother,

"Mom, I've decided to become a minister when I grow up."

"That's okay with us, but what made you decide that?"

"Well," said the little boy,

"I have to go to church on Sunday anyway, And I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell, than to sit down and listen."

The truth is we could all probably do with a little more listening when it comes to Jesus.

Now, that doesn’t mean that we should spend less time “doing” God’s Word.

It doesn’t mean that we should be any less enthusiastic about carrying out our mission of making disciples.

What it does mean is making sure we go about it the right way.

If you know what they say about assuming something, then you know how important it is to always check with the source, first...

INFORMATION

Luke 9:28–36 NIV

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Have you ever said something without thinking it through?

Susanna said, “Tell em about the time I said I do.”

Why do we like to think we know what we’re talking about?

ANSWERS:

It makes us feel wise.

Gives us a sense of control.

We like being right.

TRUTH:

WE DON’T LIKE BEING WRONG.

The rest of the events in this chapter indicate that the disciples’ initial instincts about how to respond to certain events are wrong.

Take this scene for instance...

I wonder what would entice Peter to open his mouth, without thinking?

Mark 9:6 NLT

He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.

“They were afraid and when we’re afraid we say and do dumb things.”

“It’s okay…God knows we’re dumb” (compared to Him).

MOTIVATION

THE DISCIPLES WERE SHOCKED AT WHAT THEY WERE WITNESSING

Jesus has just told the disciples that following him will involve a radical change of perspective.

The life of the disciple is different from that of the world.

But much instruction lies ahead for the disciples.

That’s why they need to hear and listen to Jesus.

Did the disciples say and do some pretty dumb things? ABSOLUTELY.

“Do you think that there is one single person in this room that is any different?”

Be honest, you know there have been times when you’ve said or done something really dumb…you’ve made mistakes.

If you want to be real honest, you know you’re probably going to say or do something dumb in the future.

The “Good News” is those are the best times to get quiet and listen to Jesus.

APPLICATION

3. What do they need to do?

To remember Who’s smarter.

Note that Jesus went up into the mountain for the express purpose of praying (v. 28).

The cross lay right before Him.

The weight and load of bearing the sin of the world was closing in on Him, and the pressure was almost more than He could bear.

He had to seek God and trust God to meet His need, and God did—in a most remarkable and encouraging way.

While He met Jesus’ need, God also met the needs of the three disciples who accompanied Him.

INSPIRATION

4. Why do they need to do it?

Because God has a plan and He knows what He’s doing.

“Just because you have a plan doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing.”

“I can read a map, but it doesn’t mean I know where I’m going.”

WHY DID THEY KEEP QUIET? Mark 9:9-10

Mark 9:9–10 NIV

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

“In those days,” they didn’t tell anybody because they didn’t know it was possible.

BUT WE DO.

To fathom the Transfiguration requires something other than words; it takes a new heart.

REITERATION

5. How can I help them remember?

Daily prayer and meditation on God’s Word.

Worshipping with your church family.

Following Jesus is a 24/7 gig.

These perspectives are not some instincts we develop overnight.

We gotta be dedicated.

Disciples who desire to know God will not only seek to give him worship but will sit at his feet constantly listening to his voice.

Os Guinness, in analyzing our culture of secularism, notes the dead end it creates in contrast to a view infused by the living God: “Americans with a purely secular view of life have too much to live with, too little to live for.

Everything is permitted and nothing is important.

But once growth and prosperity cease to be their reason for existence, they are bound to ask questions about the purpose and meaning of their lives… And to such questions secularism has no answers that have yet proved widely satisfying in practice.

Matthew 16:24–28 (NLT)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.

But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

Is anything worth more than your soul?

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

“There were three standing there that day on the mountain, who saw Jesus in all His glory, wrapped in the Spirit of God.”

There’s a lot more than just three disciples here today.

The question is, “ARE YOU LISTENING?”