A Glimpse of Glory

Introduction

Supreme Court (Roe vs. Wade) leaked majority opinion

Scripture:

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Psalm 139:13–15 (ESV)

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)

learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

Micah 6:6–8 (ESV)

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Matthew 5:9–11 (ESV)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Colossians 4:5–6 (ESV)

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Books To Read:

“Counter-Culture” by David Platt

“Culture Making” by Andy Crouch

“Ethics For a Brave New World” by John & Paul Feinberg

“Onward” by Russell Moore

“The Case For Life” by Scott Klusendorf

How To Pray:

Praise God for this moment that many of us have all dedicated years of our lives to seeing.

Lament the loss of so many children who had their lives destroyed over the last 50 years and mothers who have been preyed upon by the abortion industry. 

Pray for each justice and their safety, for this court majority to hold firm for life, and for all of them, collectively, to have the fortitude to withstand the torrent of criticism that is likely coming their way. 

Ask God to raise up the next generation of pro-life leaders who will serve in their communities and in their churches to meet the needs of the vulnerable in a Christ-like manner, building a culture of life where they live.

Pregnancy Resource Center

Deeper Still

The Forgotten Initiative

Looks can be deceiving can they not? We’ve probably all heard at some point the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” No more is this found to be true than in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the eternal God, the second member of the Trinity made himself nothing, Philippians 2 would say. He took on the form of a servant.

Jesus, the eternal Word became flesh and blood and dwelt among us in bodily form, the gospel of John says.

The apostle Paul says to the Colossian church that in Jesus was the fullness of deity in bodily form. Meaning that Jesus is both fully God, but fully man as well.

And it was the prophet Isaiah who centuries before the arrival of Jesus into this earth who said that this “suffering servant” had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. “He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, and one from whom men hid their faces.”

But things are not always as they seem and the transfiguration of Jesus is the confirmation and the affirmation of his deity, of his kingship, of his reign and rule and authority over all creation. Though this moment is not his coronation as King, that will come with his death, resurrection, and ascension, this is a preview of sorts, a glimpse of his glory and the glory to come.

For the last eight chapters, Mark has sought to answer this question in his gospel: Who is Jesus?

Last week, we saw the apostle Peter answer that question correctly, “You are the Christ.” Meaning, you’re the Messiah, the promised One of God. “You’re the King.”

In Jesus we have found the one whom are hearts long for.

Problem

But Jesus wasn’t the King that Israel was expecting. A king is one who commands those underneath him, not a King who serves. A king is one who is accepted by the people, not rejected. A king reigns from a throne, not from a cross.

Jesus was not the King Israel expected but he was everything they needed.

Though Peter rightly confessed Jesus as the Messiah, remember from last week as soon as Jesus spoke of his suffering Peter rebukes him. That’s not kingly language in Peter’s mind. A King doesn’t suffer, a king reigns victoriously over his enemies.

What the disciples didn’t understand yet was that Jesus’ coronation as King would come through the cross. Yes, he will trample over his enemies, he will reign forever over death but that comes through his death and resurrection.

And the call then to those who would follow Jesus is a call to radical self-denial. In fact, the call to follow Jesus is a call to suffer and that through our suffering we would see and behold the glory and sufficiency of Jesus above all things.

We, just like Peter don’t like to suffer. We don’t, in our flesh, want to take up our cross daily, to die to ourselves. That doesn’t come naturally to us. We’d much rather escape suffering, escape hardship and just reap the benefits of living under the reign of the King, but the path to glory is a path marked with suffering for the sake of the gospel.

We live with this hope, that there’s coming a day when all that is wrong in the world and within ourselves will come undone. The curse will be reversed, death will be no more and there’s coming a day when disciples of Jesus will live under the forever reign and rule of King Jesus. That is our future glory, our hope, but until that day, disciples walk the path of Jesus and his was a path filled with suffering.

And so, the transfiguration comes after this tense conversation between Jesus and his disciples. After calling them to take up their cross and follow him, after calling them to lose their lives so that they might find life Jesus is transfigured, changed, briefly seen in all his glory to encourage them to follow him and to give them a glimpse of the glory to come.

Big Idea

Though the call to discipleship is a call to radical self-denial, the transfiguration of Jesus is a glimpse of the future glory that is ours in Christ Jesus.

Another way I could say that is, suffering is sure to come for those who belong to Jesus but take heart, we follow and belong to a glorious King.

Body

The transfiguration of Jesus, though remarkable and mind-blowing is in some ways incredibly simple in what it’s seeking to reveal. It’s about hope, it’s about a future glory that’s ours through Christ the King. The transfiguration is about encouraging the disciples to continue on through radical self-denial and cross-bearing because they serve and follow a glorious King. And it’s about revealing Jesus as that glorious King of kings.

So, look with me as we journey through this starting in verse 2.

Mark 9:2–8 (ESV)

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

Centuries before this moment took place with Jesus, God revealed his power and glory on another mountain with a man named Moses. The same Moses who is here speaking with Jesus as he is transfigured.

Exodus 24:15–16 (ESV)

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days.

God spoke to Moses on the mountain out of a cloud.

Exodus 24:16 (ESV)

And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

Chapter 25, verse 1.

Exodus 25:1 (ESV)

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel.”

A few chapters later, Moses is on the mountain and begs to see God’s glory.

Exodus 33:18 (ESV)

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

Meaning, “God, show me your infinite greatness, your beauty, your splendor. Let me gaze upon your holiness.”

And God responds.

Exodus 33:19–23 (ESV)

And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Moses was not allowed to look directly upon the glory of God for that would have killed him yet, just the nearness of God’s presence caused Moses’ face to shine so brightly that a veil had to be put over it.

Exodus 34:29 (ESV)

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.

Now, here we are today, in Mark 9 on top of another mountain hearing God speak. Seeing God’s glory. Moses is present yet again. And so, is this Mt. Sinai all over again? No, it is not, it’s greater. What’s the difference?

Whereas Moses merely reflected the glory of God much like the moon reflects the light of the sun, Jesus here is producing the glory of God.

The first thing we recognize or are taught by the transfiguration is that,

Jesus is the object of our worship

He’s the source of all true worship. Notice what Mark says in verse 3.

Mark 9:3 (ESV)

and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.

What’s Mark saying? His glory is a heavenly glory, not an earthly glory. Nothing on earth could produce the radiance of Jesus’ glory. Why?

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.

Jesus is the exact imprint of the eternal God. Jesus is the glory of God in human form. This means as others have said, “Jesus is not just a teacher to be followed, He’s the one true God to be worshipped and adored.” Our lives are to be centered around Him and His glory. He is the object of our worship.

We may claim Jesus as king but then draw clear lines around his jurisdiction. “I give my life—at least the spiritual parts—to Jesus.” “Jesus is king, but only of my Sunday mornings and when I pray or read my Bible.” We claim Christ as king, but we treat him like an accessory. Here’s the truth: when we don’t give everything over to Jesus, we’re still the one who is in control. We act as our own king and then try to use Jesus to accomplish our goals. - Jeremy Treat

There’s much in the world that seeks to distract us or draw our affections away from Jesus to the created things but here we have Jesus in glory transfigured or changed in front of them and in that moment these three disciples come face to face with the true object of their worship. There is nothing in that moment more glorious, more beautiful, more mesmerizing, more attractive than the glorious person of Jesus Christ.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”

He’s revealing his worthiness for our radical self-denial and cross-bearing way of life. Why can we joyfully take up our cross and follow him? Because he’s worthy of it.

Second thing we learn from the transfiguration is that,

Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and prophets.

Every detail of this story is important. There’s a reason why both Moses and Elijah are present with Jesus. Both Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets. What comprises our Old Testament. Moses is the author of the books of the law, Genesis through Deuteronomy. Elijah represents the prophetic voices used by God to speak to the people of God’s judgment and coming redemption through a promised Messiah.

Both Moses and Elijah spoke with God on a Mountain. Moses, as we just saw on Mt. Sinai and Elijah on Mt. Horeb in 1 Kings 19. They were both shown God’s glory. Together, they represent the wholeness of the Old Testament which pointed to a coming Redeemer.

What Peter had just confessed nearly a week earlier that Jesus was the Christ was being affirmed in this grand representation of the law and prophets. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. He is the great deliverer. He is the one who will crush the head of the serpent. He is the eternal King who will sit upon the throne forever. Jesus is the sum total of everything the law and prophets pointed to.

If there was any doubt in their minds as to who Jesus truly was, it would have been cleared up in this moment as they see the glory of Christ revealed before them and affirmed by Moses and Elijah.

Thirdly,

Jesus is the final tabernacle.

Can you imagine the conversation that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were having? Luke’s gospel tells us they were speaking of Jesus’ impending death that would take place in Jerusalem. Can you imagine the theological richness of that conversation.

If I could ever go back in time it would probably be to this moment to just sit and listen to their conversation. And God love Peter, he has to say something. He couldn’t just sit and listen and maybe learn, he’s got to interject.

And what’s he say? “Let’s make three tents. One for you, Moses, and Elijah.” So, what’s this about?

Well, to understand this, we need to go back to Exodus.

When God’s presence came down on Mt. Sinai in a cloud it was the glory of God. The Israelites were terrified to come near it. Only Moses could draw near and even he couldn’t look directly upon God’s glory and live. What’s that reveal? It reveals God’s holiness and man’s depravity. There’s an infinite gap between humanity and deity.

When humanity comes into the raw presence of God’s deity, his holiness, they crumble.

The prophet Isaiah is given a vision of the throne room of God and look at his response.

Isaiah 6:4–5 (ESV)

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Even the apostle John who had walked on this earth with Jesus, when he encounters the risen and reining Jesus in all his glory during his exile on the island of Patmos says,

Revelation 1:17 (ESV)

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

There is an infinite gap between deity and humanity.

When Moses came down from the mountain in the book of Exodus they erected a tent or tabernacle where God’s presence would reside. Within this tabernacle there was an inner room called the Holy of holies. It’s here where God’s glory, his presence would reside and only once a year could a high priest enter into that room after much ritualistic cleansing to make atonement for the sins of the people. No one else could come near because there is a chasm between us and God.

The tabernacle and high priest was all Peter knew of as a way to draw near to God’s glory.

What’s verse 6 say? It says there were terrified. Yeah! They were coming face to face with the glory of God. God told Moses nobody can see my face, come face to face with my glory and live. They’re scared for their lives. Peter’s trying to create a way for them to ritualistically or religiously draw near without being destroyed.

And what happens next? A cloud overshadowed them. Listen, if they were terrified before, they’re probably about to pass out next. They more than likely thought, this is the end. They know Exodus. They know God’s glory resided in the cloud that overshadowed Mt. Sinai. They know nobody can be in the presence of God and live.

And yet, they hear the voice of God speak to them from the cloud in verse 7 and they don’t die and Mark says that suddenly the only one there was Jesus. Moses is gone. Elijah is gone. It’s only Jesus.

This is revealing that through Jesus there is no longer a need for tabernacles or rituals or high priests or the blood of goats and lambs to come into the presence of God. Jesus is the final tabernacle, the Great High Priest, the perfect sacrificial lamb who will pay for the sins of humanity.

Hebrews 9:11–12 (ESV)

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Jesus is telling these three disciples that you didn’t die just now because I’m here. Jesus is the bridge between deity and humanity.

We today in our modern minds may not fully understand tabernacles and high priests and sacrifices but we understand the nature of religion and what it teaches. Religion teaches what we must do to earn favor with God. Jesus here is revealing he’s the only way. The law will not make us right with God. It’ll only reveal our inability and weakness. What we need is faith in Jesus alone.

Remember what Jesus is calling us to? Radical self-denial and a cross-bearing way of life. The transfiguration reveals that Jesus is enough. He’s sufficient.

Fourthly,

Jesus’ transfiguration is not made clear without the resurrection.

This is what we see in the remaining few verses.

Mark 9:9–13 (ESV)

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

As they’re coming down the mountain Jesus tells them not to tell anyone what they had just witnessed until after the resurrection. Why? Because the transfiguration that they had just witnessed was a glimpse of glory. It was a glimpse of what was to come following Jesus’ resurrection and also what would come at his second coming when he comes in power to restore the world and make all things new.

But until his resurrection no one would understand what had just happened. In fact, we see that the three disciples here don’t quite understand all that had just happened.

Jesus uses this moment to once again talk of his death and resurrection. The last chapter Peter rebukes Jesus for talking about suffering. Here, it’s not as strong but he’s still struggling with all this death and suffering talk.

They ask in verse 11 about the coming of Elijah. What’s that all about Jesus? They’re referring to Malachi 4.

Malachi 4:5 (ESV)

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”

Here’s what their asking. “Jesus, we just saw Elijah on the mountain with you. That must mean the end is here and time for you to set up your kingdom to reign. So, why do you keep talking about dying. That’s not very kingly of you.”

So, what’s Jesus say? He says, “Elijah has come already and they did everything to him that they wished.” Meaning, that he suffered and was killed. The “Elijah” that Malachi was talking about was John the Baptist. John suffered and was beheaded in prison.

And so, Elijah has come and gone and he suffered. And so, like him, the Son of Man must suffer and die as well. This is how the Kingdom will be ushered in.

These disciples just can’t quite get past the suffering and dying part of Jesus’ message. And so, we’re going to see a few more times in the coming chapters Jesus coming back to it again and again. The coronation of Christ’s kingship comes through suffering.

From the bruised heel of Genesis 3:15 to the reigning lamb of Revelation 22:1, the Bible is a redemptive story of a crucified Messiah who will accomplish a royal victory through atoning suffering.” - Jeremy Treat

And like him, our future glory comes through suffering.

And that’s my fifth and final point here today from the story of the transfiguration.

Suffering must come before glory but glory is coming.

This really is the core takeaway from this story. Suffering must come before glory but glory is coming. It’s not a takeaway we like to hear, but one we must come to grips with.

Again, to quote Jesus from Mark 8.

Mark 8:34–35 (ESV)

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Church, Jesus calls us to come and die so we might find life. That is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus. That we die to ourselves, put sin to death, stand firm upon the truth of the gospel in the face of mounting oppression and persecution so that we would look upon Jesus and say even if the world slays me, you’re enough.

And it’s in this story of the transfiguration of Jesus that we find encouragement for our hearts and souls in the midst of suffering for the sake of the gospel. How? Because Christ is the glorious King of kings.

John 14:1 (ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

John 16:33 (ESV)

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Conclusion

The transfiguration is a glimpse of the glory that awaits those in Christ. That through trial, through pain, through suffering Jesus is enough.

The theme of Jesus’ life was “suffering now, glory later.” And what a glory it was in his resurrection and ascension. For those who are in Christ, there’s coming a day when we will be resurrected to glory, when we will be changed and so we walk and live as Jesus did. “Suffering now, glory later.”

Don’t try to switch those two around. Don’t look for glory or comfort now only to be faced with shame and suffering for eternity.

Right now, glory may seem like lightyears away but take heart, hold fast, he’s overcome. Christ is enough, He will sustain you.

(Communion)