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Introduction & Prayer
Hi friends
Today, we’re continuing our series:
God With Us - Discovering the Gospel of Matthew
And we are in the Gospel of Matthew
Please open your Bible to - Matt 17
I want to read the passage - and then pray - and then teach from this incredible story
(Prayer…)
Trying to Understand This Story
The Transfiguration
What does it mean?
Why do we have this story in the Bible?
And what does it mean for us?
You should know - it took me years to wrap my head around this story and what it means
At first glance, it seems kind of like a random story
The Gospel writers offer no comment as to the meaning of this story - so we need to look at it very carefully
For example
In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower - but then explains, very carefully, what it means
He did the same thing - later in chapt 13 - the meaning of the Parable of the Weeds
Not only did he explain the meaning of the parables, he tells us the purpose of why he used parables
It’s wonderful when the Bible comments on itself
But there’s no such explanation of the Transfiguration
Much of the narrative in the Bible - the stories, particularly the OT stories - have no commentary
Sometimes the Bible will pause and explain what’s happening - sometimes the Lord himself explain what is right and wrong
Sometimes it is obvious
But the Transfiguration is somewhat of a mystery story
I don’t see anywhere where Jesus comes out and says, “The reason I transfigured is...”
We are forced to use other clues
And we are forced to let the Bible interpret itself - oftentimes from other places in the Bible
This is a key to interpreting the Bible - that you always use the Bible to interpret the Bible
If there is a verse that is unclear about a subject - but is made clear in other parts of the Bible - then you need to rely on the clear parts
Not every verse in the Bible is crystal clear
We need to always allow the clarity of the Bible to be our light - where the Bible is clear, there is never confusion
So let’s dive right in
This story is in Matt, Mark, and Luke
In each account, it opens with this cryptic statement from Jesus:
Some believe he’s talking about the Transfiguration, six days later
But I don’t want to get off on that today
I want to focus mainly on the Transfiguration
Jesus is in the middle of his ministry on Earth
And then he takes Peter, James, and John - mountain
It says he was “transfigured”
What does that mean?
Matthew says that his “face shone like the sun” - and that his clothes became “white as light”
Luke adds that he was praying when this happens
Then from out of nowhere
comes Moses and Elijah who start talking with Jesus
Peter: “Lord, this is awesome - In fact, I think I’ll make three tents!”
Then it says a “bright cloud” came and “overshadowed” them
Voice from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him”
The disciples freak out - and fall down, terrified!
It was so bad, Jesus had to go over to them and touch them and tell them to stand up and have no fear
I want to break down this event into three things we need to learn from this story
1.)
The Transfiguration points to the truth about Jesus
2.) The Transfiguration points to our own transformation
3.) The Transfiguration causes us to set our gaze on Jesus
1.) The transfiguration points to the truth about Jesus
I want us to pause for a moment
Earlier, I said that this passage has no comment - that’s not entirely true
Peter wrote about it in 2 Peter - turn to 2 Peter...
2.) The Transfiguration points to our own transformation
Okay, so what do I mean by that?
“I thought this was all about Jesus!”
It is
But look who is with him during all of this
Moses and Elijah
The glory of Jesus in this story is hint at the glory we will receive
The account of the Transfiguration in Luke 9 says that Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory” also
I don’t think we will ever be glorified like Jesus is glorified - but the Bible says we will be like him
Listen to
3.) The Transfiguration causes us to set our gaze on Jesus
Verse 8 is a key verse in understanding this passage
The message to us of the Transfiguration is for us to focus our eyes on Jesus - and Jesus only
Jesus needs to be the object of our focus - our worship - and our adoration
We need to take our eyes off of the world - there’s nothing there for us
We need to take our eyes off of other people - I mean that they should never replace Jesus in our lives
We need to take our eyes off of ourselves -
A meaningless life is one that puts itself above all else, including God
The basis of all sin is focus on self - sin says it’s better than God, and better than anyone else
Focusing on yourself leads to anxiety, depression, loneliness - and a life without hope
We need to take our eyes off of our past - if God has taken his eyes off of our past, then we need to also
The more spiritually mature a Christian is - the more he/she is focused on Jesus only
And look at what happened right before they looked up and saw Jesus only
Look at verse 5
It’s hard for us to imagine what this must have been like
Just imagine experiencing the actual voice of the Lord
Think of all the times in the Bible, when the Lord spoke in an audible voice
2 Sam 22 talks about the Lord thundering from heaven
Ps 29 talks about the voice of the Lord
The God of glory thunders
The voice of the Lord is powerful & full of majesty
His voice breaks the cedars of Lebanon!
Think of how awesome it was when he spoke to Moses
Or to Paul on the road to Damascus
And here in Matthew, it says that when the disciples heard the voice of God - they fell on their faces and were terrified
And notice, what did God say to them?
He made a declaration (2) - and he gave them (and gave us) a command
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him”
Interesting command: “Listen to him”
Some commentators have suggested that God was saying, “Listen to him more than the Law and the prophets”
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