Good News Week 31. Good News On The Mountain
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On The Mountain With Jesus
On The Mountain With Jesus
Could you think of anywhere better than being on a mountain with Jesus?
Not only are you
Away from the pressures of the valley below.
And have the ability to look miles ahead of where you are currently.
The vision to see the beauty from a new perspective.
To see where you are going.
Not only do you experience the mountaintop, but you are experiencing it with Jesus.
Seriously, what could be better?
If you were on the mountain with Jesus what would you be doing?
I mean, Jesus heads up the mountain to pray.
Could you imagine a prayer meeting with Jesus on a mountain?
If there were anytime where you be excited about a prayer meeting you think it would be on a mountain with Jesus.
Unless you were Peter, James, and John.
These guys are always falling asleep.
Maybe the journey up the mountain wore them out.
Maybe they stayed up as long as they could until their eyes couldn’t hold open any longer.
Maybe it was late and they had much to do the next morning.
Whatever it was Peter, James, and John feel asleep in what would be one of the most incredible prayer meeting ever.
Lets take a look.
About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying.
While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen.
I mean, come on.
Moses and Elijah.
Jesus Shining, glowing, glorious, illuminatin, radiance.
This is some prayer meeting.
Moses and Elijah had been gone from the earth for hundreds upon hundreds of years.
And yet here they are.
Standing before Jesus.
Talking with Jesus.
Of course the light and the conversation wakes up Peter.
Peter does normal Peter stuff and speaks forefully but ignorantly.
Just because someone speaks forcefully doesn’t mean they know what they are talking about.
The Father rebukes him.
And then Peter, James, and John shut up and don’t speak about this again for some time.
That’s the mountaintop experience with Jesus.
Let’s dig in a little bit.
The Two Witnesses
The Two Witnesses
As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Moses and Elijah
Moses and Elijah
Moses
Moses
had led his own departure out of the land of Egypt and bondage and led the Hebrews to the edge of the Promised Land but wasn't allowed to go in because of his sin.
He led but didn’t finish.
He had given them the Law.
He had them renew their vow to keep Covenant with God.
He led them across the Red Sea.
He met with God on the Mountain and came down with the Torah.
He radiated and had to cover his face so that the people weren’t afraid.
He interceeded for the people.
He mediated between the people and God.
He functioned in a priestly role.
He led them thru the wilderness for 40 years.
He judged.
He ruled.
He led.
He was their deliverer under the hand the Almighty Deliverer.
Moses din’t entered the promised land because of his sin, but God buried his body secretly.
Michael the angel and Satan argued over Moses body.
Satan lost.
And Moses was cared for by God himself.
ANd now he stands on the mountain with Jesus.
Elijah
Elijah
Elijah was a prophet.
A miracle worker.
A righteous rebel against the idolatry and immorality of his own Hebrew people.
A mighty spiritual warrior against the Philistines.
He called down fire from heaven.
He supernaturally defeated armies.
He raised the dead.
He preached the Word of the LORD.
He stood up against wicked rulers.
He invested into other Prophets and trained them to hear the voice of God.
Elisha followed him and took up his mantle.
He didn’t taste death.
But God took him up to heaven in a flaming, glowing, radiant chariot.
And now he stands on the mountain with Jesus.
Discussing His Departure
Discussing His Departure
So here’s Moses, Elijah, and Jesus on the mountain.
Jesus radiant with the glory of God.
And what are they talking about?
They are taking about Jesus departure.
Moses and Elijah understood the mission of Jesus.
Moses spoke of how he led a departure out of bondage.
Jesus would lead a departure out of bondage.
Jesus would Eph 4:8
For it says:
When he ascended on high,
he took the captives captive;
he gave gifts to people.
Jesus would lead a people not to the edge of the promised land but into the promised land.
Jesus would taste death but not for his own sin but for the sins of the world.
Jesus would be the bread in with wilderness.
Jesus would be like the serpent lifted in the wilderness to bring healing to the nations.
Jesus would make the bitter waters sweet.
Jesus would be the fulfillment of the Law, the perfect Priest, the final Mediator, the New Covenent, The Temple, and the Sacrifice.
Jesus would be the good and better Moses and all that Moses represented.
Elijah was there too discussing his departed.
Talking about how he didn’t taste death but ascended in a chariot of glory.
Jesus would ascend in glory because Jesus though he would die like Moses he would not see decay but would be raised to life on the third day.
Jesus would heal the sick.
Jesus would raise the dead.
Jesus would preach the Good News of the Kingdom.
Jesus would challenge the religious hypocrite.
Jesus would defeat the enemy in the wilderness.
Jesus would invest in his disciples.
Jesus would be a rebel against the rulers and authorities that challenged the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus would be the better Prophet, better teacher, better miracle worker, and better cloud rider.
Jesus would be the good and better Elijah and all the Elijah represented.
Jesus departure meant the culmination of all that Moses and Elijah had instituted, done, proclaimed, and prophecied.
Jesus departure meant deliverance and glory.
When the discussed the departure, I believe they were discussing his soon death and resurrection.
Like the Hebrew people didn’t have the body of Moses to in a tomb to go to a mourn, we don’t have the body of Jesus to go to and mourn. - Deliverance.
Like Elisha saw Elijah go up, we have an ascended Jesus who left us the mantle of His Spirit to empower us as his Kingdom people. - Glory.
There is deliverance and glory for the people of God.
Let’s discuss His departure.
Because when we discuss His departure we also discuss his return.
While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
He will come again.
Every eye will see Him.
Just like he went up he will come down.
His departure means our redemption.
His departure means our rescue.
His departure mean our victory.
His departure means our hope.
His departure means our salvation.
His departure means his return!
Wake up Peter, James, and John!
Wake up Church!
There is a departure coming.
Are you ready?
Are you ready for the great and terrible day?
Are you ready when every eye will see him, every knee bow, every tongue confess that He is LORD to the glory of God the Father?
Are you ready for that glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, the Man Christ Jesus!
There’s a departure coming.
When King Jesus departs the heaven and calls the church to himself.
When those who are dead in Christ will be raised to life and those who are alive will join them in our new resurrection bodies.
There’s a departure coming, when we depart the confines of this mortal body and put on immortality.
There’s a departure coming, when we depart the corruptible and put on incorruption.
There’s a departure coming, when we depart the effects of the fall and put on the glory of the resurrection.
There’s a departure coming, when we depart the curse and inhabit the blessing.
There’s a departure coming, when we depart the prinapilities and powers of this world’s system and enter into the joys of the Kingdom.
There’s a departure coming, when we depart exile of the wilderness and enter again into the good. Garden of God with trees of healing and a river of living water.
There’s a departure coming, Even so come quickly LORD JESUS!
Greater Than
Greater Than
When Peter, James and John were awakened they were astonished.
Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying.
I love these words by Luke, inspired by the Spirit… “Not knowing what he was saying”.
Peter said, lets build a tent, a shelter for you three.
Moses - the Law.
Elijah - the Prophets.
Jesus - the Messiah.
Remember, Peter had already identified Jesus as the Messiah.
But Peter didn’t understand that the Messiah was both a fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and simultaneously the Mediator of a New and Better Covenant.
The Law and Prophets were no longer the pathway to God.
Jesus fulfilled them and superceeded them.
Jesus is the way to the Father.
The Law cannot save.
The Prophets cannot save.
They served their purpose.
But they are not worthy of worship.
Only Jesus is worthy of worship.
Let’s stop building structures to the past ways God moved and simply follow Jesus.
Let’s stop worshiping people who God used and worship Christ alone.
Let’s stop living like we need JESUS AND for our salvation.
Jesus and good works.
Jesus and my striving.
Jesus and.
Let’s simply follow and worship Jesus!
Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah.
And the Father makes sure they know this.
The Father Speaks
The Father Speaks
While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen.
This is my Son.
The Chosen one.
Listen to Him.
They were still trying to give ear to Moses and Elijah.
They were good men.
They represented God to the people.
But they weren’t the Messiah.
They weren’t the Chosen One.
They weren’t the Son of God.
The Father says listen.
Are you listening?
We listen to far too many voices.
Media.
Culture.
Politicians.
Influencers.
Bands.
Artists.
Pop icons.
News.
Even “preachers and prophets”
Stop listening to voices and giving shelter to folks who do not preach Gospel Truth and Kingdom Living.
Grace and Truth.
Stop giving a place for them to dwell in your life.
The Father speaks.
Lisiten to Jesus!
Enter the CLOUD of the Glory.
Hear the Father.
Listen to Jesus!
Peter later reflected on this encounter
For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased!” We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation,
This voice from Heaven changed their life!
This testimony of the Father confirmed the witness of Elijah and Moses.
Moses and Elijah were witnesses.
They weren’t the person of interest.
They were witnesses to the person of interest.
And the testimony of the Father confirmed their witness.
Jesus is unique among creation - both God and Man, Prophet, Preist and King, the Covenant Keeper and the New Covenant giver, the sin bearer and the sacrifice for sin, the Deliverer, and our Great God and KING the man Christ Jesus - Listen to Jesus!