100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:14,000A Christian is a person who has seen the glory of Jesus Christ and being compelled by him you begin to feel more and more as you follow him.200:00:14,000 –> 00:00:21,000as the disciples did that he is worth great sacrifice.300:00:21,000 –> 00:00:29,000Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick and Colin, yesterday we were looking at the cost of following Jesus today we’re looking at the gain400:00:29,000 –> 00:00:40,000Oh this is definitely the day to be listening to the program isn’t it. We are able to take a glimpse into the future glory that lies ahead of a Christian believer500:00:40,000 –> 00:00:48,000you know what’s it going to be like to actually see Christ face to face. And what will it be like to be in the presence of Christ.600:00:48,000 –> 00:00:55,000John says, I fell at his feet as though dead. And then the hand of Christ touches him and says No, stand up and fear not.700:00:56,000 –> 00:01:03,000We’re going to stand in the presence of Christ and it’s so important when it’s really tough for you to be a Christian.800:01:04,000 –> 00:01:10,000To look ahead and to say well in pressing forward in faith through all this stuff900:01:11,000 –> 00:01:15,000I’m heading for a day when I’m going to see the Saviour in all of His glory.1000:01:15,000 –> 00:01:22,000Let’s think about that. Set our minds on things above. That’s what we’re going to do in the program today and it’ll be good for the soul.1100:01:22,000 –> 00:01:24,000So, let’s dive right into today’s message.1200:01:24,000 –> 00:01:30,000We’re continuing the message Jesus calls His people to sacrifice and we’re in Mark 8 and 9.1300:01:31,000 –> 00:01:32,000Here’s Colin.1400:01:32,000 –> 00:01:40,000Now, let’s then look in to chapter 9 together and see how they are compelled, these disciples, by Christ’s glory.1500:01:40,000 –> 00:01:46,000Why would you take up the cross? Why would you deny yourself?1600:01:47,000 –> 00:01:50,000Only if you are compelled as they were by Christ’s glory.1700:01:50,000 –> 00:01:51,000Chapter 9 in verse 2.1800:01:51,000 –> 00:01:59,000After 6 days, Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him and led them up a high mountain where they were all alone.1900:01:59,000 –> 00:02:04,000And there He was transfigured before them.2000:02:04,000 –> 00:02:10,000Out of all the miracles that the disciples had seen, surely to this point, this is the greatest of them all.2100:02:11,000 –> 00:02:14,000He was transfigured before them.2200:02:14,000 –> 00:02:17,000What does that mean?2300:02:18,000 –> 00:02:23,000The glory that was hidden in the Lord Jesus Christ.2400:02:25,000 –> 00:02:33,000The glory of His true Person that was, as we sing in one of our great Christmas carols, that was veiled in His flesh.2500:02:34,000 –> 00:02:41,000That glory that was in Him simply burst out, burst out.2600:02:42,000 –> 00:02:55,000And for a few minutes the disciples see Jesus as you will see Him and I will see Him, as every person will see Him, when He comes in power and in glory.2700:02:56,000 –> 00:03:05,000They saw Jesus in His glory in the same way as John the apostle saw Jesus in his glory in a vision recorded at the beginning of the book of Revelation.2800:03:05,000 –> 00:03:19,000But this was not simply a vision because Jesus was physically present with them and the glory, the radiance that is in the person of Jesus Christ just bursts out for these moments,2900:03:19,000 –> 00:03:26,000and they are absolutely overwhelmed by the dazzling glory of Jesus.3000:03:26,000 –> 00:03:40,000Mark tells us his clothes became dazzling white, verse three, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.3100:03:41,000 –> 00:03:51,000Now think about this. When you take all of the colours of the spectrum, all of the colours of God’s palette of creation,3200:03:51,000 –> 00:03:56,000And you combine all of the beauty of colour in this created order together.3300:03:56,000 –> 00:03:59,000What you have is white light.3400:04:00,000 –> 00:04:08,000And what the disciples saw here was a white light, an illumination, a brightness coming from within Jesus3500:04:08,000 –> 00:04:15,000that Mark says was whiter than the whitest white or whiter than anyone in the world could ever produce.3600:04:16,000 –> 00:04:33,000What we’re learning here is simply this, that the glory of Jesus Christ is of more beauty than all the spectrum of colour in the created order combined.3700:04:33,000 –> 00:04:37,000Think of the beauty of all created colour!3800:04:39,000 –> 00:04:47,000Combine it together into whiteness that is whiter than anyone in the world could ever produce.3900:04:48,000 –> 00:04:56,000It’s greater than all the spectrum and beauty of colour in all the created orders. Nothing greater than this.4000:04:57,000 –> 00:05:05,000The brightness of Christ’s glory is brighter than the stars in the sky at midnight.4100:05:06,000 –> 00:05:13,500And the purity of Christ’s glory is whiter, purer than the finest of snow.4200:05:13,500 –> 00:05:27,500There is, in other words, in Jesus Christ, beauty, brightness, purity that is beyond comparison with any beauty, brightness, or purity known in this world.4300:05:27,500 –> 00:05:32,500And this glory does not come upon Him, it bursts out from within Him.4400:05:33,500 –> 00:05:40,500And the disciples are so stunned that Peter does not even know what to say.4500:05:41,500 –> 00:05:47,500And then, the cloud comes, and of course, in the Old Testament the cloud,4600:05:47,500 –> 00:05:56,500this isn’t just any cloud, there was a pillar of cloud that was the visible expression of God’s actual immediate presence with His people,4700:05:56,500 –> 00:06:00,500and the cloud comes, they would have known the significance of this was,4800:06:00,500 –> 00:06:07,500and the cloud envelopes Mark, and now they’re caught up in the presence of God, with the glory of Jesus Christ,4900:06:07,500 –> 00:06:18,500because being with Jesus and seeing Jesus’ glory is to come to know and be with God and to enter into all that His presence means,5000:06:18,500 –> 00:06:21,500and from the cloud comes this voice.5100:06:21,500 –> 00:06:24,500The same voice is spoke from the cloud in the Old Testament,5200:06:24,500 –> 00:06:33,500this is My son, the voice of the Almighty says, whom I love, listen to Him.5300:06:34,500 –> 00:06:39,500Of all the experiences the disciples had during the earthly ministry of Jesus,5400:06:39,500 –> 00:06:42,500don’t you think you would just love to have been there in this moment.5500:06:42,500 –> 00:06:50,500And of course it made a lasting stamp on their lives.5600:06:50,500 –> 00:07:00,500John suffered greatly for the Gospel he ended up languishing in prison on the Isle of Patmos in isolation.5700:07:01,500 –> 00:07:08,500Peter, tradition has it, at the end of his ministry was crucified upside down.5800:07:08,500 –> 00:07:12,500Could you imagine that?5900:07:12,500 –> 00:07:16,500And how were these men sustained in their ministry?6000:07:16,500 –> 00:07:19,500How did they manage to take up the cross and deny themselves6100:07:19,500 –> 00:07:22,500and live sacrificially for the cause of Christ?6200:07:22,500 –> 00:07:29,500Well they had seen His glory, and they both speak about it.6300:07:29,500 –> 00:07:34,500One at the beginning of his gospel, we’ll read it many times over the Christmas season,6400:07:34,500 –> 00:07:40,500He says the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us6500:07:40,500 –> 00:07:45,500and we have seen His glory.6600:07:45,500 –> 00:07:48,500John’s speaking. He’s talking about the Transfiguration, of course.6700:07:48,500 –> 00:07:52,500We’ve seen His glory. Seen it.6800:07:52,500 –> 00:07:55,500And Peter, in his second letter in chapter 1, put it this way.6900:07:55,500 –> 00:07:58,500He said, look, you folks writing to Christian believers7000:07:58,500 –> 00:08:01,500He says, you need to know we didn’t follow cleverly invented stories7100:08:01,500 –> 00:08:04,500when we told you about the power and coming of Jesus7200:08:04,500 –> 00:08:09,500we were eyewitnesses, eyewitnesses, of His Majesty.7300:08:09,500 –> 00:08:12,500He received honour and glory from God the Father7400:08:12,500 –> 00:08:14,500when the voice came from the majestic glory7500:08:14,500 –> 00:08:17,500saying this is my son who I love, with him I’m well-pleased7600:08:17,500 –> 00:08:20,500and we ourselves heard this voice7700:08:20,500 –> 00:08:23,500that came from Heaven when we were with Him7800:08:23,500 –> 00:08:27,500on the sacred mountain.7900:08:27,500 –> 00:08:30,500Notice that Mark says here in verse 28000:08:30,500 –> 00:08:36,500that Jesus was transfigured before them.8100:08:36,500 –> 00:08:38,500Before them.8200:08:38,500 –> 00:08:41,500Not just Jesus was transfigured8300:08:41,500 –> 00:08:43,500but Jesus was transfigured before them.8400:08:43,500 –> 00:08:48,500In other words this happened for the good of the disciples8500:08:48,500 –> 00:08:53,500Because, if you are to follow Jesus for a lifetime8600:08:53,500 –> 00:08:58,500if we are to engage in lives of costly and sacrificial service8700:08:58,500 –> 00:09:00,500which is what he is calling us to8800:09:00,500 –> 00:09:02,500we have to see his glory8900:09:03,500 –> 00:09:07,500We have to be compelled by something far far bigger than ourselves9000:09:07,500 –> 00:09:09,500And far bigger than the greatest cost we pay9100:09:09,500 –> 00:09:13,500If you do not see his glory, you will not follow far9200:09:14,500 –> 00:09:17,500You’re listening to Open the Bible, with pastor Colin Smith9300:09:17,500 –> 00:09:18,500and the message called9400:09:18,500 –> 00:09:21,500Jesus calls his people to sacrifice9500:09:21,500 –> 00:09:25,500And if you’ve missed part of the message, or any of the earlier messages9600:09:25,500 –> 00:09:29,500you can always come to our website9700:09:29,500 –> 00:09:32,500and catch up or go back and listen again9800:09:32,500 –> 00:09:34,500Pastor Colin Smith has a new booklet out9900:09:34,500 –> 00:09:37,500it is called, What Jesus Says to Skeptics10000:09:37,500 –> 00:09:40,500and we’d love to offer you five copies of this booklet10100:09:40,500 –> 00:09:43,500one to keep, and four to give away to your friends10200:09:43,500 –> 00:09:48,500It’s all about how Jesus answers the questions that skeptics might have10300:09:48,500 –> 00:09:52,500I’ll be talking to Colin more about the booklet later on in the programme10400:09:52,500 –> 00:09:54,500Back to the message now, here’s Colin10500:09:54,500 –> 00:09:59,500See if you ask the question, why are you a Christian?10600:09:59,500 –> 00:10:02,500Why did you become a Christian?10700:10:02,500 –> 00:10:06,500Now, you see you get all kinds of answers to that question10800:10:06,500 –> 00:10:09,500One of the ones you hear quite often if you ask that question10900:10:09,500 –> 00:10:11,500why are you a Christian?11000:10:11,500 –> 00:10:14,500I’ve often heard this answer11100:10:14,500 –> 00:10:17,500I don’t want to go to hell11200:10:17,500 –> 00:10:19,500I don’t like pain11300:10:19,500 –> 00:10:23,500and I want to avoid pain11400:10:23,500 –> 00:10:27,500and hell is obviously going to be painful11500:10:27,500 –> 00:10:29,500so I don’t want to go there11600:10:29,500 –> 00:10:31,500So what do I have to do to avoid hell?11700:10:31,500 –> 00:10:33,500Believe in Jesus11800:10:33,500 –> 00:10:35,500Okay, I believe in Jesus11900:10:35,500 –> 00:10:40,500But you see if your motivation for believing in Jesus12000:10:40,500 –> 00:10:43,500is simply to avoid pain12100:10:44,500 –> 00:10:48,500Then what will happen, when he says to you12200:10:48,500 –> 00:10:52,500you need to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me12300:10:53,500 –> 00:10:55,500Well you won’t do it12400:10:55,500 –> 00:10:57,500You just won’t do it12500:10:57,500 –> 00:11:01,500You won’t do it because you can’t do it12600:11:01,500 –> 00:11:06,500because the unchanged agenda of your life is your own comfort12700:11:07,500 –> 00:11:10,500And surely as Jesus announces his own passion12800:11:10,500 –> 00:11:14,500the timing of the transfiguration is of huge significance here12900:11:14,500 –> 00:11:17,500Peter,James and John, the core group of the disciples13000:11:17,500 –> 00:11:21,500They’re going to be following Jesus now to Jerusalem13100:11:21,500 –> 00:11:25,500to all the agony that is lying ahead for him and for them13200:11:27,500 –> 00:11:31,500And comfort Christianity won’t sustain them in Jerusalem13300:11:33,500 –> 00:11:37,500So Christ gives them a glimpse of his glory13400:11:37,500 –> 00:11:39,500Why? Because that is what sustains a13500:11:39,500 –> 00:11:43,500Christian man or woman in the hardest circumstances of life13600:11:43,500 –> 00:11:47,500And it’s not just here, there is a pattern that you find in the Scriptures13700:11:47,500 –> 00:11:51,500Remember the story of Moses in the Old Testament13800:11:51,500 –> 00:11:56,500Moses had experienced God’s grace, he was in leadership of God’s people13900:11:56,500 –> 00:12:02,500he had confronted Pharaoh’s power, he had led God’s people out of Egypt14000:12:02,500 –> 00:12:08,500You remember when he got to Mount Sinai he was just about at the end of himself14100:12:08,500 –> 00:12:14,500And he goes up to the top of the mountain and he receives the commandments14200:12:14,500 –> 00:12:16,500and there is this idolatrous festival that begins at the bottom of the mountain14300:12:16,500 –> 00:12:18,500and the people break all the commandments and then14400:12:18,500 –> 00:12:21,500Moses smashes the stones and comes down14500:12:21,500 –> 00:12:25,500As you read the story, you think he just knows not what to do with himself14600:12:25,500 –> 00:12:27,500and I wouldn’t have known what to do either14700:12:27,500 –> 00:12:31,500One stage he says, Lord, why don’t you just block me out of your book14800:12:31,500 –> 00:12:35,500I think he was at the point of saying, you know I don’t care if I live or die anymore14900:12:35,500 –> 00:12:39,500I just can’t go on like this15000:12:39,500 –> 00:12:47,500And at that point he makes one request of God that is recorded in Exodus chapter 33 verse 1815100:12:47,500 –> 00:12:49,500You remember what it was?15200:12:49,500 –> 00:12:56,500he prays, Lord, show me your glory15300:12:56,500 –> 00:13:00,500That’s what I need15400:13:00,500 –> 00:13:03,500And if I’m going to go on in the costly work of leading these people15500:13:03,500 –> 00:13:08,500If I’m going to go on in all that is involving for me to be involved in this life that you’ve called me to15600:13:08,500 –> 00:13:15,500I can’t sustain it unless you show me your glory15700:13:15,500 –> 00:13:18,500Remember that, that was what God did for him15800:13:18,500 –> 00:13:22,500God said, I’ll cause my glory to go by15900:13:22,500 –> 00:13:25,500But you must be hidden in the cleft of the rock16000:13:25,500 –> 00:13:28,500And I will cover you God said, with my hand16100:13:28,500 –> 00:13:32,500and the glory will pass by, and then afterwards you will see the16200:13:32,500 –> 00:13:36,500afterglow really, that’s what it is, the afterglow16300:13:36,500 –> 00:13:39,500of God’s glory, having passed by16400:13:39,500 –> 00:13:40,500and Moses did see that and16500:13:40,500 –> 00:13:43,500seeing the glory of the God he serves16600:13:43,500 –> 00:13:45,500he’s wonderfully renewed and16700:13:45,500 –> 00:13:48,500is able to move forward in all that God’s calling him16800:13:48,500 –> 00:13:50,500to endure16900:13:50,500 –> 00:13:53,500It’s a wonderful thing that17000:13:53,500 –> 00:13:55,500Moses never got into the promised land17100:13:55,500 –> 00:13:59,500except here17200:13:59,500 –> 00:14:02,500He is brought into the scene17300:14:02,500 –> 00:14:04,500on the top of the mountain of Transfiguration17400:14:04,500 –> 00:14:06,500He actually did get there17500:14:06,500 –> 00:14:09,500and God fulfills beyond the course17600:14:09,500 –> 00:14:11,500of his life17700:14:11,500 –> 00:14:13,500the dream that was not fulfilled17800:14:13,500 –> 00:14:15,500within his years17900:14:16,500 –> 00:14:17,500wonderful thing18000:14:18,500 –> 00:14:20,500He doesn’t just see the afterglow18100:14:20,500 –> 00:14:21,500of God’s glory18200:14:21,500 –> 00:14:22,500now he sees the18300:14:22,500 –> 00:14:24,500glory of God18400:14:24,500 –> 00:14:27,500in the face of Jesus Christ18500:14:29,500 –> 00:14:30,500With John18600:14:30,500 –> 00:14:31,500Peter18700:14:31,500 –> 00:14:33,500and James18800:14:34,500 –> 00:14:36,500Now you might be thinking18900:14:36,500 –> 00:14:38,500as I was pondering this this week19000:14:38,500 –> 00:14:40,500you know, this is marvellous19100:14:40,500 –> 00:14:41,500for Moses19200:14:41,500 –> 00:14:44,500and marvellous for Peter, James and John19300:14:44,500 –> 00:14:46,500and wouldn’t we have loved to have been there19400:14:46,500 –> 00:14:48,500and how marvellous it would be19500:14:48,500 –> 00:14:50,500if we had actually seen his glory in that way19600:14:50,500 –> 00:14:52,500but of course, we haven’t seen His glory have we19700:14:52,500 –> 00:14:54,500no, wait a minute19800:14:54,500 –> 00:14:55,500wait a minute19900:14:56,500 –> 00:14:58,500listen to what the apostle Paul says20000:14:58,500 –> 00:15:01,500in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 620100:15:02,500 –> 00:15:04,500he’s talking to all Christian believers20200:15:04,500 –> 00:15:05,500and he says this20300:15:05,500 –> 00:15:08,500God has made His light shine in our hearts20400:15:08,500 –> 00:15:10,500if you’re a Christian this is what’s happened to you20500:15:10,500 –> 00:15:12,500God has made20600:15:12,500 –> 00:15:14,500the light shine into your heart20700:15:15,500 –> 00:15:17,500to give you the light20800:15:17,500 –> 00:15:18,500of the knowledge20900:15:18,500 –> 00:15:20,500of the glory of God21000:15:20,500 –> 00:15:24,500in the face of Jesus Christ21100:15:25,500 –> 00:15:27,500now He’s not saying21200:15:27,500 –> 00:15:29,500what He might have said21300:15:29,500 –> 00:15:30,500you know, if you’re a Christian21400:15:30,500 –> 00:15:32,500one day you will see Christ glory21500:15:33,500 –> 00:15:34,500that’s wonderfully true21600:15:34,500 –> 00:15:36,500faith will be turned to sight21700:15:36,500 –> 00:15:38,500and you will see face to face21800:15:38,500 –> 00:15:39,500the one you now know21900:15:39,500 –> 00:15:40,500and trust heart to heart22000:15:41,000 –> 00:15:42,500but that’s not what He’s saying here in this verse22100:15:42,500 –> 00:15:44,500what He’s saying here is22200:15:44,500 –> 00:15:46,500if you’re a Christian believer22300:15:46,500 –> 00:15:47,500you have see His glory22400:15:47,500 –> 00:15:49,500God has made the light22500:15:49,500 –> 00:15:50,500shine into your heart22600:15:50,500 –> 00:15:51,500so that you have come to see22700:15:51,500 –> 00:15:53,500something of the greatness22800:15:53,500 –> 00:15:54,500and the glory of Jesus Christ22900:15:54,500 –> 00:15:56,500and that is what compels you23000:15:56,500 –> 00:15:58,500that is what sustains you23100:15:58,500 –> 00:16:01,500to live life in this23200:16:01,500 –> 00:16:03,500difficult and often painful23300:16:03,500 –> 00:16:05,500world23400:16:05,500 –> 00:16:06,500a Christian is a person23500:16:07,500 –> 00:16:09,500who has seen the glory23600:16:09,500 –> 00:16:10,500of Jesus Christ23700:16:10,500 –> 00:16:12,500and being compelled by Him23800:16:12,500 –> 00:16:13,500you begin to feel23900:16:13,500 –> 00:16:15,500more and more as you follow Him24000:16:15,500 –> 00:16:17,500as the disciples did24100:16:17,500 –> 00:16:20,500that He is worth great sacrifices24200:16:20,500 –> 00:16:21,500and then you make them24300:16:21,500 –> 00:16:21,50024400:16:21,500 –> 00:16:24,500that He is worth greater sacrifices24500:16:24,500 –> 00:16:25,500even than you have made24600:16:25,500 –> 00:16:27,500and more and more as you follow Him24700:16:27,500 –> 00:16:30,500you feel that other things seem cheap24800:16:30,500 –> 00:16:31,500and less valuable24900:16:31,500 –> 00:16:33,500than you used to think they were25000:16:33,500 –> 00:16:35,500so that with Paul, you say25100:16:35,500 –> 00:16:36,500I count other things just like25200:16:36,500 –> 00:16:39,500loss really in comparison25300:16:39,500 –> 00:16:40,500with the surpassing worth25400:16:40,500 –> 00:16:42,500of knowing Jesus Christ25500:16:42,500 –> 00:16:46,500as my Savior and as my Lord25600:16:46,500 –> 00:16:48,500this is what has sustained Christians25700:16:48,500 –> 00:16:49,500in most desperate circumstances25800:16:49,500 –> 00:16:52,500for centuries25900:16:52,500 –> 00:16:54,500this is what puts courage26000:16:54,500 –> 00:16:56,500into the spine26100:16:56,500 –> 00:16:59,500of Pioneer Missionaries26200:16:59,500 –> 00:17:01,500and Martyrs26300:17:01,500 –> 00:17:03,500Martyrs don’t die saying26400:17:03,500 –> 00:17:04,500well, it will be worth it26500:17:04,500 –> 00:17:06,500because I escaped from Hell26600:17:06,500 –> 00:17:08,500Martyrs die saying26700:17:08,500 –> 00:17:09,500it is worth it for the sake26800:17:09,500 –> 00:17:11,500of the name of Jesus Christ26900:17:11,500 –> 00:17:13,500for they’ve seen27000:17:13,500 –> 00:17:16,500his glory27100:17:17,500 –> 00:17:20,500and this is how God27200:17:20,500 –> 00:17:22,500will sustain you27300:17:22,500 –> 00:17:24,500through loss27400:17:24,500 –> 00:17:26,500and pain27500:17:26,500 –> 00:17:28,500and hard work27600:17:28,500 –> 00:17:30,500and discouragement27700:17:30,500 –> 00:17:32,500and conflict27800:17:32,500 –> 00:17:36,500and overwhelming pressure27900:17:36,500 –> 00:17:37,500this is the fire28000:17:37,500 –> 00:17:38,500that God lights28100:17:38,500 –> 00:17:41,500under the living church28200:17:41,500 –> 00:17:44,500Lord make us a church28300:17:44,500 –> 00:17:46,500taken up with the glory28400:17:46,500 –> 00:17:49,500of Jesus Christ28500:17:51,500 –> 00:17:53,500a church that more and more28600:17:53,500 –> 00:17:55,500feels that it is worth28700:17:55,500 –> 00:17:57,500making great sacrifices28800:17:57,500 –> 00:17:58,500in order to do more28900:17:58,500 –> 00:17:59,500for the gospel29000:18:01,500 –> 00:18:02,500that the advance29100:18:02,500 –> 00:18:03,500of the gospel is worth29200:18:03,500 –> 00:18:05,500the lives of our own sons29300:18:05,500 –> 00:18:07,500and our own daughters29400:18:08,500 –> 00:18:09,500that is is worth29500:18:09,500 –> 00:18:10,500the sacrifice29600:18:10,500 –> 00:18:11,500of our comfort29700:18:11,500 –> 00:18:12,500and our convenience29800:18:12,500 –> 00:18:13,500and our pride29900:18:13,500 –> 00:18:15,500and our possessions30000:18:16,500 –> 00:18:17,500because the glory30100:18:17,500 –> 00:18:19,500of the Lord Jesus Christ30200:18:20,500 –> 00:18:21,500and the shear wonder30300:18:21,500 –> 00:18:22,500and privilege of belonging30400:18:22,500 –> 00:18:23,500to him30500:18:25,500 –> 00:18:27,500reinvests our lives here30600:18:27,500 –> 00:18:28,500and our values here30700:18:28,500 –> 00:18:30,500with entirely different meaning30800:18:30,500 –> 00:18:31,500because we are living30900:18:31,500 –> 00:18:32,500in the light31000:18:32,500 –> 00:18:33,500of his calling31100:18:33,500 –> 00:18:34,500and in the light31200:18:35,500 –> 00:18:37,500of his eternal glory31300:18:39,500 –> 00:18:40,500There was one last thing31400:18:40,500 –> 00:18:41,500just in a few moments31500:18:42,500 –> 00:18:43,500very briefly31600:18:43,500 –> 00:18:44,500that we have to31700:18:45,500 –> 00:18:46,500see here31800:18:46,500 –> 00:18:47,500I think just to fill out the picture31900:18:48,500 –> 00:18:49,500and that is that32000:18:49,500 –> 00:18:50,500as they are compelled32100:18:50,500 –> 00:18:51,500by Christ’s glory32200:18:51,500 –> 00:18:52,500so they are called32300:18:53,500 –> 00:18:54,500into Christ’s work32400:18:56,500 –> 00:18:57,500and32500:18:57,500 –> 00:18:58,500you will see in verse 532600:18:58,500 –> 00:18:59,500that Peter32700:18:59,500 –> 00:19:00,500just so taken up32800:19:00,500 –> 00:19:01,500with the wonder32900:19:01,500 –> 00:19:02,500of what happened33000:19:02,500 –> 00:19:03,500on the top of the mountain33100:19:03,500 –> 00:19:04,500he says33200:19:04,500 –> 00:19:05,500Lord it is good for us33300:19:05,500 –> 00:19:06,500to be here33400:19:06,500 –> 00:19:07,500well he was right there33500:19:08,500 –> 00:19:09,500Peter gets a hard time33600:19:09,500 –> 00:19:10,500for preachers33700:19:10,500 –> 00:19:11,500for all the things he said33800:19:11,500 –> 00:19:12,500right I think33900:19:12,500 –> 00:19:13,500all preachers34000:19:13,500 –> 00:19:14,500myself included34100:19:14,500 –> 00:19:15,500will have to apologise34200:19:15,500 –> 00:19:16,500for Peter34300:19:16,500 –> 00:19:17,500for being too hard34400:19:17,500 –> 00:19:18,500on him34500:19:18,500 –> 00:19:19,500with what he said34600:19:19,500 –> 00:19:20,500about things that he said34700:19:20,500 –> 00:19:21,500let’s give him some credit here34800:19:21,500 –> 00:19:22,500He is seeing the glory34900:19:22,500 –> 00:19:23,500of Jesus35000:19:23,500 –> 00:19:24,500he just wants35100:19:24,500 –> 00:19:25,500to hold on35200:19:25,500 –> 00:19:26,500to the moment35300:19:27,500 –> 00:19:28,500Let’s have some tents35400:19:28,500 –> 00:19:29,500so we can stay35500:19:29,500 –> 00:19:30,500Let’s just go on savouring35600:19:31,500 –> 00:19:32,500the fellowship35700:19:32,500 –> 00:19:33,500of the saints35800:19:34,500 –> 00:19:36,500and that is a natural instinct35900:19:36,500 –> 00:19:37,500but it’s not going to happen36000:19:38,500 –> 00:19:39,500because verse 936100:19:39,500 –> 00:19:39,50036200:19:39,500 –> 00:19:40,500down the mountain36300:19:41,500 –> 00:19:42,500the reason that36400:19:42,500 –> 00:19:43,500Jesus leads them36500:19:43,500 –> 00:19:44,500down the mountain36600:19:44,500 –> 00:19:45,500is that at the bottom36700:19:45,500 –> 00:19:46,500they find the disciples36800:19:46,500 –> 00:19:47,500there are struggling36900:19:48,500 –> 00:19:49,500to help a young person37000:19:50,500 –> 00:19:51,500probably a teenager37100:19:52,500 –> 00:19:53,500who is possessed37200:19:53,500 –> 00:19:54,500by a particularly37300:19:55,500 –> 00:19:56,500violent, evil spirit37400:19:57,500 –> 00:19:58,500that is destroying him37500:19:59,500 –> 00:20:00,500and is destroying his family37600:20:00,500 –> 00:20:01,500and in the trauma37700:20:01,500 –> 00:20:02,500of this37800:20:03,500 –> 00:20:04,500Jesus comes37900:20:04,500 –> 00:20:05,500and delivers the boy38000:20:06,500 –> 00:20:07,500he rebukes the evil spirit38100:20:07,500 –> 00:20:08,500you can read this story38200:20:08,500 –> 00:20:09,500later at the end38300:20:09,500 –> 00:20:10,500of Mark, chapter 938400:20:11,500 –> 00:20:12,500you put these two stories together38500:20:13,500 –> 00:20:14,500and you see the full picture38600:20:15,500 –> 00:20:16,500Peter, James and John38700:20:16,500 –> 00:20:17,500are rejoicing in38800:20:17,500 –> 00:20:18,500the glory of Jesus38900:20:18,500 –> 00:20:19,500at the top of the mountain39000:20:20,500 –> 00:20:21,500and they needed that39100:20:22,500 –> 00:20:23,500but at the same time39200:20:23,500 –> 00:20:24,500as they’re rejoicing39300:20:24,500 –> 00:20:25,500in the glory of Jesus39400:20:25,500 –> 00:20:26,500at the bottom of the mountain39500:20:26,500 –> 00:20:27,500there is a world39600:20:27,500 –> 00:20:28,500of great need39700:20:29,500 –> 00:20:30,500a tormented teenager39800:20:30,500 –> 00:20:31,500a broken family39900:20:32,500 –> 00:20:33,500pain everywhere40000:20:34,500 –> 00:20:35,500and you see40100:20:35,500 –> 00:20:36,500the greatest temptation40200:20:36,500 –> 00:20:37,500for us as believers40300:20:38,500 –> 00:20:39,500is to sit around40400:20:39,500 –> 00:20:40,500savory the joy40500:20:40,500 –> 00:20:41,500of experiencing Christ40600:20:41,500 –> 00:20:42,500while the world continous40700:20:42,500 –> 00:20:43,500in its torment40800:20:44,500 –> 00:20:45,500and in desperate need40900:20:45,500 –> 00:20:46,500of his saving power41000:20:47,500 –> 00:20:48,500and the disciples41100:20:48,500 –> 00:20:49,500follow Jesus41200:20:49,500 –> 00:20:50,500not only because41300:20:50,500 –> 00:20:51,500they have seen his glory41400:20:51,500 –> 00:20:52,500but also because41500:20:52,500 –> 00:20:53,500they share in his work41600:20:53,500 –> 00:20:54,500they have a calling41700:20:54,500 –> 00:20:55,500they have a trust41800:20:55,500 –> 00:20:56,500they have a ministry41900:20:58,500 –> 00:20:59,500and as you picture42000:20:59,500 –> 00:21:00,500Jesus Christ coming down42100:21:01,500 –> 00:21:02,500leaving behind42200:21:02,500 –> 00:21:03,500as it were42300:21:04,500 –> 00:21:05,500the42400:21:06,500 –> 00:21:07,500radiance42500:21:09,500 –> 00:21:10,500that had burst42600:21:10,500 –> 00:21:11,500out of him42700:21:11,500 –> 00:21:12,500and now42800:21:12,500 –> 00:21:13,500just appearing42900:21:13,500 –> 00:21:14,500in his43000:21:14,500 –> 00:21:15,500ordinary43100:21:16,500 –> 00:21:17,500appearance43200:21:17,500 –> 00:21:18,500and coming down43300:21:18,500 –> 00:21:19,500the mountain43400:21:19,500 –> 00:21:20,500that is our Jesus43500:21:22,500 –> 00:21:23,500he won’t stay43600:21:23,500 –> 00:21:26,500in heaven43700:21:26,500 –> 00:21:27,500remote43800:21:27,500 –> 00:21:28,500from a world43900:21:28,500 –> 00:21:29,500he lays there44000:21:29,500 –> 00:21:30,500he lays aside44100:21:30,500 –> 00:21:31,500his glory44200:21:31,500 –> 00:21:32,500we celebrate it at Christmas44300:21:32,500 –> 00:21:33,500in order to come44400:21:33,500 –> 00:21:34,500into the world44500:21:34,500 –> 00:21:35,500to suffer44600:21:35,500 –> 00:21:36,500and to take up44700:21:36,500 –> 00:21:37,500his cross44800:21:37,500 –> 00:21:38,500and to die44900:21:38,500 –> 00:21:39,500and to give his life45000:21:39,500 –> 00:21:40,500in order to redeem45100:21:40,500 –> 00:21:41,500a world45200:21:41,500 –> 00:21:42,500of trauma45300:21:42,500 –> 00:21:43,500and pain45400:21:43,500 –> 00:21:44,500and suffering45500:21:44,500 –> 00:21:45,500and he says45600:21:45,500 –> 00:21:46,500this is what I45700:21:46,500 –> 00:21:47,500call you to45800:21:47,500 –> 00:21:48,500he says to us45900:21:49,500 –> 00:21:50,500Christ did not46000:21:50,500 –> 00:21:51,500endure the agonies46100:21:51,500 –> 00:21:52,500of Golgotha46200:21:52,500 –> 00:21:53,500in order to make us46300:21:53,500 –> 00:21:54,500more comfortable46400:21:54,500 –> 00:21:55,500in this world46500:21:57,500 –> 00:21:58,500we are given46600:21:58,500 –> 00:21:59,500a great trust46700:22:00,500 –> 00:22:01,500and you know46800:22:01,500 –> 00:22:02,500the whole of46900:22:02,500 –> 00:22:03,500the Christian life47000:22:03,500 –> 00:22:04,500is a kind of47100:22:04,500 –> 00:22:05,500ascending and47200:22:05,500 –> 00:22:06,500a descending47300:22:06,500 –> 00:22:07,500we ascend in47400:22:07,500 –> 00:22:08,500worship47500:22:08,500 –> 00:22:09,500that by faith47600:22:09,500 –> 00:22:10,500we might47700:22:10,500 –> 00:22:11,500glimpse again47800:22:11,500 –> 00:22:12,500in his presence47900:22:12,500 –> 00:22:13,500his glory48000:22:13,500 –> 00:22:14,500so that we may48100:22:14,500 –> 00:22:15,500descend in service48200:22:15,500 –> 00:22:16,500and ministry48300:22:16,500 –> 00:22:17,500into the world48400:22:17,500 –> 00:22:18,500of great need48500:22:18,500 –> 00:22:19,500where he sends us48600:22:19,500 –> 00:22:22,500and where we go48700:22:22,500 –> 00:22:23,500in his name48800:22:24,500 –> 00:22:25,500Jesus calls48900:22:25,500 –> 00:22:26,500his people to49000:22:26,500 –> 00:22:27,500sacrifice49100:22:28,500 –> 00:22:29,500and he is49200:22:29,500 –> 00:22:30,500absolutely49300:22:30,500 –> 00:22:31,500candid49400:22:31,500 –> 00:22:32,500about what49500:22:32,500 –> 00:22:33,500it means49600:22:33,500 –> 00:22:34,500to follow him49700:22:35,500 –> 00:22:36,500what’s the cost?49800:22:36,500 –> 00:22:37,500you have to49900:22:37,500 –> 00:22:38,500deny yourself50000:22:38,500 –> 00:22:39,500and take up50100:22:39,500 –> 00:22:40,500your cross50200:22:40,500 –> 00:22:41,500to follow him50300:22:41,500 –> 00:22:43,500what’s at stake?50400:22:43,500 –> 00:22:44,500your life50500:22:44,500 –> 00:22:45,500your soul50600:22:45,500 –> 00:22:47,500and your eternity50700:22:47,500 –> 00:22:49,500what’s the gain?50800:22:49,500 –> 00:22:51,500compelled50900:22:51,500 –> 00:22:52,500by51000:22:52,500 –> 00:22:53,500his51100:22:53,500 –> 00:22:54,500glory51200:22:55,500 –> 00:22:56,500and called51300:22:57,500 –> 00:22:58,500to51400:22:58,500 –> 00:22:59,500his51500:22:59,500 –> 00:23:00,500service51600:23:27,579 –> 00:23:29,859Open the Bible is supported by our listeners, and it’s your financial support одsin51700:23:29,859 –> 00:23:31,599that it’s your financial support that51800:23:31,599 –> 00:23:34,359keep Pastor Colin’s teaching on the air.51900:23:34,359 –> 00:23:37,619So, thank you if you already give to support Open the Bible.52000:23:37,619 –> 00:23:40,579• if you don’t already give but that’s something52100:23:40,680 –> 00:23:43,479you’d like to do, this month we have an offer for you.52200:23:43,479 –> 00:23:46,079I you’re able to set up a new direct debit52300:23:46,079 –> 00:23:48,239to the work of Open the Bible this month52400:23:48,239 –> 00:23:51,239in the amount of £5 per month or more52500:23:51,239 –> 00:23:53,979or a one-off gift of £50, or more,52600:23:53,979 –> 00:23:56,119we’d love to say thank you by sending you52700:23:56,619 –> 00:23:58,780five copies of Pastor Colin’s new booklet52800:23:58,780 –> 00:24:00,760what Jesus says to skeptics.52900:24:00,760 –> 00:24:02,680That’s one copy for you to read53000:24:02,680 –> 00:24:05,520and four to give away to your friends and family.53100:24:05,520 –> 00:24:08,420Colin, there may be someone who’s listening today53200:24:08,420 –> 00:24:10,880who is a sceptic when it comes to the Christian Faith,53300:24:10,880 –> 00:24:13,800how would this booklet be helpful to them?53400:24:13,800 –> 00:24:16,839• well I think the first thing is that a skeptic might think53500:24:16,839 –> 00:24:19,680well, because I don’t yet believe53600:24:19,680 –> 00:24:22,359Jesus Christ is not going to have very much time for me.53700:24:22,359 –> 00:24:24,520But what we find in the Gospels53800:24:24,560 –> 00:24:28,239is that Jesus cared very, very deeply about skeptics.53900:24:28,239 –> 00:24:32,040He spent time with people who had honest questions54000:24:32,040 –> 00:24:34,979and engaged with them at a very deep level54100:24:34,979 –> 00:24:37,780and he offered them a pathway to faith.54200:24:37,780 –> 00:24:41,319So if you or someone you know is a skeptic54300:24:41,319 –> 00:24:43,339this is an opportunity for you54400:24:43,339 –> 00:24:46,040to hear what Jesus has to say to you.54500:24:46,040 –> 00:24:48,199• well we’d love to send you five copies54600:24:48,199 –> 00:24:49,760of Pastor Colin’s booklet54700:24:49,760 –> 00:24:51,540what Jesus says to skeptics54800:24:51,660 –> 00:24:54,839as our way of saying thank you for your financial support.54900:24:54,839 –> 00:24:57,800You can find out more including full terms and conditions55000:24:57,800 –> 00:25:02,800and give online at www.openthebible.org.uk55100:25:02,800 –> 00:25:05,099For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith55200:25:05,099 –> 00:25:06,339I’m David Pick55300:25:06,339 –> 00:25:08,959and I hope you will be able to join us again next time.55400:25:14,660 –> 00:25:17,140If you have a burning desire for greatness55500:25:17,160 –> 00:25:19,219or hunger to make your life count55600:25:19,880 –> 00:25:23,800Jesus told his disciples The Secret of True Greatness.55700:25:23,880 –> 00:25:27,439Find out what he said next time on Open the Bible.