1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,940 You are listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:06,940 –> 00:00:15,240 To contact us call 1-877-open365 or visit our website www.openthebible.org. 3 00:00:15,240 –> 00:00:19,820 Let’s get to the message, here is Pastor Colin. 4 00:00:19,820 –> 00:00:27,080 Please open your Bible at Matthew in chapter 17, and when you look at this story, remarkable 5 00:00:27,959 –> 00:00:36,599 at first you might think, boy this seems a long way from my experience, but I want us 6 00:00:36,599 –> 00:00:45,139 to see today that God speaks to us directly through this story and in particular gives 7 00:00:45,139 –> 00:00:53,099 direction for what we are to do when the way ahead of us is hard. 8 00:00:53,099 –> 00:00:56,060 The reason I say that is the context of this story. 9 00:00:56,060 –> 00:01:01,720 Remember last week that we saw how Jesus told the disciples that he was going to suffer, 10 00:01:01,720 –> 00:01:06,900 be rejected, be killed and on the third day rise again, and Peter hated the thought of 11 00:01:06,900 –> 00:01:07,900 that. 12 00:01:07,900 –> 00:01:12,839 He rebuked Jesus and he would have gone on rebuking Jesus if Jesus hadn’t rebuked him. 13 00:01:12,839 –> 00:01:23,199 The way ahead was hard and the next story that comes in the Gospel is this story, and 14 00:01:23,260 –> 00:01:31,860 so what we are to understand here is we are learning something about what we are to do 15 00:01:31,860 –> 00:01:35,959 when the way ahead of us is hard, when it’s hard to follow Jesus. 16 00:01:35,959 –> 00:01:40,080 I want us to see four things from this remarkable story today. 17 00:01:40,080 –> 00:01:46,739 When the way ahead of you is hard, look at the glory of Jesus, rejoice in the work of 18 00:01:47,300 –> 00:01:53,239 rest in the sufficiency of Jesus, and listen to the words of Jesus. 19 00:01:53,239 –> 00:02:00,199 First thing, when the way ahead of you is hard, look at the glory of Jesus. 20 00:02:00,199 –> 00:02:09,720 And we read in verse two that Jesus was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, 21 00:02:09,720 –> 00:02:14,320 and His clothes became white as light. 22 00:02:14,339 –> 00:02:23,919 Now this word transfigured here is the word metamorpho from which we get our word metamorphosis. 23 00:02:23,919 –> 00:02:31,179 In other words there was a transformation, not just in the appearance of Jesus but in 24 00:02:31,179 –> 00:02:34,020 His very form. 25 00:02:34,020 –> 00:02:42,559 Jesus is the Lord of glory, but when He came into the world, His glory was veiled. 26 00:02:42,639 –> 00:02:49,740 A baby lying in the manger, a carpenter working in the shop. 27 00:02:49,759 –> 00:02:54,460 But you remember that as He began His ministry there were little glimpses of His glory that 28 00:02:54,460 –> 00:02:55,619 kept breaking out. 29 00:02:55,619 –> 00:03:00,779 I mean He turned water into wine, fed five thousand people. 30 00:03:00,779 –> 00:03:06,720 When He calmed the storm the disciples said who is this that even the winds and the waves 31 00:03:06,720 –> 00:03:09,039 obey Him. 32 00:03:09,100 –> 00:03:14,259 So there were these breakings out of His glory in His ministry. 33 00:03:14,259 –> 00:03:22,119 But here on the mountain of Transfiguration, the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is wondrously 34 00:03:22,119 –> 00:03:24,339 revealed to His disciples. 35 00:03:24,339 –> 00:03:29,699 So John, who was there on the top of the mountain says at the beginning of his gospel we have 36 00:03:29,699 –> 00:03:31,699 seen His glory. 37 00:03:31,699 –> 00:03:37,039 And of course he’s referring there particularly to what happened on the mountain of Transfiguration. 38 00:03:37,539 –> 00:03:43,119 And one day we will see the glory of Jesus too. 39 00:03:43,119 –> 00:03:46,779 Now Matthew records what this looked like. 40 00:03:46,779 –> 00:03:52,740 His face shone like the sun. 41 00:03:52,740 –> 00:04:00,440 Now when you hear about a shining face, you might think about a story in the Old Testament. 42 00:04:00,440 –> 00:04:05,720 You remember when Moses went up the mountain and he was there for 40 days receiving the 43 00:04:05,720 –> 00:04:11,020 law of God and after 40 days in the presence of God, when Moses came down the mountain, 44 00:04:11,020 –> 00:04:13,279 his face was shining. 45 00:04:13,279 –> 00:04:21,299 It was as if something of the glory of the Lord rubbed off on him as he lingered in the 46 00:04:21,299 –> 00:04:23,459 presence of God. 47 00:04:23,459 –> 00:04:27,160 Which by the way points us to something very wonderful. 48 00:04:27,160 –> 00:04:34,359 There is a brightness about a person who spends time in the presence of God. 49 00:04:34,359 –> 00:04:43,059 You know it’s in Psalm 34, those who look to him are radiant and their faces are never 50 00:04:43,059 –> 00:04:46,260 covered in shame. 51 00:04:46,260 –> 00:04:53,279 But remember the radiance of those who looked to him, it doesn’t come from within us. 52 00:04:53,279 –> 00:05:00,519 It rubs off on us as it were, from being in the presence of our glorious Lord. 53 00:05:00,559 –> 00:05:04,399 And that’s what happened to Moses, and of course that’s why when he came down the mountain 54 00:05:04,399 –> 00:05:09,640 the bright shining on his face started to fade away, because it wasn’t intrinsic to 55 00:05:09,640 –> 00:05:17,119 him, it was something that came upon him as he lingered in the presence of the Lord. 56 00:05:17,119 –> 00:05:23,679 So what I want you to notice is that what happens here in this story, is very different. 57 00:05:23,679 –> 00:05:31,440 Because this radiance doesn’t come to Jesus, this radiance comes from Jesus. 58 00:05:31,440 –> 00:05:34,339 It just bursts out from Him. 59 00:05:34,339 –> 00:05:42,679 He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun. 60 00:05:42,679 –> 00:05:51,260 Now, this is clearly one of the most dramatic stories in all of the gospels. 61 00:05:51,260 –> 00:05:58,559 And I want as best we can, for us to try and picture what this was actually like from what 62 00:05:58,559 –> 00:06:01,720 we’re told here in the Bible. 63 00:06:01,720 –> 00:06:06,019 And one thing that has helped me in terms of picturing this is a suggestion made by 64 00:06:06,019 –> 00:06:15,100 one scholar that it is quite likely that the transfiguration actually happened at night. 65 00:06:15,100 –> 00:06:19,260 And there are several reasons for thinking that this may be the case. 66 00:06:19,859 –> 00:06:25,079 Luke tells us in his account that Jesus went up the mountain to pray. 67 00:06:25,079 –> 00:06:32,579 And we know of course of other occasions where Jesus went up a mountain to pray at night. 68 00:06:32,579 –> 00:06:37,540 And if this is indeed the case, then what happened here, of course, would have been 69 00:06:37,540 –> 00:06:43,600 in some ways similar to what happened on the night when Jesus was born. 70 00:06:44,239 –> 00:06:51,200 You remember there were shepherds out in the fields, and they were keeping watch over their 71 00:06:51,200 –> 00:06:53,399 flocks by night. 72 00:06:53,399 –> 00:07:00,320 And suddenly you remember the night sky was filled with this radiant light. 73 00:07:00,320 –> 00:07:05,359 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and then Luke records, 74 00:07:05,359 –> 00:07:10,100 and the glory of the Lord shone around them. 75 00:07:10,100 –> 00:07:11,399 You remember there were shepherds out in the fields, and they were keeping watch over their 76 00:07:12,279 –> 00:07:15,320 Now, another reason for thinking that this may have happened at night, 77 00:07:15,320 –> 00:07:22,839 just to get this picture in your mind is that Luke tells us that Peter and those who were with him 78 00:07:22,839 –> 00:07:25,959 were heavy with sleep. 79 00:07:25,959 –> 00:07:29,559 Now it could be of course simply that they were heavy with sleep because they were pretty 80 00:07:29,559 –> 00:07:32,140 exhausted, having climbed up the mountain. 81 00:07:32,140 –> 00:07:36,519 But I suspect that what happened here was that they had climbed up the 82 00:07:36,519 –> 00:07:41,079 mountain during the day, and the darkness had now fallen, that they were exhausted and 83 00:07:41,079 –> 00:07:42,279 it was also late. 84 00:07:42,279 –> 00:07:46,480 In other words, what happened here was very similar to what happened in the garden of 85 00:07:46,480 –> 00:07:52,820 Gethsemane, where again it was late at night and the disciples’ eyes are heavy, and they 86 00:07:52,820 –> 00:07:54,399 fall asleep. 87 00:07:54,399 –> 00:08:01,519 Try to get the picture, Peter staggers up to the top of the mountain. 88 00:08:01,519 –> 00:08:08,140 And he’s pretty exhausted when he gets there, the sun’s going down and Peter lies down, 89 00:08:08,420 –> 00:08:13,959 flattern his back and falls fast asleep. 90 00:08:13,980 –> 00:08:23,899 And then he’s wakened, startled, by a glorious light piercing through the darkness that is 91 00:08:23,899 –> 00:08:25,100 around him. 92 00:08:25,100 –> 00:08:30,059 It’s so bright he can hardly open his eyes. 93 00:08:30,059 –> 00:08:34,700 But, as he does, he realises that the light and the brightness, it’s not coming from 94 00:08:34,700 –> 00:08:37,979 the moon or the stars, it’s not coming from the sun. 95 00:08:37,979 –> 00:08:41,919 It’s coming from Jesus himself. 96 00:08:41,919 –> 00:08:47,500 Now, how does this story then speak to us today? 97 00:08:47,500 –> 00:08:54,539 Well, remember Jesus had just told his disciples that he must suffer, that he must be rejected 98 00:08:54,539 –> 00:08:57,479 and that he was going to be killed. 99 00:08:57,479 –> 00:09:03,719 In just a few days John who was on the top of the mountain would actually see the face 100 00:09:03,719 –> 00:09:14,119 of Jesus, beaten, bloodied, so disfigured that it wasn’t even recognizable as a human 101 00:09:14,119 –> 00:09:17,099 face. 102 00:09:17,099 –> 00:09:26,280 After six hours of hanging on a cross John would see the light in Jesus’ eye go out 103 00:09:26,280 –> 00:09:30,440 as he entered into death. 104 00:09:30,440 –> 00:09:41,039 His disciples need to know that this is not the end for Jesus and so just a few days before 105 00:09:41,039 –> 00:09:48,200 he goes to the cross on the Mount of Transfiguration, he gives them a glimpse of his glory. 106 00:09:48,200 –> 00:09:57,119 See, that’s the thing we need when the way ahead of us is hard. 107 00:09:57,119 –> 00:10:02,799 Right now, the Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father in the glory 108 00:10:02,799 –> 00:10:11,700 of heaven, suffering and death were not the end for Jesus and the hard and painful path 109 00:10:11,700 –> 00:10:18,799 that God may lead you on, whatever suffering that involves, will not be the end for you 110 00:10:18,799 –> 00:10:20,320 either. 111 00:10:20,320 –> 00:10:28,799 When the way ahead is hard, look at the glory of Jesus. 112 00:10:28,799 –> 00:10:35,840 Second, when the way ahead of you is hard, rejoice in the work of Jesus. 113 00:10:35,840 –> 00:10:44,099 Notice it says in verse three, and behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking 114 00:10:44,099 –> 00:10:45,099 with him. 115 00:10:45,820 –> 00:10:53,000 So again keep in mind, Jesus is preparing to endure the agonies of the cross. 116 00:10:53,000 –> 00:10:54,640 Can you imagine this? 117 00:10:54,640 –> 00:10:59,979 He s just told His disciples what lies ahead of Him. 118 00:10:59,979 –> 00:11:05,659 You would think that this would be the moment where the disciples would step up. 119 00:11:05,659 –> 00:11:09,719 They would gather around Him, they would minister to Him, they would support Him, they would 120 00:11:09,719 –> 00:11:13,239 read scripture to him, they would strengthen Him, they would encourage Him. 121 00:11:13,239 –> 00:11:15,859 And what happens of course is exactly the opposite. 122 00:11:15,859 –> 00:11:19,020 Peter blows it and rebukes him. 123 00:11:19,020 –> 00:11:21,140 Some help. 124 00:11:21,140 –> 00:11:24,020 And so, so what does God do? 125 00:11:24,020 –> 00:11:29,539 Well God the Father sends Moses and Elijah to minister to Jesus. 126 00:11:29,539 –> 00:11:33,780 Just as by the way, later in the garden of Gethsemane Luke tells us that the Father sent 127 00:11:33,780 –> 00:11:38,359 an angel to strengthen Him. 128 00:11:38,359 –> 00:11:41,039 By the way, here’s an encouragement. 129 00:11:41,039 –> 00:11:49,880 When Satan uses a Peter to tempt you, God will send a Moses or an Elijah to strengthen 130 00:11:49,880 –> 00:11:50,880 you. 131 00:11:50,880 –> 00:11:52,520 Look for that. 132 00:11:52,520 –> 00:11:58,419 When there’s someone who stands in your way and brings great grief and pain to your life, 133 00:11:58,419 –> 00:12:02,739 God will send someone else who will be a strength to you. 134 00:12:02,739 –> 00:12:04,400 An encouragement. 135 00:12:04,400 –> 00:12:05,400 And a support. 136 00:12:06,380 –> 00:12:09,340 No, it’s his way, and it’s what he does here for his Son. 137 00:12:09,340 –> 00:12:12,320 Now, the two he sent were Moses and Elijah. 138 00:12:12,320 –> 00:12:15,799 I mean, how remarkable is that? 139 00:12:15,799 –> 00:12:23,940 Because Moses of course, had died and been buried 1400 years before the time of Jesus. 140 00:12:23,940 –> 00:12:29,780 And Elijah, of course, had been taken up into heaven 800 years before the time of Jesus. 141 00:12:29,919 –> 00:12:31,479 Here are the pair of them. 142 00:12:31,479 –> 00:12:37,919 As large as life on the mountain of transfiguration, and they are talking with Jesus. 143 00:12:37,919 –> 00:12:45,460 Here is something, by the way, very wonderful for all who grieve the loss of a loved one. 144 00:12:45,460 –> 00:12:51,239 Those who have died in Christ are very much alive. 145 00:12:51,239 –> 00:12:52,599 Amen? 146 00:12:52,599 –> 00:12:59,140 Those who have died in Christ are very much alive. 147 00:12:59,419 –> 00:13:05,880 And here, Moses and Elijah, who died hundreds of years earlier, are sent by the Father, 148 00:13:05,880 –> 00:13:09,979 and they are talking with Jesus. 149 00:13:09,979 –> 00:13:11,799 Now what did they talk about? 150 00:13:11,799 –> 00:13:19,239 Well, Luke tells us that they spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish 151 00:13:19,239 –> 00:13:20,380 at Jerusalem. 152 00:13:20,380 –> 00:13:24,919 In other words, a clear reference to all that Jesus would endure at the cross. 153 00:13:24,919 –> 00:13:26,640 That’s what they spoke to Him about. 154 00:13:26,640 –> 00:13:28,479 They were ministering to Him. 155 00:13:28,739 –> 00:13:34,479 They were strengthening Him, as He prepared Himself for the ordeal that lay ahead. 156 00:13:34,479 –> 00:13:41,320 They were doing what the disciples should have done, and clearly did not do. 157 00:13:41,320 –> 00:13:45,400 Which raises this interesting question. 158 00:13:45,400 –> 00:13:51,719 What would Moses and Elijah have said to Jesus about His departure? 159 00:13:51,739 –> 00:13:55,200 Well think about this. 160 00:13:55,200 –> 00:14:04,679 God gave the law through Moses, and surely the distinct contribution of Moses would be 161 00:14:04,679 –> 00:14:11,099 to speak to Jesus about His death in relation to the law. 162 00:14:11,099 –> 00:14:16,219 I picture him saying something like this to Jesus, 163 00:14:16,219 –> 00:14:25,820 In your life you have fulfilled all of the law of God that was given through me. 164 00:14:25,820 –> 00:14:28,940 No one else has ever done this. 165 00:14:28,940 –> 00:14:34,260 I couldn’t do it, Moses would have said, and Elijah didn’t do it either. 166 00:14:34,260 –> 00:14:42,380 You alone, Jesus, know the blessing that comes from those who kdeep the entire law of God. 167 00:14:42,380 –> 00:14:51,940 And now you are going to bear the curse of sinners who break the law of God. 168 00:14:51,940 –> 00:15:00,219 You’re going to stand in their place and the curse that belongs to them will become yours 169 00:15:00,219 –> 00:15:07,479 and the blessing that belongs to you will become theirs. 170 00:15:07,479 –> 00:15:13,440 And then of course, Elijah was known as the greatest of the prophets. 171 00:15:13,440 –> 00:15:18,880 And so, I expect that when Elijah spoke to Jesus about what lay ahead, he would have 172 00:15:18,880 –> 00:15:23,559 done so, spoken of the death of Jesus in relation to prophecy. 173 00:15:23,559 –> 00:15:32,679 Jesus, You are fulfilling all the words spoken by the prophets. 174 00:15:32,679 –> 00:15:35,239 They spoke of what you will suffer. 175 00:15:35,239 –> 00:15:39,859 Yes, but they also spoke of how you will triumph. 176 00:15:39,859 –> 00:15:46,020 Yes, you will go through the darkest valley, but on the other side you will enter into 177 00:15:46,020 –> 00:15:49,280 an inexpressibly glorious joy. 178 00:15:49,280 –> 00:15:51,859 You will be exalted to the highest place. 179 00:15:51,859 –> 00:15:56,280 The will of God will prosper in your hands. 180 00:15:56,280 –> 00:16:02,400 You will redeem an innumerable company of people from every tribe and nation, and the 181 00:16:02,539 –> 00:16:09,400 earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.” 182 00:16:09,400 –> 00:16:16,940 Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, and they come to minister to Jesus as he prepares 183 00:16:16,940 –> 00:16:21,880 for all that He will endure as He goes to Jerusalem. 184 00:16:21,880 –> 00:16:28,880 And Peter and the other disciples hear this ministry that comes from Moses and from Elijah 185 00:16:28,960 –> 00:16:35,960 to Jesus and to them. They hear what Jesus will accomplish at the cross when the way 186 00:16:36,460 –> 00:16:43,460 ahead of you is hard. Rejoice in the work of Jesus, in the knowledge that He has fulfilled 187 00:16:46,940 –> 00:16:53,580 all the law on your behalf and that all the prophecies of a glorious future will be yours 188 00:16:54,479 –> 00:16:59,359 through and in Christ Jesus. 189 00:16:59,359 –> 00:17:06,359 What do you do when the way ahead of you is really hard? You look at the glory of Jesus. 190 00:17:10,479 –> 00:17:17,479 You rejoice in the work of Jesus. And here’s the third thing. You rest in the sufficiency 191 00:17:18,420 –> 00:17:25,420 of Jesus. Now again, try and picture with me what happens here. Peter wakes up because 192 00:17:26,900 –> 00:17:33,900 he’s been asleep, wakes up and there’s this radiant light that is beaming from Jesus 193 00:17:34,020 –> 00:17:41,020 himself, and then he sees Moses and Elijah. By the way, how did he know that they were 194 00:17:41,359 –> 00:17:48,359 Moses and Elijah? We’re not told. Did Jesus make the introduction? Did Moses and Elijah 195 00:17:49,839 –> 00:17:56,839 introduce themselves? Did Peter just know intuitively? We don’t know, but he knew 196 00:17:57,060 –> 00:18:03,099 that it was Moses and Elijah. By the way, if someone asks you the question, 197 00:18:03,099 –> 00:18:10,099 Will we know one another in heaven? This is not a bad place to point for an answer. It’s 198 00:18:10,380 –> 00:18:16,380 very clear that these are not two kind of anonymous people. This is Moses and this is 199 00:18:16,380 –> 00:18:23,380 Elijah and they’re right there and they’re speaking with Jesus. Resurrection body anticipated. 200 00:18:25,880 –> 00:18:32,880 Notice what Peter said. He said to Jesus, Lord, it is good that we are here. If you 201 00:18:32,880 –> 00:18:39,880 are here, if you wish, I will make three tents here. One for you, one for Moses, and 202 00:18:44,280 –> 00:18:50,300 one for Elijah. And I love the fact that Peter clearly has 203 00:18:50,300 –> 00:18:56,619 learned from Jesus’ rebuke. He calls him Lord, and he says, no, if you wish. So the 204 00:18:56,819 –> 00:19:03,359 presumption that was there earlier that we looked at last week is going away, and he’s 205 00:19:03,359 –> 00:19:07,760 now submitting himself to what Jesus wants because Jesus is Lord. 206 00:19:07,760 –> 00:19:14,760 But he has this suggestion, and Luke adds some detail that I think helps us understand 207 00:19:15,380 –> 00:19:21,699 what is happening here. Luke says that as the men, that’s Moses and Elijah, were parting 208 00:19:21,939 –> 00:19:28,319 from him, Peter said to Jesus, master, it is good that we are here, let us make three 209 00:19:28,319 –> 00:19:35,319 tents, one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah, not knowing what he said, Luke adds. 210 00:19:35,380 –> 00:19:39,579 By the way, usually when you don’t know what to say, the best thing is to say absolutely 211 00:19:39,579 –> 00:19:46,140 nothing. But that was not Peter’s style. And he comes out with this statement. 212 00:19:46,719 –> 00:19:52,599 Notice the significant piece that Luke adds to the account here. Peter said this, as the 213 00:19:52,599 –> 00:19:59,599 men were parting. So, God sends Moses and Elijah to minister to Jesus and to the disciples, 214 00:20:02,099 –> 00:20:09,099 and now God is taking these men away. And Peter doesn’t want to let them go. So, hoping 215 00:20:09,859 –> 00:20:14,859 that he can hang on to them a little longer, he’s saying let’s build three shelters, let’s 216 00:20:14,859 –> 00:20:21,859 keep Moses and Elijah here. This what he’s saying. Now, that leads to this question. 217 00:20:23,040 –> 00:20:30,040 Who is the Moses in your life? Who is the Elijah in your life? Who are the people who 218 00:20:31,000 –> 00:20:38,000 to you have been, perhaps, for a long time, gifts of God who have brought strength and 219 00:20:39,040 –> 00:20:46,040 comfort and support and blessing, and if God takes one of these people away, you won’t 220 00:20:49,760 –> 00:20:54,260 want to let them go. 221 00:20:54,300 –> 00:21:00,619 away, you won’t want to let them go. 222 00:21:00,619 –> 00:21:06,219 Now every person who walks through the dark valley of bereavement knows what this is like. 223 00:21:06,219 –> 00:21:09,540 So I want you to see from this scripture what happens next. 224 00:21:09,540 –> 00:21:16,540 While Peter was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice 225 00:21:16,579 –> 00:21:23,579 from the cloud said, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. 226 00:21:23,739 –> 00:21:26,339 Listen to him. 227 00:21:26,339 –> 00:21:29,579 Now do you see, while he was still speaking? 228 00:21:29,579 –> 00:21:35,619 So this is the direct answer of God the Father to Peter’s proposal. 229 00:21:35,619 –> 00:21:39,500 Peter wants to hold on to Moses. 230 00:21:39,500 –> 00:21:43,040 He wants to hold on to Elijah. 231 00:21:43,040 –> 00:21:47,599 He wants to continue drawing strength and comfort from these men who have ministered 232 00:21:47,599 –> 00:21:50,800 to Jesus and to him. 233 00:21:50,800 –> 00:21:54,280 But the Father is taking these men back up into heaven. 234 00:21:54,280 –> 00:22:01,180 And the Father is saying to Peter, no, not from these men. 235 00:22:01,180 –> 00:22:07,140 But from my Son, this is my beloved son. 236 00:22:07,579 –> 00:22:12,660 This is my Beloved Son, not these men. 237 00:22:12,660 –> 00:22:14,400 This is my beloved son. 238 00:22:14,400 –> 00:22:17,439 You must listen to him. 239 00:22:17,439 –> 00:22:22,540 What an amazing moment this was. 240 00:22:22,540 –> 00:22:26,359 The awesome presence of God, in the Bible you often find this, the awesome presence 241 00:22:26,359 –> 00:22:31,119 of Almighty God drawing near in a cloud. 242 00:22:31,119 –> 00:22:37,099 And here you have the Almighty speaking from the cloud in an audible voice just as he did 243 00:22:37,099 –> 00:22:39,900 when the law was given at Mount Sinai. 244 00:22:39,900 –> 00:22:45,219 And here he says, this is my beloved son, I am well-pleased with him. 245 00:22:45,219 –> 00:22:46,219 Listen to him. 246 00:22:46,219 –> 00:22:48,520 You see what’s being said here? 247 00:22:48,520 –> 00:22:53,800 Peter, Moses and Elijah have ministered to you. 248 00:22:53,800 –> 00:22:58,339 They have brought great help, they have brought great strength, they have brought great comfort 249 00:22:58,339 –> 00:23:00,800 to you. 250 00:23:00,800 –> 00:23:10,280 But Jesus is infinitely more precious than any Moses or any Elijah. 251 00:23:10,280 –> 00:23:12,959 Listen to him. 252 00:23:12,959 –> 00:23:22,540 Here is a truth for us to remember when someone is taken and we don’t want to let them go. 253 00:23:22,540 –> 00:23:27,719 Jesus is the gift of the Father to you. 254 00:23:27,719 –> 00:23:37,760 In him you have all that you need, and Jesus will never be taken from you. 255 00:23:37,760 –> 00:23:42,780 That is why it’s so significant that in the very last verse of this story, verse eight, 256 00:23:42,780 –> 00:23:50,119 we read that, they lifted up their eyes and they saw no one but Jesus only. 257 00:23:50,119 –> 00:23:57,380 They don’t have Moses, they don’t have Elijah, but they do have Jesus. 258 00:23:57,439 –> 00:24:01,800 And in Jesus, they have all that they need. 259 00:24:02,619 –> 00:24:09,140 Now, we’re looking at what you do when the way ahead of you is hard. 260 00:24:09,140 –> 00:24:12,520 You look at the glory of Jesus. 261 00:24:12,520 –> 00:24:16,780 You rejoice in the work of Jesus, all that he’s accomplished for you, fulfilling the 262 00:24:16,780 –> 00:24:18,020 law and the prophets. 263 00:24:18,020 –> 00:24:25,380 You rest in the sufficiency of Jesus when someone who has been a means of strength and 264 00:24:25,479 –> 00:24:27,880 comfort to you is taken away from you. 265 00:24:27,880 –> 00:24:31,219 You find your sufficiency in Jesus. 266 00:24:31,219 –> 00:24:34,239 This is God’s Beloved Son. 267 00:24:34,239 –> 00:24:37,140 You must listen to him. 268 00:24:38,540 –> 00:24:43,219 And then the last thing, of course, is that we listen to the words of Jesus. 269 00:24:43,219 –> 00:24:49,479 And of course, the words that Jesus spoke on the mountain are in Verses six and seven, 270 00:24:49,479 –> 00:24:51,280 and they’re full of significance for us today. 271 00:24:51,459 –> 00:25:15,739 Now, notice what happens when the disciples know that they are in the immediate presence 272 00:25:15,739 –> 00:25:18,380 of the Almighty. 273 00:25:18,380 –> 00:25:22,520 These men see the cloud of God’s presence. 274 00:25:22,520 –> 00:25:31,140 They hear the audible voice of God, and they fall on their faces in absolute terror. 275 00:25:31,140 –> 00:25:35,319 They were terrified. 276 00:25:35,319 –> 00:25:37,319 And we would be the same. 277 00:25:37,319 –> 00:25:42,619 You know, people sometimes say, 278 00:25:42,640 –> 00:25:50,040 When I get to Heaven, I’ve got some questions that I’m going to ask Almighty God. 279 00:25:50,040 –> 00:25:52,380 You ever heard people say that? 280 00:25:52,380 –> 00:25:56,260 I promise you it’s not going to be like that. 281 00:25:56,260 –> 00:25:58,180 Not for anyone of us. 282 00:25:58,180 –> 00:26:02,479 Don’t think for one minute that when you get to Heaven, you’re going to hold God to account. 283 00:26:02,479 –> 00:26:07,839 He’s going to hold you and me to account. 284 00:26:07,839 –> 00:26:13,719 Read on any account in the Bible of a person in the presence of the Almighty and you will 285 00:26:13,719 –> 00:26:16,260 find exactly the same thing. 286 00:26:16,260 –> 00:26:20,380 They fell on their faces and they were terrified. 287 00:26:20,380 –> 00:26:27,319 When God drew near to the Prophet Habakkuk, he said this, My heart pounds. 288 00:26:27,319 –> 00:26:29,500 My lips quiver. 289 00:26:29,500 –> 00:26:32,680 My legs tremble. 290 00:26:32,680 –> 00:26:39,839 When God drew near to the Prophet Malachi, he said this, Who can stand when he appears, 291 00:26:39,839 –> 00:26:43,640 for he is like a refiner’s fire.” 292 00:26:43,640 –> 00:26:51,479 So, the disciples fall on their faces terrified. 293 00:26:51,479 –> 00:26:58,619 Notice the next word in this marvelous verse, Thank God for this. 294 00:26:59,619 –> 00:27:03,420 Thank God that the verse doesn’t end with them falling on their faces terrified, there’d 295 00:27:03,420 –> 00:27:06,140 be no hope for us if that was the end. 296 00:27:06,140 –> 00:27:12,819 But, Jesus came and touched them. 297 00:27:12,819 –> 00:27:18,540 Rise, and have no fear. 298 00:27:18,540 –> 00:27:21,579 Do you see what this is telling us? 299 00:27:21,579 –> 00:27:31,140 That Jesus makes it possible for forgiven sinners to stand in the presence of our Holy 300 00:27:31,140 –> 00:27:35,140 God. 301 00:27:35,140 –> 00:27:44,579 And years later, this is the last thing today, years later, when Peter’s an old man, and 302 00:27:44,599 –> 00:27:53,380 he’s getting right to the end of his life, it was this story of the transfiguration that 303 00:27:53,380 –> 00:27:59,099 he called to mind when he anticipated his own departure. 304 00:27:59,099 –> 00:28:07,599 Let me just read to you from 2nd Peter these words of Peter at the end of his life. 305 00:28:07,599 –> 00:28:15,640 He says this, I know that the putting off of my body will be soon as our Lord Jesus 306 00:28:15,640 –> 00:28:17,439 Christ made clear to me. 307 00:28:17,439 –> 00:28:21,819 I know I’m not long for this world, he is saying. 308 00:28:21,819 –> 00:28:27,140 And I will make every effort so that after my departure, another way of describing his 309 00:28:27,140 –> 00:28:32,099 death, you may be able at any time to recall these things. 310 00:28:32,099 –> 00:28:33,239 What things? 311 00:28:34,119 –> 00:28:37,239 We did not follow cleverly devised myths 312 00:28:37,239 –> 00:28:44,160 when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eye witnesses 313 00:28:44,160 –> 00:28:52,719 of his majesty, for when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice 314 00:28:52,719 –> 00:29:01,000 was borne to him by the majestic glory, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased 315 00:29:01,199 –> 00:29:13,420 We ourselves heard this very voice from heaven for we were with him on the Holy Mountain 316 00:29:13,420 –> 00:29:20,260 Now think about this. Peter knows that he’s not long for this world. I’ll soon be leaving 317 00:29:20,260 –> 00:29:30,020 the body and I’ll be entering into the presence of God. And of all the stories that he could 318 00:29:30,020 –> 00:29:37,260 have called to mind as he anticipates that moment, this is the story that comes to his 319 00:29:37,260 –> 00:29:43,839 mind and that gives to him assurance in his own heart that he faces the prospect of his 320 00:29:43,839 –> 00:29:53,280 own death. Why this story? Well because on the Mountain of Transfiguration he had already 321 00:29:53,880 –> 00:30:04,380 a taste of what it is to enter the holy presence of the Almighty and he knew what Jesus would 322 00:30:04,380 –> 00:30:18,979 do when that happened. When I put off this body, when I depart from this world I know 323 00:30:19,020 –> 00:30:31,140 exactly what’s going to happen. I will enter the holy presence of Almighty God and Jesus 324 00:30:31,140 –> 00:30:46,000 will place his hand upon me. Jesus will say, rise and have no fear and all will be well. 325 00:30:46,079 –> 00:30:54,300 Let’s pray together. Father, when it comes to the issues of life and death, we 326 00:30:54,300 –> 00:31:01,540 thank you that we have not followed cunningly devised myths or fables. We 327 00:31:01,540 –> 00:31:08,579 thank you that you have sent your Son into the world. That he is the Lord of 328 00:31:08,579 –> 00:31:16,140 glory, that he has, at the cross, fulfilled all the law, borne all of its penalty, 329 00:31:16,140 –> 00:31:20,819 and that in him every glorious prophecy of Scripture will be marvellously 330 00:31:20,819 –> 00:31:27,780 fulfilled. We thank you that even when you take away those who have been a 331 00:31:27,780 –> 00:31:33,219 marvellous support and help to us and we, we don’t want to let them go. We thank 332 00:31:33,319 –> 00:31:41,859 You that Jesus remains with us and that in Him we have all that we need, and 333 00:31:41,859 –> 00:31:47,660 Father we think you that when the day comes for us, that we will enter into the 334 00:31:47,660 –> 00:31:54,579 indescribable glory of your Holy Presence that the Lord Jesus will stand 335 00:31:55,040 –> 00:32:03,579 us, that because of Him we have no need to fear, but we’ll be able to enter not 336 00:32:03,579 –> 00:32:12,300 into the curse of everlasting lostness but into the joy of everlasting life. 337 00:32:12,300 –> 00:32:19,699 For all this we give you our thanks and our praise. In Jesus’ Holy Name and 338 00:32:19,699 –> 00:32:23,500 everyone who agreed together said, Amen. 339 00:32:24,739 –> 00:32:28,040 You’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 340 00:32:28,040 –> 00:32:31,579 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 341 00:32:31,579 –> 00:32:36,739 or visit our website Openthebible.org