Transcript

Transcendence and Tenderness

Matthew 17:1-13
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Pastor Randy Smith

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If you missed last week's sermon, I would encourage you to listen to it either via CD or website as soon as possible. In that message we learned some essential truths.

One: Suffering is a normal part of living. Most suffering is not a result of your disobedience or lack of faith. Moreover all suffering in the lines of persecution is part and parcel with being a disciple of our Lord. Therefore suffering should not be thought of as something unusual, but the reality of living in a fallen world and carrying your cross for Jesus Christ.

Two: Suffering for Christians is never in vain. God is sovereign over the trials that He permits in the lives of His children and promises to use them for good (Rom. 8:28). And that good is to forever conform us into the image of His beloved Son (Rom. 8:29). Therefore, while we do not seek suffering, the suffering we do receive, while uncomfortable is producing great results. Here is where we must have faith in God's attributes.

And three: There will come a time when we will no longer suffer. The Bible promises us there is a place called heaven that is guaranteed to all who have been cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. That is the day when all pain will be cease and every tear will be wiped from our eyes.

As Christians our lives are a story of both short term (2 Cor. 3:18) and long term (Mt. 6:34; Jn. 16:33) suffering to glory. And that is exactly the theme that we have seen over the past few weeks. In 16:21 Jesus spoke about His suffering and then in the same verse His glorious resurrection. In 16:24 Jesus spoke about His disciples' suffering and then in 16:27 their glorious rewards. From Jesus to His followers it is the same. There will always be a cross before a crown. Romans 8:16-17, "We are children of God…if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."

Then we hit 16:28. While the disciples were confused, while they were disturbed, while these men needed something to encourage them, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

There are many explanations as to exactly what Jesus was talking about in this verse (the Resurrection, the immediate time following the Resurrection, Pentecost, the fall of Jerusalem, the Second Coming), but I believe the best interpretation stays right within this context. Remember there were no chapter breaks in the original. I believe the glory that Jesus speaks about is none other than the Transfiguration immediately described in the opening verses of chapter 17. While His men needed reassurance, Jesus provided it in the most unmistakable way!

We have been impressed over the past week: A luge traveling 90 miles per hour, a backside double cork, a hat trick in the first period, a salchow-triple toeloop with a twist and the list continues. But nothing ever in the history of the world has been more impressive than what we will study this morning. What we will see is a preview of the Second Coming. What we will see is a foretaste of heaven. What we will see is Jesus in all His glory.

1. THE CONDITIONS (verses 1-2)

We have five sub-points this morning. I will begin with the conditions in verse 1. "Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves."

Those who accompanied Jesus on this trip were commonly known as His inner circle. Among the twelve, Peter, James and John received additional attention (cf. Mt. 26:37). The text says they went up "a high mountain. The mountain was somewhere in upper Galilee, specifics unknown. Luke adds they went up to pray (Lk. 9:28). He also adds that the disciples soon fell asleep when the even approached (Lk. 9:32).

Then something drastically changed. Verse 2, "And [Jesus] was transfigured before them."

Up to this point, the disciples had only known the poor carpenter from Nazareth. They had questioned His upcoming suffering. No doubt they had their concerns regarding His kingship. Didn't look like a Messiah. Didn't talk like a Messiah. Was this display of His glory for their sakes?

We call it the Transfiguration (metamorphoo). We are not sure exactly what happened, but for a moment, Jesus revealed His true majesty that had been hidden up to this point. This was the glory that He shared with the Father before He took on flesh (Jn. 17:24). This is the glory all will see when He returns at the Second Coming. We do know (verse 2), "His face shone like the sun." We do know (verse 2), "His garments became as white as light" (cf. Mk. 9:3; Lk. 9:29).

God is invisible (Col. 1:15; 1 Ti. 1:17), but it is interesting that whenever God has chosen to reveal Himself, He often chooses the mode of light - the Shekinah Glory and the pillar of fire in Exodus. And it makes sense because First John 1:5 tells us, "God is light." Jesus is presently described in heaven as having, "Eyes like a flame of fire" (Rev. 1:14) and a "face like the sun shining in its strength" (Rev. 1:16). His return "will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire" (2 Thes. 1:7). Revelation informs us that Heaven will have no need of created lights because the Lord will illumine everything (Rev. 22:5). This transfiguration was about brilliance and majesty and glory.

The experience on the mountain no doubt made an impression on the apostles. John in his gospel said, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14). And Peter in 2 Peter clearly referred to this incident, "We were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, 'This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased' and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain" (2 Pet. 1:16-18).

2. THE COMPANY (verse 3)

Let's move to the second point, "The Company." While the apostles at the time were probably speechless, two visitors suddenly appeared. Verse 3 informs us they were Moses and Elijah. Verse 3 also says they were "talking with [Jesus]. So why them, and what were they talking about?

Interestingly, neither were strangers when it came to witnessing God's glory on a mountain, were they? (Ex. 31:18; 1 Ki. 19:8).

Moses was arguably Israel's greatest human leader, the writer of the first five books in the Bible. But most noteworthy was that God delivered His law through Moses. Elijah was a bold and zealous man of God. He fought against idolatry. He is often the first that comes to mind when we think of the prophets. So both of these men were significant. Moses signified the law. Elijah signified the prophets. Together they represented the Old Testament, the Old Covenant. We will come back to that.

Matthew tells us they were talking with Jesus. Luke in his gospel tells us what they were talking about. Luke 9:31, "[They] were speaking of [Jesus'] departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." These men were talking with Jesus about His "departure," literally in the Greek His exodos. In other words, His upcoming crucifixion. The very event from which Peter sought to dissuade Jesus was the very event that dominated their conversation. Obviously these men from heaven understood the mission of Jesus and the significance of the cross. How important was that for Peter to see the Old Testament leaders affirming Christ and the crucifixion?

3. THE COMMENT (verse 4)

You knew it wouldn't take long for Peter to speak. Let's look at his comments from verse 4, point three. "Peter said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'" Peter was impressed! "I've caught some big fish, but…"

I have always struggled interpreting Peter's intent. Was it noble or typical of Peter's impulsive foolishness? I have been told this event occurred during the Jewish celebration called "The Feast of Tabernacles." The Israelites would build temporary shelters and live in them for seven days (Lev. 23:33-43; Jn. 7:2-14). It was to commemorate God's faithfulness when He led them out of Egypt. And this feast, as did the others, had Messianic implications. Was that on Peter's mind?

Possibly Peter was so impressed with the display of glory that he sought to build a tabernacle for each man. The man knew his Bible. After all, anytime God revealed Himself like this it was in the Temple or the Tabernacle. It was something special and something often concealed behind a veil.

Yet after thinking this one through I feel led to go with a less dignified reason for Peter's outburst. We do not see it in Matthew's account, but Luke's commentary states Peter was "not realizing what he was saying" (Lk. 9:33). Mark adds, "For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified" (Mk. 9:6). Once again the guy meant well, but it doesn't sound like Peter made a very calculated response.

4. THE COMMAND (verse 5, 10-13)

Well it is time for God to speak. We move to the fourth point, the command. God did not even permit Peter to finish his thought. Verse 5, "While he [Peter] was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, 'This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!'"

Three profound truths need to be extracted from this powerful verse.

First, we must see the Father's love for Jesus, the "beloved Son." God the Father basically said the same thing back in 3:17 at our Lord's baptism. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." The Son is beloved to the Father. Hence as we read in First John to reject the Son is to reject the Father (1 Jn. 2:23). And why was God "well-pleased" with the Son? Because as the Son said in John 8:29, "I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." The Son was obedient to do the Father's will regardless to His own personal cost (Mt. 26:39). And as God's economy goes, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (Jn. 14:15).

Second, we must listen to Jesus. As the Father said, "Listen to Him." The words of Christ are recorded for us in the Scriptures. Are we aware of them? Do our actions prove that we are listening to Jesus? As we learned last week, to be a disciple of Christ is to be a follower of Christ (Mt. 16:24). We cannot say we are following Him if we are not listening to Him. Who is the wise man or woman? Matthew 7:24, "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them," says Jesus. What is the Great Commission? Matthew 28:20, "Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you," says Jesus. Listen to the Father when He says listen to the Son.

Third, we must understand the preeminence of Jesus. Peter's biggest crime was to suggest three equal tabernacles. This is why I believe God spoke so immediately and why God set His stamp of approval only on the Son. The three were not on equal footing. Moses pointed to Jesus as the ultimate Lawgiver. His own comments in Deuteronomy 18:15: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him." Elijah would only be a forerunner to Jesus. We see that explained in verses 10-13 of our chapter. So as Moses and Elijah stood there representing the Old Covenant they pointed to the One who was the final and climatic self-disclosure of God Himself. We must read all things in the Old Testament as pointing to Christ (Jn. 5:46; Lk. 24:27). We must understand Colossians 1:18 that Jesus must "come to have first place in everything."

This fact should not surprise us from what we have seen already as we have been working our way through Matthew. In 12:6 Jesus is greater than the temple. In 12:41 He is greater than Jonah. In 12:42 He is greater than Solomon. He is David's greater son in 12:3-4. He is Lord of the Sabbath in 12:8. He is the true Israel in 2:15-18. And He is the true Joshua in 1:21 that will deliver His people from their sins. And here He is greater than Moses and Elijah the two representatives and leading figures of the Old Covenant (the law and the prophets). None are worthy to be on equal standing with Jesus. "Hear Him" was the word from Heaven.

5. THE CONSOLATION (verses 6-9)

Lastly we move to the consolation.

Verse 6, "When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified." According to Mark "terrified" from the Transfiguration (Mk. 9:6) and now it seems even more "terrified" (Mt. 17:6) when the voice sounded from heaven.

Do we have any holy terror for God? What if the transfigured Jesus suddenly appeared at the start of our worship service? How much would our heartless worship change, how much would we stop using the Lord's name in vain if we really understood who God is? On the positive side, how much would we trust God when suffering, how much more would we long for heaven if we really understood who God is? Contrary to the jokes and visual pictures and mental images we have in our minds, God's presence is nothing less than awesome. As a matter of fact, whenever people are confronted with the living God in Scripture they fall to their faces in utter fear (Ex. 19:16; 20:18; Isa. 6:5; Dan. 10:10). His dazzling holiness is enough to make any finite human sinner drop to his knees. He is the "consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). He is the one, Exodus 33:20, that no one can see in His fullness and even live.

Yet what a God we serve - from power to compassion. Look at the very next verse. "And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, 'Get up, and do not be afraid (Mt. 17:7).'" What tenderness of Christ! He "came to them." He "touched them." And He spoke to them. Once again reiterated from the lips of our Savior the most common command uttered in the Bible, "Do not be afraid." After scaring them to death with the reality of His presence, immediately Jesus comforts His disciples and reassures them with the reality of His presence. The omnipotent One is also the caring One.

We see this repeated in Revelation. The apostle John said, "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades'" (Rev. 1:17-18).

The Lion is the Lamb. The all-powerful Judge of the earth is the very One who went to the cross to die for the sins of His people. Jesus Christ to which the entire Old Testament pointed bridged the gap so sinful people can be forgiven and stand in the presence of a terrifying God. On the cross sin received its punishment. The wrath of God was turned away so that we can be recipients of His undivided love through faith.

That is why the writer to the Hebrews said, "For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, 'If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.' And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, 'I am full of fear and trembling.' But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven" (Heb. 12:18-25).

Verse 8, "And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone."

These guys were so scared that they evidently did not raise their heads until Jesus touched them and spoke to them. They looked up and both the heavenly people and the cloud had disappeared. Kind of symbolic because the consummation of glory had not yet arrived. They would have to go back down the mountain (the "mountaintop experience" had ended) and still face the realities of living as Christians in this fallen world. But the exclamation mark was indelibly left in their minds. Jesus is nothing less than God Himself! And because of that He must be worshipped and obeyed.

Verse 9, "As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, 'Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.'"

Can you imagine how hard that must have been for these three disciples? Why the silence? A crowd of zealous Israelites lived below that mountain. A group of people convinced that the Messiah would come for political purposes to overthrow the Romans. This story would have pushed them into a frenzy. They would have done all they could to make Him king thus obstructing His primary mission to go to Jerusalem, to depart, to die as sacrifice. Yet the time would come after the Resurrection, says Jesus that His glory must be proclaimed to the world! We are presently living in that time!

Today's lesson, so much to ponder about the greatness of our Savior!

The unknown author said, "Christ was placed midmost in the world's history; and in that central position He towers like some vast mountain to heaven - the farther slope stretching backward toward the creation, the hither slope toward the consummation of all things. The ages before look to Him with prophetic gaze; the ages since behold Him by historic faith; by both He is seen in common as the brightness of the Father's glory, and the unspeakable gift of God to the race."