Date: Sunday March 21, 2021   Scripture: Mark 9:1-8

Transcript

Well, this morning we come to Mark chapter 9. Mark chapter 9. And the title of the sermon this morning is The Transfiguration of Christ. Many of us are familiar with this passage here, and the Transfiguration of Christ. Mark chapter 9-- we're going to be in verses 1 through 8, and so would you follow along as I read our passage for us this morning. Mark chapter 9 and starting in verse 1.

 

  9:1 And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
    2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; 3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. 7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” 8 All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. (Mark 9:1-8)

 

Often times when you think about retreats in churches. They're usually held somewhere up on a mountain. We, for some reason like to go up to mountains. We do our retreats in our churches, and we go up there because we want to have a mountaintop experience. If you're able to get away and go to a cabin, or some kind of campground up in a mountain, this is the ultimate retreat experience. That's what we're after.

 

I remember growing up in the church. We had summer and winter retreats every year. And every summer or winter we always went up to a mountain somewhere. We lived along the beach. We couldn’t have gone down to the beach. We had to go up to the mountain for whatever reason, but that's where we went, and we piled up in a bus and off we went. We headed up to the mountain. And at the end of the retreat, the charge was always this.  Don't forget what you've learned up here on this mountain. As you go back down, live your life. Don't forget what you've learned up here on this mountain.

 

Well, churches weren't the ones that invented the mountaintop experience. Jesus had many mountaintop experiences with His disciples, and if you were to ask Peter, James, and John what their greatest mountaintop experience was, they would tell you it is this one right here in our passage this morning.

 

How do we know? How do we know that they would answer? With this experience being the best one?

Well, because of Peter's response in verse 5, what does he say there? He says:

“Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Mark 9:5)

 

He wanted to stay there.  Peter didn't want to leave. Now, what makes this mountaintop experience so significant is that it comes right off of the heels of the confession about who Jesus was. Over in Mark chapter 8 we talked about this a couple of weeks ago. Remember Mark chapter 8 verse 29. Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Talking with His disciples. And Peter is the representative of the disciples, Peter answers and he says, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29) He's saying You are the Messiah, You're the Prophet. You're the One that we have been waiting for. It is You. But right after this great confession comes Jesus’ revelation to these disciples that He was going to do… what? To die. Jesus is going to die. And that has significance for our passage here this morning, why?

 

Because these disciples have just given a great confession, and to them this now is a low point -- that Jesus is going to die. A high point of Jesus is the Messiah, and then a low point of Jesus is going to die. But then there's another low point that Jesus gives, that we talked about last week. Not only am I going to die, but you must suffer and die as well. Be willing to suffer and die if you are going to be My disciple. Low point.  But then comes another grand high point.  

 

And three of them are about to be lifted up and experience something that no one has ever been able to experience in the entirety of their life. And it's so good that they don't want to leave the mountain. Let's just make tabernacles. Let's make some booths.  Let's stay here, Jesus. They don't want to leave. So let's look at this amazing mountaintop experience here in our passage this morning, we're going to break it down into three parts.

 

1. The first one will see The Teaching by the Messiah. The Teaching by the Messiah.
2. Or second point will be The Transfiguration of the Messiah
3. and then our third point will be The Testimony about the Messiah

 

The teaching, the transfiguration, and the testimony.  So let's look at our first point here this morning,

1.   The Teaching by the Messiah.

Look at verse 1.

 

And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” (Mark 9:1)

 

Now this verse here, although it begins chapter 9 in our Bible here, it's really the end of chapter 8. Look what happens at the end of chapter 8. At the end of chapter 8 in verse 34,

 

“and He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and He said to them. (Mark 8:34)

 

And in Mark chapter 9 and verse 1, that's a continuation of what he said to the crowd there.  We just have it broken up in our Bibles here. Why? That's what the translators have decided to do. They decided to break it up here. In the original they didn't have chapter and verses, and so it just continued on the flow there. But we have chapter and verses, so that we can pick out our chapters, and our verses, right? On Sunday morning, so you know where to go. But they didn't have that in the original. But we see here in this first verse that this is a continuation from what Jesus was telling the crowd and His disciples. And what did Jesus say there?  He said …

 

“…there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” (Mark 9:1)

 

What does Jesus mean by this? Well, there's lots of debate on this.

What is what does He mean by this? I think it's pretty simple. What Jesus is saying here is there are some people that are here in this crowd, who won't die until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power. 

 

Some of you are standing here, and you're going to see the power of God on display. Who is it in this crowd? Three guys, Peter, James and John. It's these three guys that are going to see the power of God on display. That's the “some” that Jesus is talking about there. They are the ones who are going to see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.

 

And what is this power that Jesus is talking about? Well, look back at chapter 8 and verse 38. Look what it says there. Look at what Jesus says…

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the…” (what?) “holy angels.” Mark 8:38

 

Notice what Jesus says there that He's going to come again in the glory of His Father. This power that Jesus is talking about, in chapter 9 and verse 1 is this glory that Jesus is talking about in chapter 8, verse 38 -- It's this power and this glory.  

 

How do we know this? Listen to Matthew chapter 24 in verse 30.   Jesus is talking to His disciples and He's talking about His glorious return. And here's what He says.  Listen to this, He says.

 

And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels…” (see that there?)  “He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Matthew 24:30-31

 

What is this power that Jesus is talking about here in chapter 9 verse 1 (Mark 9:1)? It's this glory that Jesus is talking about in (Matthew) 8:38. It's the glory of the Father...that's what He says there in the glory of His Father. Jesus is saying He will come in the glory of His Father. And remember, Jesus had this glory with the Father before the incarnation.

 

Remember Jesus’ prayer in John chapter 17 and verse 5?  What does Jesus say there?

 

Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. John 17:5

 

Jesus had glory with the Father before His incarnation. But at this point in His incarnation, the glory of Christ has been veiled. We understand what a veil is, right? Ladies understand what a veil is. You get married and you've got the veil.

 

We know what this veil is all about…to cover the face there… and what's going on with Christ here is that His glory has been veiled. His glory has been veiled in His incarnation. They couldn't see the full manifestation of His glory. Because it was so great, so magnificent. But it will be revealed when He comes again, right?

 

His glory is going to be revealed when Christ comes again. But for these men, at this point, and all those who see Jesus in His life at this point, His glory is veiled. But He's teaching them look, some of you are here within this crowd, namely three of you, Peter, James, and John. Some of you are here, and you will see my glory. You're going to see the power of God, the kingdom of God, and the power on display. They would see His power and they would see His glory before they die.

 

And so what Jesus is teaching here is that some here in this crowd -- simply meaning Peter, James, and John -- will not die until they see the kingdom of God after it is come with power, which Matthew 24 tells us it is His glory. And it's important for us to understand because it then gives us insight into the next 7 verses. Which leads to our second point… what we call the transfiguration of the Messiah.

 

2.   The Transfiguration of the Messiah

 

Look at verse 2.

Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; (Mark 9:2)

 

Now notice Mark tells us it was six days later. But if you were to read Luke's account on the transfiguration, Luke tells us that it was some eight days after these sayings. How do we tie these together? What's going on here? Who's right? Is it Mark? Or is it Luke? Yes…both are.

 

Six days later…Eight days later…Luke is including both the day of Peter's confession and the day of the transfiguration. That's what's going on there, so you've got six days, plus the day of his confession, plus the day of the transfiguration. Mark is just saying, look, it was six days later, after the confession of Peter.

 

And what happens? Well, it says “Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves.” Now why did they go up on this mountain by themselves? Mark doesn't tell us why. But Luke actually does. Luke tells us that Jesus brought them up on a mountain to pray. Which Jesus did often, right? He loved to go to the mountain, He loved to get away and go and pray, and spend time with the Father.   Jesus loved to do that. And He took these guys with Him and they go up on a mountain, to go and pray.  And as they go up and pray, guess what happens with Peter, James and John?   They fall asleep. They fall asleep.  Jesus is praying.  These guys fall asleep. Sound familiar?

 

It’s what they did in the garden, too.  Right? In the Garden of Gethsemane. These guys fall asleep. Guys --your job is just to pray, just stay awake and pray. They fall asleep. And when they wake up, Luke tells us they saw His glory. Mark tells us here in verse 2 that “He was transfigured before them.” He was transfigured before them. Now this word transfigured in the Greek, is the word Metamorphoo -- Metamorphoo -- which means to change form.

 

We understand this, right? Metamorphosis -- we understand this word here with a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. You learn that in science class growing up, right? Metamorphosis -- to change form. And what this is talking about here is that His outside form would change. It's the outside form of Christ that changes here. Nothing of His inside changes because God cannot change, right? God cannot change. His very nature doesn't change. It's literally the outside form.  The outward form of Christ is transfigured. And so what's going on here is this outward change…or as one commentator says, it denotes a visible change of the outward form as expressive of the true inner nature. That is, He is God.  It's His nature. It's very God Himself. Glorified. God.    It's veiled at this point. But it's put on display… an outward display so that they can see the glory of God on display. Remember, in Christ’s humiliation -- we talked about this last week in equipping hour --- Christ’s humiliation, in His humiliation He veiled His glory that He had with the Father.  

 

That's part of the humiliation of Christ, in veiling the glory that He had with the Father. But that glory is now put on display for these men to see. What is amazing is that in the Greek here, this Greek word metamorphoo “transfigured” is in the passive voice, which means that this action of transfiguration was done to Christ. It was done to Him.  

 

It wasn’t Christ giving some self-revelation of Himself. It was the Father who has transfigured Christ, up on this mountain, displaying His glory for these guys to see. God the Father is the One who is doing it.

 

Remember when Peter makes that confession, “You are the Christ.” (Matthew 16:16-17) Matthew tells us you know how he did it, not by flesh and blood. But He says My Father has revealed this to you. The Father has revealed to Peter and the disciples that Jesus is the Messiah and now the Father is the one who reveals the glory of Christ to these guys. As Christ is there displayed on this mountain.

 

But what did He look like?

 

Well, Mark gives us one detail. Really, Mark? Couldn’t have told us more?... of this glorious transfiguration… and all you tell us about is His clothing? That's it? Look what he says in verse 3:

 

and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. (Mark 9:3)

 

They became radiant, they became exceedingly white. And why was it white? Well, because it's how heavenly beings are described in Scripture. We see many, many times, heavenly beings are described with white.  When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary come to the tomb at the resurrection, they saw an angel of the Lord from heaven and it says,

“his appearance was like lightning and his clothing was as white as snow.” (Matthew 28:3)

 

But notice how Mark describes Jesus here. Not that His clothing is as white as snow. But that it's what?

Exceedingly white.  Exceedingly white.  So white that no launderer on Earth could get His garments this white.   No matter how much bleach you use, you could not get it as white as Jesus’ garments. That's what Mark's telling us here. These garments that Jesus has on --- they’re exceedingly white, they're blazing white, they’re brilliantly white.

 

And Matthew tells us -- Matthew gives a little bit more details of what's going on there -- Matthew tells us:

“His face shown like the Sun.” (Matthew 17:2)

 

Ever looked into the sun before? What happens…blinds you. You look away and you still see that spot there, right?   His face was “shone like the sun”, and His clothes were exceedingly brilliantly white. Every part of Him was blazing with glory. And these men are eyewitnesses of His glory. These men are able to see a glimpse into what Christ will look like when He comes back with power and glory. Right? When He returns again, they saw a glimpse of it.

 

This is amazing sight to see as they saw Christ there in His glory, as the Father puts on display the glory of Christ up on this mountain. But there were two other men who were there with Him as well. Two other men who appeared in Glory as well. Which leads to our Third Point.

 

3.    Point #3 The Testimony about the Messiah.

 

Look at what it says in verse 4.

Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. (Mark 9:4)

 

The other day Axel and I were driving in the car together and Axel says to me, he says, “Dad, Think about when we get to heaven. We'll be able to see all of these guys that we read about in the Bible. Guys like Abraham. Guys like Paul. And we'll get to talk with them. And ask them questions. Man, that's going to be awesome.”   It will. It will be awesome. It will be amazing. We read about these men and one day we will be able to see these men when we get to heaven.

 

But think about these Jewish men here. They know their Old Testament Scriptures. They know about Moses, and they know all about Elijah. They know who these guys are. And these guys are standing right in front of them.

 

There's Christ…transfigured before them and His glory is on display, and there's Moses and Elijah, who are glorified at that point as well.   They know who these guys are…

 

Moses the Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt. Think about all the things that Moses went through and all that Moses did. Moses got to meet with God, up on a mountain. With God. Moses is the author of the first five books of the Bible, which these guys as Jewish boys would have known. They knew their Old Testament. They knew the author of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Moses.  There he is right in front of us. He's standing there.

 

And Elijah, Elijah the Prophet, who, when he was faced with the prophets of the false God Baal, calls on God and what happens? Fire comes down and consumes the sacrifice. Remember that. The prophet … stands before these false prophets. Call on your God. Where is your God at? Is he asleep? What's going on, guys? And there is Elijah who makes a sacrifice. And then he douses it in water. And God consumes it to show that He is the one true God. And Elijah, the prophet who was taken up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elijah is the prophet who never died. They know who this guy is. They know who these two great men are. And now they see them standing before them.  They don't have to wait to get to heaven to see these guys.  There they are, right before their very eyes.

 

What are these two great prophets doing? Well… Mark tells us.  They were talking with Jesus. What are they talking about? Right? We want to know… what are they saying? You got Moses and you got Elijah talking with Jesus. What are they talking about? What did they say? Mark doesn't tell us. But Luke does. Thank you Luke.   

 

Luke says they were speaking of His departure (Luke 9:31), which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. What does that mean? What are they talking about? The cross. They're talking about the cross. Now think about this. This is a mountain top experience and there's Christ glorified. Transfigured before them. In His power and His glory. And what are they talking about?

 

The cross that is to come. Jesus is going to go… and die on a cross. Gonna die. For the sins of the world. Remember Peter's reaction when Jesus was talking about dying? What does Peter say? I don't like that right? No can't do that Jesus. And what does Jesus say to him? Get behind me, Satan. You're focused on man's plans. You need to be focused on God's plan. And Moses and Elijah knew what God's plan was.

They knew that it was God's plan for the Messiah to go and die. They knew that He had to be the sacrifice to pay the penalty for the sins of all who would believe in Him.

 

And when He gets down from this mountain, after Jesus is transfigured before them, when He leaves that mountain, where is Jesus going to go? To the cross. He's going to make His way to the cross. Jesus would head for the cross.

 

Well, Peter is there up on this mountain. He sees Moses and Elijah and Jesus there in glory and he doesn't know how to respond because he's so overtaken by fear. But he thinks, hey, I like it here. This is good. Look at what Peter says in verse 5.

 

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Mark 9:5)

 

Notice, Peter doesn't say let's make six tabernacles, there's six of them up there, right? But he doesn't say six tabernacles, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah, and then one for James and John and me.  We’ll just hang out here forever. This is good.

 

But Peter is willing to sleep on the ground if it meant to stay in the glory of Christ. He was willing to lay his head on a rock. If it meant being in the glory of Christ. Peter doesn't want to go anywhere. I just want to stay here. He just wants to stay here and bask in the glory of Christ.   But Peter says this, why does he say it? Because he's in so much shock. He doesn't even really know what to say.   So he just comes up with an answer. Pretty familiar of Peter right?    We understand that's Peter's the way that Peter acts. That's the thing that Peter does.   He loves to open his mouth.   Peter, just be quiet buddy.   Just stay there and just see what's going to happen? But Peter's got to open his mouth and he says he wants to make three tabernacles.

 

Verse 6 says

“For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.” (Mark 9:6)

 

Now, if you were to take all of the accounts of Matthew and Mark and Luke and you were to put them together and read through this account here of the transfiguration, here's what happens with these guys. Here's what goes on; the scene that is painted for us.

 

First of all, they go up on the mountain to pray. The disciples then get tired, and they fall asleep.   When they wake up, they see Jesus glorified, along with Moses and Elijah. And they're terrified, and so Peter has to open his mouth and say something. And so that's what he says.  Let's just make three tabernacles. It's so magnificent when they wake up that Peter just wants to stay there. He doesn't want to go anywhere. Just hang out with Jesus and Moses and Elijah. And bask in the glory. Remember that wasn't God's plan.  That wasn’t God's plan. You see Peter loved the glory. But what did he have an issue with? The suffering. He was told that Christ was going to suffer, and he was told that if he was to be a true disciple of Christ, he would have to be willing to suffer.  But he's there on this mountain, and he sees the glory and he's …”I just want to stay in this glory.”   He had a problem with suffering. Jesus had just taught these guys six days earlier. It was only six days, not that long ago, guys. That He was going to die. And that if you wanted to be a true disciple of Him, you must be willing to suffer and die.

 

As one commentator says, if we want to share the glory of Christ on the mountaintop, we must be willing to follow Him into the sufferings of the valley below.

 

Do you want to share in the glory of Christ? Then you must be willing to suffer and die for the sake of Christ here and now. That's what He says.   Peter didn't want that.  Peter had trouble with that.  But Moses and Elijah, they knew. They knew suffering. Right?

 

Moses suffered. Moses went through a lot of suffering.   Elijah…Elijah suffered, they understand, and they knew that in order for there to be glory, there first has to be suffering.  And they knew that Christ would have to suffer and die. And they're there, giving testimony, not only to who Jesus was, but also to what He was going to do. They're giving testimony of it.  

 

Well, not only does Moses and Elijah give testimony to who Jesus was, and what he was going to do, but there's going to be one more witness as well. Deuteronomy 19:15 says on the evidence of two or three witnesses, a matter shall be what? Confirmed.  Notice this: you got Moses, you got Elijah, and here comes a third witness. The third witness, the third and the greatest witness of all of them, look at what it says in verse 7.

 

Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” (Mark 9:7)

 

And by the way, God actually interrupts Peter here.  As Peter's talking God interrupts him. As He overshadows him in this cloud.  God interrupts Peter while he is speaking.  Matthew 17, verse 5 says:

 

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. (Matthew 17:5)

 

Because God has something to say, listen Peter. Be quiet. I've got something to say here.  Listen up. And the Father, the third and the final witness of the Son. He tells Peter James and John (three witnesses, by the way) ,that they are to do what? Listen to Jesus. Listen to Him.

 

Now, the last time we saw the Father speak audibly was when? At the what? At the baptism of Jesus right? It was at His baptism? What did He say there?  Matthew 3:17

 

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

 

This was the public announcement in the inauguration of Jesus into ministry.   But this time the Father tells these three disciples to do what? Listen to Him.  Listen to Him. He's already told them “This is My beloved Son.”     This time He says He is My beloved Son and you must listen to Him.

 

Why? Who did Peter want to make tabernacles for? Jesus, Moses and Elijah. All three of these guys.

 

But Moses, who represents the law, and Elijah who represents the prophets, that is the entire Old Testament. You see that there, that's the picture that's there. Moses, the law, Elijah the prophets. You have the entire Old Testament there. They were all pointing to who? To Jesus.  They're all pointing to Him, and that's what God is telling them. Listen to Him. Moses and Elijah...they're pointing to Christ. He is the most important One on this mountain. He's the One that you need to listen to. And not just to listen to Him but implied in this is that you must obey Him. Obey what Christ tells you to do.

 

Remember, Jesus still has more to teach these guys concerning the cross in their future ministry. He's going to have to tell them again and again that He's going to go to the cross. So that they could understand it, so that they could grasp it. Jesus has to teach them. And so the Father is pointing to the Son as the One in whom they are to listen to. Listen to Jesus.

 

And after the Father says this, what happens next? Look at verse 8. Look what happens in verse 8.

 

All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except…” (who?) “Jesus alone.” (Mark 9:8)

 

Why? Because Jesus is the focal point. It's all about Christ. He's the Messiah. He's the One who has come to save sinners from their sins. And that's what everything points to.  

 

That's what everything in the Old Testament has been pointing to. All the sacrifices as we talked about in equipping hour this morning. All the sacrifices in the Old Testament are pointing to Christ. And there He is before them. And what does the Father say? Listen to Him. It's all about Him. Listen to Him.

 

In closing, Peter would later tell us about this amazing mountaintop experience that he had, as he writes to us the letter of 2 Peter. Turn over with me in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 1.   2 Peter chapter 1.  Think about this amazing mountaintop experience that they have there. What an amazing experience. Amazing experience for these guys to see the glorified Christ --and many people today are seeking after experiences –"If I can just have an experience, then I'll believe.”    But notice what Peter says about his experience. Look at 2 Peter chapter 1 and look at verse 16. Peter says this.

 

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  (2 Peter 1:16)

 

When was that? On the mount of transfiguration. They were eyewitnesses. Peter was an eyewitness of the majesty of Christ in verse 17. 

 

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” (2 Peter 1:17)

 

That’s what the Father said there, right?

 

Verse 18

 

“and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him…” (where?) “on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:18)

On the mount of transfiguration. We heard it. We saw it. We had this mountaintop experience as we saw Christ transfigured before us.

 

And many people would read this and they would go “Wow, what an amazing mountaintop experience…I wish I could have one of those.”   Many of us think it would have been amazing to see the glorified Christ, and it would have been amazing. Many people think that if they could just see the glorified Christ, if Christ would just appear to them, then they could have greater confidence. They'll believe. They'll know for certain that Christ is the Messiah. But here's the thing… Peter tells us you don't need a mountaintop experience.

 

You don't need a mountaintop experience. Why? Look at what he says in verse 19?

 

“So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)

 

What is Peter saying here? You have what? The Word of God. Look, you don't need some mountaintop experience. That's not what you need. You don't need some kind of experience in your life. You have the Word of God.   Peter says, I was there. I saw Him glorified. He's there. But you know what? We have something even more sure. Something that we can have even greater confidence in. You know what it is?  The Word of God.

 

It's the Word of God. And what does Peter tell us that were to do with the Word of God? Look at what he says there. Pay attention. Pay attention to it, that is, obey it. Isn't that what God told His disciples? Told Peter, James and John, God said, listen to Him right, obey Him. Listen. Brothers and sisters, we have the Word of God.

 

You don't need a vision. You don't need an experience. Don't seek after other things. We should be seeking after God in His Word. He has given us everything that we need for life and godliness right here. We need to be people of The Word.   That's what we need to do.   Don't seek after experiences. Seek after God in His Word.   Come to know God more through His Word.   Be people of The Book.  Be people of the Word.  Hunger and thirst for it. You want to come to know Christ more?  Come to know Him through His Word.

 

Read His Word. Get into His Word. Study His Word and you will come to know Him. And worship Him and glory in Him as you read about Him in His Word.

 

That's what we need. That's what we have and what God has given to us. And that's what Peter is saying here…I saw him transfigured, I saw him there on the mountain, but look, you got something even greater… greater than the experience that I went through. You have His Word.

 

Do you hunger for His Word? Do you thirst for His Word? Do you obey His Word?

 

That's what Peter is telling us. It's not enough just to know it. We've got to be obedient to His Word. That's what we've been called to do. Mountaintop experience was an amazing experience. But we have His Word. In fact, we read in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 we have what? “The mind of Christ.”  (1 Cor 2:16)  You know how we have the mind of Christ? Right here in His Word. That's all we need.

 

We've got to know it. We've got to obey it.  That's what God has called us to do.   And if you obey His Word. In which He says, repent of your sin and put your faith in Me and you will have the gift of eternal life. He says “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) Every single one of us has sinned against a holy and righteous God, and He says…look, but you could have the gift of eternal life if you will repent of your sin and put your faith in Jesus.

 

And if you haven't done that. I urge you to do that this morning.  Put your faith in Christ who came to die as a sacrifice for your sins. Repent of your sin, and put your faith in Him and you will have everlasting life. That's the gift that He comes to offer to you right now today. Come to Him. And then you know what the result is for all those who do that? We will get to see the glorified Christ and be with Him forever.  That's the promise that He gives to us.

 

Peter, James, and John had an amazing experience on the mountaintop. Our future is with a glorified Christ forever. That's what we have to look forward to. But we must be people of His Word.  Listening to His Word and obeying His Word.

 

Let's pray Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for giving us the mind of Christ. We have the mind of Christ because we have His very Word. The Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word who became flesh and went to a cross to die for our sins. To die as the atoning sacrifice for us to make a payment that none of us could ever make. Father, we thank You for that sacrifice. And Father, we thank You for Your Word that tells us all about that amazing sacrifice tells us all about Christ. Father, I pray that you would help us to be people that are not seeking after experiences, but that we would seek after Your Word and be people who love You and honor You through Your Word. Father, as we’ve heard this morning, we know that after Christ was transfigured, that He was headed to the cross. To go and make a sacrifice, a perfect sacrifice, as a sinless man He went to a cross… to take the wrath of God upon Himself so that all who believe in Him would not have to endure Your wrath. Oh God, we thank You for that sacrifice. And as we come to the Lord’s supper here this morning, we remember the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ, who died for us. And we thank You for it. We pray in Christ name. Amen.