Sunday Morning Service

Matthew 16:28-Matthew 17:13 (Click title for audio access)

"Unveiling The Kingdom" • 10.31.10 • Sunday Morning Service, Colton Christian Fellowship

Intro

- The disciples have been with Jesus for over two years. This is the home stretch. Jesus is now months from His crucifixion.

- They have been in the northern parts of Israel, doing ministry among the Gentiles in the Northern Galilee region when they came to Caesarea Philippi.

- While there, Jesus asks HIs disciples the question of all time: "Who do you say that I am?" Peter has confessed what the entire group had been thinking: Jesus was the Christ!

- To these who believed, Jesus was now about to give more. He unveiled His plan and made a stunning promise to them.

• Matthew 16:28 : " Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.'" : Some were about to have the preview of a lifetime. They would see Jesus in His majesty. This was Jesus as He really was.

- There is no coincidence that this occurs after their confession had been given. I believe that Jesus was more excited about this than they were.

- This leads us to chapter 17. Let's break this section down into these parts.

I. The Ultimate Unveiling (v.1-4)

II. The Ultimate Endorsement (v.5-8)

III. The Ultimate Foreshadowing (v.9-13)

Text

I. The Ultimate Unveiling (v.1-4)

• Matthew 17:1 : " Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;" : Jesus chose Peter, James and John from among the disciples to come away with Him.

- I wonder if they had any idea what was about to happen to them! Jesus knew that He was going to give them just a glimpse of their future.

- Many have called these three men, "Christ's Inner Circle," for Jesus had called them to observe on another occasion.

- These three had gone to the ruler's house when Jesus raised his daughter from death.

- Later in the gospel account, they accompany Him at the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His trial. We'll discuss what these three had in common in a moment.

- Why did Jesus choose these particular disciples? There are several reasons. I might first say that these guys needed the most help!

- Peter was Peter. He never said the right thing! James and John were called the Sons Of Thunder because they asked the Lord if He wanted them to call down fire upon some people!

- These were not the disciples that He could leave alone!

- While they were works in progress, they would be instrumental in the founding of the early church, in under a year from now! Jesus had plans for these men.

- This is always the case: Jesus knows what He wants to do in your life, even when nobody, yourself included, would guess at it! Their testimony would prove to be of vital importance.

- Matthew does not give us the precise location of this mountain. Why not tell us?

- Most likely, this was a deterrant to idolatrous notions. Wherever they went, the point was it was isolating and a scene of great importance.

- In Jewish thinking, mountains were special places. They had received the law on Mt. Sinai. Some mountains were associated with blessings and others cursings.

- It was on Sinai that God appeared to Moses and let him view the back of His glory from behind a rock! It's no coincidence that what is about to happen, happened there on a mountain.

- By the way, God hasn't changed. He wants to show you more than He is given time to reveal!

- Go away with Him and ask Him what He wants to show you.

• Matthew 17:2,3 : "and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him." : While they were standing there on the mountain with Jesus, something marvelous took place. Right before their eyes, He was transfigured.

- He did not change into something that He was not; He revealed what He had always been!

- One commentator mentioned that the real miracle was not that He revealed His true nature, but that He was able to hide it the rest of the time!

- He metamorphosized in front of them. One second, He was their Master, plain and ordinary. Then, His face shone.

- Matthew would only describe it second hand, as "powerful as the sun." His whole appearance radiated glimmering, glaring light. Jesus was the source of this light. It was coming from Him!

- Then to top it off, Moses and Elijah showed up! It's not clear how they knew them. That's not as important as the fact that they have been gone for a long time!

- Moses had been gone over a thousand years and Elijah, some 600 years! Yet here there were, alive and recognized as the same people that they had been!

- Death has been redefined by God, as His saints are not gone when they die. They just move!

- Matthew tells us that they came and were talking with Him. What could they have been talking about? What could be so important.

- Luke 9:31 tells us that they were speaking about His "decease that He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem." The word translated "decease" is literally "Exodus."

- Jesus in His death, was going to lead the real Exodus, whereby His people would be freed from the slavery of sin and freed from the bondage of death!

- He led US, those who have confessed Him as Christ, from the slavery that we were born into! He delivered you and I from an otherwise miserable existence, enslaved to Satan and lost forever!

- How important was this information to these men? Peter had said "No way! You are not going to die." Here, Moses and Elijah had come to talk with Him about His death!

- I had mentioned to you earlier that there was a commonality for Peter, James and John in these events. All of their special instruction came around the subject of death.

- The girl that was raised showed Christ's power over death. The transfiguration shows Christ's purpose in death. You'll have to wait for the third one.

- This was incredibly important for those who would live in the first century of the church.

• Matthew 17:4 : "Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'" : Peter is not sure exactly what to say here. Mark tells us that Moses and Elijah were parting and Luke tells us that Peter spoke out of fear!

- Regardless, it was good for them to be there. That was actually correct.

- What a vision to have seen! Jesus alone, being altered before their eyes, would have been enough, but to actually be there to see Moses and Elijah as well? What a moment!

- That's where it stops. To add what he does just doesn't make any sense. What are tabernacles? These were portable shrines that Peter offered to build. There are two problems here.

- First, Jesus has begun talking about the cross. It may be that his comment was motivated out of a desire to keep Moses and Eljah there and avoid the cross all together!

- If Jesus had accepted this, there would have been no redemption. It would be just another religious experience, localized on a mountain range in Israel.

- Second, Moses and Elijah are not on the level of the Messiah. They are subject to the Messiah. Their ministry led to and found their fulfillment in Jesus.

- In fact, there is an interesting thing that happens linguistically here. Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets.

- One died, the other was translated, but neither finished their ministry. Moses led the people to the borders of Israel, but not all the way in. Elijah left in a chariot of fire before the job was done.

- Both men had successors: Moses' successor was Joshua, Elijah's was Elisha. Both names mean "God is salvation."

- The name "Jesus" is a Greek transliteration of the name "Yeshua," which means "God is salvation!" For all intents and purposes, it's the same name as Joshua and Elisha!

- Jesus is the successor to the law and the prophets! He has come to fulfill the redemptive mission that began in them, just as Joshua and Elisha had done before!

- Jesus is Moses' Passover lamb and the embodiment of the law. He is the righteousness that Elijah and every prophet called for!

- Therefore, to make a booth for all three would not be incorrect. Jesus is greater than Moses and the Prophets. He is in a category all by Himself! There is no one equal to Him.

II. The Ultimate Endorsement (v.5-8)

• Matthew 17:5 : "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!'" : Peter had barely finished his sentence when the presence of God came and overshadowed them.

- These themes, mountains, Moses and clouds, all awakened the consciousness of the early church, most of whom were Jewish, to the significance of this event.

- In Exodus, the presence of God, the Shekinah glory, had come to rest upon the children of Israel in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

- That same eternal presence of Father God now covered them on the mountain!

- He is addressing Peter, James and John, affirming the nature of Jesus! Who is He? By God's account, Jesus is His beloved Son. This is what Peter had exclaimed a week earlier.

- God is affirming Peter's statement, and their beliefs about Jesus. He is also repeating a statement that He Himself had made at Christ's baptism.

- Twice, God the Father has confirmed the deity of His Son. Being a "Son" makes Jesus unique from the Father but one in essence as God the Father!

- God the Father is calling the Son, God! Do not miss this!

- What does He think of Him? He is well pleased! Literally, He is fully pleased. God the Father loves God the Son completely.

- When did God say this? First, when Jesus submitted to baptism, a type of death, burial and resurrection. Here, God says it again, as Jesus discusses His exodus with Moses and Elijah!

- God is well pleased in His Son because of His faithful obedience to His redemptive plan!

- What shall we do with Him? Hear Him! Listen to Him. He is their authority and ours as well!

- Consider the context. Here are these Jewish men in the presence of their Master Jesus, and their heroes, Moses and Elijah.

- God the Father visibly manifests Himself, separate from Jesus, and tells them to hear Him!

• Matthew 17:6-8 : "And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, 'Arise, and do not be afraid.' When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only." : God's voice caused the men to reverently fall to their faces. They automatically prostrated themselves. That is the natural response to the presence of the Lord.

- His Holiness, HIs power, His majesty forces those in His presence to their knees. In our minds, we feel that we can stand before God. I beg to differ!

- Those who are rebellious against Him, feel that they will be able to stand there and "give Him a piece of their minds." I don't think so!

- Anyone who has ever been in the presence of God has fallen straight to the ground! Men have fallen at the sight of angels, how much more God? These disciples were afraid for their lives.

- In the midst of that fear came Jesus. He touched them and told them to stand. They didn't know that they were alone, but it was the voice and touch of Christ, that alone could move them.

- The picture here is awesome: The presence of Moses and Elijah intimidated them, the fear of God floored them, but the voice and touch of Christ gave them freedom to stand.

- This is how we will one day come into eternity, at the call and friendly touch of our Savior, whose presence gives us confidence to stand in that holy place!

- In the same way that the Father endorses the Son, the Son endorses you and I before the Father, because we are in Him!

- Who knows how long that they laid there, but when they finally did lift up their eyes, Moses, Elijah and Father God were gone and the only one left was Jesus.

- He was their all. He was the One that they were to look to. God was telling them what He tells you and I today: Jesus is the focal point! He must have our attention and allegiance.

III. The Ultimate Foreshadowing (v.9-13)

• Matthew 17:9 : “Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.’” : It is vitally important to recall this in context: Redemption from sins was the mission of the Messiah.

- He was not looking to be their King politically. He was looking first to reign in their hearts. His Kingdom begins with our receiving Him as King.

- He tells them to avoid telling of this episode for that reason. Fervor for His Kingdom had begun to give way to persecution and rejection, but this story would have revived it.

- To set up an Earthly kingdom would have forfeited everything that Christ came to accomplish.

- There is something very important to recognize here. The Romans were an oppressive regime. They made the lives of the Hebrews miserable.

- It would have been a good and righteous thing for Christ to assume His throne at that time. But He did not because it was not a good and righteous thing for ALL time.

- Christ's path involved suffering a death that would once and for all settle the issue of our sin. The cross was necessary, so discretion was necessary.

- That being said, this episode would need to be reported after Jesus had risen. It had a major impact upon each of these men. James calls Jesus, "the Lord of glory" in James 2:1.

- Listen to John's words in the prologue to his gospel.

• John 1:1,12 : "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

- Turn over to I Peter 1. Peter's words provide the most full synopsis of how he used this information.

• I Peter 1:16-18 : "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain."

• Matthew 17:10-13 : “And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, 'Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.” : The disciples were confused. They had heard that Elijah was to come prior to the Messiah's coming.

- This was prophesied in Malachi 4:5,6.

• Malachi 4:5,6 : "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.'"

- The disciples ask a legitimate question. Elijah will come before that day of the Lord. But if His day has come, why hasn't he come as well?

- Jesus makes a statement here that at first confuses us. Elijah is coming, but he has already come!? Whoa! What's going on here?

- Two things need to be taken into account. First, Malachi's words are specifically speaking about a day of wrath. "The day of the Lord" is the day of His wrath upon those who do not believe.

- Revelation tells us about what we call, "The Great Tribulation." This will be a time when God finally has enough of man's rebeliion, and does something about it.

- Who shows up on the scene during that time? Two witnesses who, "have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire." (Revelation 11:6)

- Boy, that sounds familiar. Moses and Elijah did these exact works when they were here.

- What follows will be terrible for those on the earth.

- Now, this brings us to the second thing. Jesus says Elijah has already come, which the disciples deduced was John the Baptist.

- What did Jesus refer to? He was saying that if He had been accepted as the King, then John would have fulfilled the role of Elijah.

- Jesus was not accepted as King, so John's role provides a foreshadowing of things to come.

- John had come in the spirit and power of Elijah, but one day, Elijah himself will come.

- The point here is this: Christ's Kingdom is celebrated at Christ's first coming. His Kingdom will be inaugurated at His second coming!

- The first coming was a foreshadow of what is to come. One day, He will deal with unrighteousness and wickedness and Jesus will take His rightful place upon His throne forever!

Conclusion

- Jesus is God and King. He demonstrates this in His transfiguration. The presence of Moses and Elijah testifies and God the Father confirms this.

- For that reason, He is worthy of our trust. That He can make us stand in holiness before the Father, makes Him worthy of our love and allegiance forever.