Matthew 17:1-13

Is Jesus Fully God?

March 12, 2017

First Baptist Church

Jackson, Mississippi

USA

What’s the number one thing?

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The glory of God!

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1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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First Baptist Church Jackson Mission:

Multiply Disciples to Live Like Jesus.

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March Memory Verse:

Romans 12:2 ESV 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your

mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and

acceptable and perfect.

Sunday, March 26th

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Community Dinners

Thursday, March 30th

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Friday, March 31rd

Saturday, April 01st

Forgiven: A Celebration of the Cross

Sunday, April 09th

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Colin S. Smith

Unlocking the Bible

The Moody Bible Institute

The Transfiguration

1) The Glory

2) The Witnesses

3) The Cloud

Colin S. Smith

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Colin S. Smith (born April 27, 1958 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a United States

evangelical pastor and author. He is currently the Senior Pastor of The Orchard

Evangelical Free Church in Illinois, where he has been since 1996.

Matthew 17:1-13

IS JESUS FULLY GOD?

Matthew 16:21 ESV

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem

and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be

killed, and on the third day be raised.

Matthew 16:24-28 ESV

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

24 Then Jesus told His disciples,

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and

follow Me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life

for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world

and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son

of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He

will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you,

there are some standing here (Peter, James and John) who will not taste death

until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (many times, the true

chapter starts one verse earlier as it does here)

Matthew 17:1-13 ESV

The Transfiguration

1 And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother,

and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured

before them, and His face shone like the sun (Hebrews 1:3), and His clothes

became white as light (Mark 9:3). 3 And behold (pay attention to this), there

appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him (His exodus). 4 And Peter

said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You wish, I will make three

tents here, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Jesus is greater

than the Law and the Prophets – not equal.) 5 He was still speaking when, behold,

a bright cloud (Shekinah) overshadowed them (this most likely occurred at

night), and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am

well pleased; listen to Him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their

faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and

have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus

only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell

no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the

disciples asked Him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. (Malachi 4:5-6) 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but

did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at

their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them of

John the Baptist.

Mount Hermon

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Its summit straddles the border between Syria and Lebanon and, at 9,232 ft.

above sea level, is the highest point in Syria.

The southern slopes of Mount Hermon extend to the Israeli-occupied portion of

the Golan Heights, where the Mt Hermon ski resort is located.

A peak in this area rising to 7,336 ft. is the highest point in Israeli-controlled

territory.

Mount Hermon is called "the eyes of the nation" in Israel because its elevation

makes it Israel's primary strategic early warning system.

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Moses had a mountaintop experience on Mt. Moriah – receiving the Ten

Commandments (twice).

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Elijah’s mountaintop experience was on Mt. Carmel as he defeated the 400

prophets of Baal.

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Now we see all three: Jesus, Moses and Elijah on Mt Hermon and Peter makes

the false assumption that they are equal.

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Matthew 5:17 ESV 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not

come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

The Transfiguration account is also recorded in Luke 9 and Mark 9.

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Mark 9:1 ESV 1 And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will

not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

(true chapter start)

Luke 9:28-29 ESV 28 Now about eight days after these sayings He took with Him Peter and John

and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as He was praying, the

appearance of His face was altered, and His clothing became dazzling white.

(praying)

Luke 9:51 ESV 51 When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to

Jerusalem.

Luke 18:31-34 ESV

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

31 And taking the twelve, He said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem,

and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be

accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be

mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging Him, they will

kill Him, and on the third day He will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things.

This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Matthew 17:1-13

1) The Glory

2) The Witnesses

3) The Cloud

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So, after Jesus has told the disciples that He is going to die and that they are

going to die, they are wondering, “Does Jesus really know what He is doing?”

“Where is He leading us?” “What does the future hold for us?”

Jesus takes Peter, James and John on a prayer retreat to give them a glimpse of

the future.

He is transfigured into what He would look like in the future, at the Second

Coming in His glorified body.

This is the same appearance of Christ that John would later see in Revelation 1.

These are glimpses of the body of the resurrected Jesus.

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Revelation 1:12-18 ESV 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning

I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a

son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest. 14 The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like

a flame of fire, 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and

His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven

stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the

sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But

He laid His right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and

the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of

Death and Hades.

Jesus well knew that the disciples needed this vision of the future.

Within the next few months they were going to see the face of Christ battered

and bruised as He was scourged and beaten.

As Isaiah says that His was so disfigured that is was beyond being recognized.

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Isaiah 52:14 ESV 14 As many were astonished at you—

His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,

and His form beyond that of the children of mankind—

God is saying, “Look what lies beyond the cross!” and the disciples needed that

(and so do we).

“Here’s where you are headed - Christ, Whom you love is going to be exalted in

glory.”

The Kingdom you are investing your life in is not some lost cause, you are part of

a Kingdom that will never end!

See Him – in that Day He will be revealed in glory!

Jesus will come with clouds and be revealed as God’s chosen One and He will

stand on another mount, the Mount of Olives!

We need this vision also.

This whole transfiguration thing was for the sake of the disciples – then and now!

When you see Jesus rejected, know that there is more beyond that rejection.

History is moving towards the Day when Jesus is clearly King, the Day when

Christ will be glorified for all to see.

Before you face the cross – see the glory!

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John referred to this experience when he wrote:

John 1:14 ESV 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory,

glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Peter also wrote:

2 Peter 1:16-18 ESV 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the

power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His

majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the

voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son, with

Whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from

Heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain.

Matthew 17:1-13

1) The Glory

2) The Witnesses

3) The Cloud

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Matthew 17:1 ESV 1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother

(three witnesses), and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV 15 A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any

wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the

evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Matthew 17:3 ESV 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah (two witnesses), talking

with Him.

Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared with Jesus in glorious splendor.

The disciples not only saw the glory of Jesus, but now two ordinary humans

sharing in the splendor of the glorified Christ!

A picture to them that other humans will share in this glory as well.

An ordinary human can be transfigured into glory!

Moses had a murder on his record. He was disqualified from entering the

Promised Land due to his failure to uphold the Lord as holy at the waters of

Meribah.

After his mountaintop experience, Elijah ran for his life, got depressed and

prayed to die.

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Moses continued to struggle with the people and with his own disobedience

after his mountaintop experience.

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Yet Moses and Elijah were both glorified and sharing in His glory!

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Peter, James and John sinned and failed (but got up again) after the

Transfiguration.

One mountaintop experience can’t carry you forever.

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Nothing can ever replace your daily walk with Christ!

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Notice three things:

1) Your identity does not end at death.

2) Your identity will be known after death.

3) It is possible for you to share Christ’s glory after death.

1) Your identity does not end at death.

• Centuries after Moses died – here he is – still Moses.

• He did not cease to exist, was not in some long slumber or soul sleep

and was enjoying his first trip to the Holy Land!

• He was not reincarnated, nor an angel with wings, he is Moses sharing

the glory of Jesus.

• When God created you He created you for eternity.

• There will never be a time when you cease to be yourself.

• There is continuity between this life and the next.

• The relationship you have with God in this life will be continued with

God in the next life, so make it as close as you can. (James 4:8 – Draw

near)

Ecclesiastes 11:3 says, “As the tree falls, so shall it lie.”

1) Your identity does not end at death.

2) Your identity will be known after death.

• The disciples knew it was Moses and Elijah, and there certainly were no

photographs for them to compare them with.

• They had never met them.

• Will we know each other in Heaven?

• Of course we will!

• The purpose of God in Christ is for the community of believers in Christ to

know Him and to know each other.

• Members of the Body of Christ know each other.

Mark 9:2 ESV

The Transfiguration

2 And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led

them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them,

It is very probable that Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses that are foretold in

Revelation 11:3-13 – 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall

during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to

turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague... 12 Then

they heard a loud voice from Heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And

they went up to Heaven in a cloud…

Not only does

1) your identity not end at death and

2) will be certainly known after death

3) but you will also share Christ’s glory after death.

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Luke 9:30-31 ESV 30 And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who

appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to

accomplish at Jerusalem.

1 Thessalonians 2:14 ESV 14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of

our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:2 ESV 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet

appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because

we shall see Him as He is.

Matthew 17:1-13

1) The Glory

2) The Witnesses

3) The Cloud

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Matthew 17:5 ESV 5 He (Peter) was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them,

and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well

pleased; listen to Him.”

The cloud represents the presence of God

in the OT - pillar of cloud by day and fire by

night.

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The cloud (God’s glorious presence) filled the Holy of Holies in both the

Tabernacle and the Temple.

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Ezekiel 1:4 “A GREAT CLOUD”

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Ezekiel 1:4 ESV

The Glory of the Lord

4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud,

with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of

the fire, as it were gleaming metal.

In the NT, the indwelling of the Spirit of the Lord – the presence of God is referred

to as the Holy Spirit.

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Revelation 14:14 ESV 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a

son of man, with a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand.

Cloud = inscrutable, hidden from view, no one has ever seen God, He dwells in

unapproachable light…

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1 Timothy 6:15b-16 ESV 15b He Who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 Who alone has immortality, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no

one has ever seen or can see.

Fire by night = frightening, fearful.

A voice, “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him.” (as at His baptism)

The hidden God of the cloud wants us to know Him and He tells us the way to

know Him is through His chosen Son and by listening to Him.

That is the heart of the New Testament.

John 14:6-9 ESV 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known

My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said

to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip?

Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the

Father’?

We have the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We can’t understand God but we can come to know God through Jesus - listen

to Him!

Only through Christ can we stand in the presence of God.

The cloud terrified the disciples and they fell on their faces to the ground.

Folks go through life harboring things against God and you hear them arrogantly

say that when they get to Heaven, they want to tell God a thing or two.

That is not the way it is going to be, they will hit the dirt just like the disciples did.

Matthew 17:6-7 ESV 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But

Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”

Jesus was with them when they entered the presence of God.

We will all enter God’s presence one day and if Jesus is with you, you will be

able to stand in the presence of God with nothing to fear!

This awesome, hidden and frightening God points you to His Son, wanting you to

know Him in faith and trust – walking with Him – and that will continue in Heaven,

standing with Him with nothing to fear!

A glimpse of the future –

1) Christ will be glorified.

2) Christ will share that glory with men and women who believe.

3) Through Christ, you can know God and stand in His presence!

Matthew 17:8 ESV 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

The cloud left, Moses and Elijah were gone, Jesus was as He had been before

and now the disciples had to go on living by faith, not by sight, as they went

down the mountain into the valley of service. (When it’s Time to Break the

Huddle by Dr. Pollard.)

God does not want you to stay on the mountain top but He

also does not want you in the Valley of Service if you don’t

have the mountaintop experience in your heart.

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Peter, James and John went up the mountain wondering if Jesus knew what He

was doing and concerned about the direction that He was leading them, but

they came down the mountain treasuring the privilege of being His disciples.

Jesus had given them a glimpse of where they were headed and that same

glimpse of the future is also given to us today.

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This is where we are headed:

1) Jesus will be glorified.

2) He will share that glory with us.

3) We can know God through Jesus and stand in His presence unafraid!

4) Divine glory is ahead for us – always keep that in mind.

5) Don’t talk when you should be listening.

6) Soak up God’s goodness and worship Him.

7) Jesus alone is enough!

8) Peter was so impressed with the presence of Moses and Elijah when he

should have been impressed with God’s presence and the sufficiency of

Christ.

9) You cannot stay on the mountain top and be in the Valley of Service.

10)The mountain top prepares us for the Valley of Service.

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Since that is our future, how should we prepare for it?

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1 John 2:28 ESV 28 And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have

confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming.

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Sunday

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Matthew 19:16-26

What is Required?

March 19, 2017

First Baptist Church

Jackson, Mississippi

USA

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

John 3:16 ESV 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes

in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 14:6 ESV 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through me.”

Romans 3:23 ESV 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23a ESV 23a For the wages of sin is death,

• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.

• Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the

penalty for our sins.

• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in

Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 21:8 ESV 8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the

sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the

lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Romans 6:23b ESV 23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 ESV 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for

us.

Revelation 21:7 ESV 7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will

be my son.”

• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.

Romans 10:9-10 ESV 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your

heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart

one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:13 ESV 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist

Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/