The Transfiguration Of Jesus Series

GOSPEL OF MARK: GOD’S SERVANT IN ACTION

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

2/2/20 – Garfield

A. How many of you have ever MISPLACED something, and had difficulty FINDING it?

ILLUSTRATION:

I remember a time when I had MISPLACED my CAR KEYS, and was looking for them everywhere. I checked the little TABLE where I always keep them. I went and checked on my DESK and the COMPUTER TABLE. I checked the LIVING ROOM where I sit, the KITCHEN counters, the BEDROOM dresser, and even the BATHROOM. I just had no idea where they were, until I finally realized they were in my POCKET.

1. That’s the way LIFE often is. We MISS things that have been there the WHOLE time.

a. This was certainly true of the DISCIPLES of Christ.

COMMENT:

By this TIME, they had been with Jesus for over 2 years. They had WITNESSED some amazing MIRACLES that Jesus had performed. And although they all profess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son

of God, they still haven’t quite GRASPED who it is they had been FOLLOWING all this time.

b. That’s why Jesus asked them, “Who do you say I am?”- Mark 8:29.

COMMENT

Although Peter had the right answer when he said, “You are the Christ”, he then turned around and “REBUKED Jesus after He told the disciples that He would have to DIE in order to SAVE the

World”- Mark 8:31-33.

c. Peter still MISSED the PURPOSE for which Jesus came to this EARTH.

2. So now what?

a. The disciples know that Jesus is special. They have seen Him do things that no other MAN has been

able to do. But did they realize that He was DIVINE—that He is God in the FLESH?

b. Jesus decided to take Peter, James and John to a mountain so they can SEE it for themselves—to

move them from FAITH to SIGHT.

c. But even then, Peter will still MISSES what had been before him the WHOLE time.

B. Mark 9:2-10 (READ)

MESSAGE:

I. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS- vv. 2-4

A. In the midst of His busy MINISTRY, Jesus often sought opportunity to leave the CROWDS of people

and get away for PRAYER and FELLOWSHIP with His heavenly Father.

1. He usually went ALONE, but this time He brings along three of his closest disciples, “Peter, James and John.”

a. While Jesus is PRAYING, Luke said that “the DISCIPLES became very SLEEPY”- Luke 9:32.

b. This had been a very EXHAUSTING and TRYING time for the apostles—especially for these

three.

COMMENT:

Peter, James and John are Jesus’ CLOSEST friends. And, yet, they have just heard from the mouth of their LORD that He was going to be put to DEATH. Then there was this talk about

them having to TAKE UP their own CROSS if they want to continue FOLLOWING Jesus.

They are CONFUSED, and their HEART is TROUBLED and GRIEVED. And, often the way many COPES with physical or emotional TRAUMA is through SLEEP—it becomes an ESCAPE from the distressing EVENTS that SURROUND them.

2. While they are DOZING off, Jesus is going through a TRANSFIGURATION.

a. The Greek word for “transfigured” is where we get the English word “metamorphosis”—

the process that a CATERPILLAR goes through to become a BUTTERFLY.

b. The word simply means to “transform, to alter, or to change”.

COMMENT:

Paul used a form of the word when he said that “we (YOU and I) are not to be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ Jesus”- Romans 12:2.

3. As Jesus is being TRANSFIGURED, his APPEARANCE began to CHANGE.

a. Luke wrote that “…the appearance of His face changed…”- Luke 9:29.

b. Matthew recorded that “…His face shone like the sun…”- Matthew 17:2.

c. All three gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, POINT OUT that “His clothes turned a brilliant

white.”

COMMENT:

Mark described it this way, “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them”- v. 3. TAKE THAT, CLOROX!!

4. Luke tells us that “It’s at this moment that the DISCIPLES become fully AWAKE and witness this

spectacular CHANGE that is happening to their LORD.”

a. This must have been a FRIGHTENING experience for the DISCIPLES.

COMMENT:

They had seen Jesus do some INCREDIBLE things that put the FEAR of God into them, particularly “calming the storm and walking on water”. But this time they SEE something

happening to Jesus personally. His whole appearance CHANGES right before their EYES.

b. So, what’s HAPPENING to their Lord? Simply put, Jesus is being GLORIFIED.

B. Peter, James, and John are getting a rare GLIMPSE of Jesus’ GLORIFIED STATE.

1. For a brief moment the VEIL of His HUMANITY was LIFTED and Jesus’ body SHINED with

HEAVENLY BRILLIANCE.

a. Many years later, John, one of the witnesses of the TRANSFIGURATION, saw in a VISION