Mountaintop Vision Of Jesus

MOUNTAINTOP VISION OF JESUS

Lk. 9:28-36

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR:

1. There was a man whose wife refused to admit she had hearing problem. He asked his doctor, "How can I get my wife to admit that she’s hard of hearing?"

2. The doctor said, "When you get home tonight, stand just inside the front door and ask, "Honey, what's for dinner tonight?" If she doesn't answer, move into the next room and ask again. Keep asking the question until you’re standing right behind her. That should convince her she’s not hearing you."

"Great!" the man responded. "I think it will work!"

3. So when the man arrived home, he called out: "Honey, what's for dinner tonight?" He listened carefully, but there was no reply. He walked into the living room and repeated, "Honey, what's for dinner?" He still received no answer. He then walked into the kitchen and asked, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still there was no answer. So he walked right up behind his wife and spoke directly into her ear: "Honey, what's for dinner?"

4. At this the wife turned around and said: "For the fourth time, I said we are having spaghetti!"

5. LESSON: Obviously, it wasn't HER who was hard of hearing, but him. Sometimes we don't "PERCEIVE" how wonderful Christ's sacrifice is, so I want us to consider that today.

B. TEXT

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus...a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. Lk. 9:28-36.

C. THESIS

1. Jesus is unlike anyone whose ever lived. In Him, “God’s Almightiness began to move in a human arm. The love of God beat in a human heart. The wisdom of God spoke from human lips. The mercy of God reached forth with human hands. God’s always been a God of love, but Jesus was God with skin on!” (Ray Pritchard, “When Did Christmas Begin?,” 12/20/98.).

2. The TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus:

a. Shows Jesus is OUTSIDE THE REALM OF TIME. We see Him standing with Moses (1451 B.C.) & Elijah (ca. 896 B.C.).

b. It shows HIS DIVINE NATURE, and

c. It shows JESUS is the LOOKED-FOR MESSIAH of the Jews.

3. Jesus doesn’t stand in a line of peers with Abraham, Buddha, Confucius, or Mohammed. Jesus Christ is utterly unique. The Transfiguration reveals a turning point in human history.

4. Today we’re looking at the “Mountaintop Vision of Jesus.”

I. JESUS’ PURPOSE: ON THE MOUNTAIN TO PRAY

A. PRAYER PRECEDED EVERY IMPORTANT EVENT

1. Jesus went up on this mountain to pray, but when He prayed, heaven was manifested on earth.

2. It was while Jesus was praying, that He was baptized in the Holy Spirit & God the Father testified that Jesus is His unique Son, Lk. 3:21.

3. Jesus prayed all night before He chose his 12 apostles, Lk. 6:12.

4. When Jesus was dying on the Cross, He prayed for his enemies, Lk. 23:34.

5. And Luke tells us that when Jesus went up on this mountain and was transfigured, it occurred while He was praying, Lk. 9:29.

B. NOTHING IS MORE TRANSFIGURING THAN PRAYER

Prayer doesn't always change God, but it always changes us.

1. IT CHANGES OUR VIEW OF GOD

2. IT CHANGES OUR PERCEPTION OF LIFE “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” Rom. 8:18-19.

3. IT CHANGES OUR VIEW OF OTHERS. We begin to realize the people around us are saved or lost.

4. NOTHING’S AS REFRESHING AS PRAYER. When we begin

our day with prayer, we’re in tune with God & all things work together for our good.

5. PRAYER BRINGS US PEACE. As the song says, "Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer."

C. THE APOSTLES FALL ASLEEP

1. Like typical church members, it appears that all 3 (Peter, James, & John) fell asleep when they were supposed to be praying! The 10 Virgins fell asleep waiting for Christ!