A man was arraigned for murder in Los Angeles about 60 years ago. It was
a difficult case with a lot of circumstantial evidence.
The man’s defense lawyer, however, thought of an ingenious ploy. In his summing
up speech, he said: “Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, you must find my client not guilty of murder if there is the slightest doubt in your minds that he is not the murderer.
And now I have one final witness. “The true murderer is about to walk through
the door.”
All eyes swung towards the door but no one came in.
The lawyer continued: “You see, Ladies and Gentlemen, there is doubt in your
minds, otherwise you would not have looked towards the door.”
The jury retired to deliberate and came back five hours later with a “Guilty” verdict.
The lawyer was beside himself and before the judge could pass sentence he sprang up and said “But I proved that you had a doubt about my client’s guilt. How can you possibly find him guilty?”
An old man in the jury stood up and said: “As everyone looked towards
the door, I watched your client. His eyes did not turn towards the door.
He did not look towards the door because he knew no one was coming through.
Because he himself was the guilty one.
The Transfiguration took place, because God the Father wanted to answer the question - definitely - once and for all - Who is Jesus?
Verse 3-He Was Transfigured
Moses’ face was radiant, they he put a veil over his face. (Ex 34:29-33)
Our face should be radiant because we have spent time with Jesus
Jesus permitted himself to allow his full union with God to flow through His body to let his disciples fully see who He really was - without the clothing of humility.
Verse 4-And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses.
Why these two, what is the significance?
Some Different Beliefs:
Moses-He represents those who have died and those who will die.
Elijah- He represents those that shall be raptured at Christ’s coming, and not experience death.
Moses, Elijah-Represents the Old Covenant is going away and Jesus represents a new Covenant which will be established, through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Verse 8-The Law and the Prophets have served their turn and pass away. He, who is the fulfillment of both, alone remains!
To Support Jesus-Just as Moses had led God’s people out of the bondage of Egypt, Jesus was about to lead the world out of the bondage of sin through the cross.
Jesus didn’t have to explain everything to them - they knew what was going to happen. Instead of trying to talk him out of it, as Peter tried to do, they encouraged him to do exactly as he planned - go to Jerusalem to die.
Verse 5-Let Us Make Three Tabernacles
We all need those mountain top experience but we can’t stay there!
You don’t find many needs on the mountain top, the needs are found in the valleys of life.
Our greatest battles are not won on the mountain tops of life but during the tough times while we are in the valleys.
Among the famous painters of the French impressionist school, Henri Matisse and August Renior were the closest friends. When Renior’s health failed and doctors forced him into confinement for the final decade of his life, Matisse visited him daily. Renior, almost paralyzed with arthritis, continued to paint at his
easel in spite of his infirmities. One afternoon, Matisse watched his friend painting, fighting torturous pain with each movement and stroke of the brush. He finally blurted out, “August, why do you continue to paint when you are in such agony?”
Renior never looked up. His eyes were fixed on the canvas with complete
concentration. Then he spoke softly, “The beauty remains. The pain passes.”
What we do here for the Lord remains, is eternal, but the pain and suffering that we might endure on this earth is temporary!
The Beauty Remains. The Pain Passes.
Verse 7-8-In heaven the most important person that shall be there, and what will make it heaven…Is Jesus.
Sometimes it is those mountain top experiences that gets us through the darkest valleys!
“A young woman, eight months heavy with child, waddles into her mother’s house.
Flops on the sofa. Kicks off her tennis shoes. Props her puffy feet on the coffee table. And groans, “I don’t think I can make it.”
Wise from the years, the mother picks up the photo album and sits beside her daughter. She opens the album to photos of her children in diapers and ankle high walking shoes. Slowly the two turn the memory filled pages. They smile at the kids blowing out candles and sitting in front of Christmas trees.
As the mother sees yesterday, the daughter sees tomorrow. …for just a moment the daughter is changed. … A transformation occurs. …” Max Lucado. Eye Of The Storm
They would never forget what this mountain top experience was like!
I John 1:1-4-That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
John 1:14-And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory and the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father full of grace and truth.
John Bradford (1510-1555), wrote the following words less than five months before he was burned at the stake for preaching the gospel:
I am assured that though I want here, I have riches there; though I hunger here, I shall have fullness there; though I faint here, I shall be refreshed there; and though I be accounted here as a dead man, I shall there live in perpetual glory.
