“MASTER, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE” (Outline)
March 6, 2011 - Transfiguration - LUKE 9:28-36
INTRO: Time is very valuable in each of our lives. Today’s society often distorts the importance of the present. In our lives we look back and we look ahead so much that we can easily overlook present joys. Looking back we have regrets about past mistakes that still haunt us today. Our society wants us always worrying about the future. The most important time is the present: called God’s gift. Today’s text helps us to appreciate the importance of the present. "I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’ Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem" (PSALM 122:1, 2). We gather with great joy around the word of God once again. We desire to know and learn to confess with greater faith the truth of Peter’s confession.
“MASTER, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE” .
I. To see the glory of Jesus.
II. To hear the Father’s voice.
I. IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE TO SEE THE GLORY OF JESUS.
A. Verse 28. “About eight days after” refers to Peter’s confession that Christ is the Son of God.
1. The church is built upon the truth of the confession that Christ is the Son of God.
2. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain to have time alone with them for prayer.
B. Verse 29. Jesus’ appearance and his clothes change = transfiguration. They become bright white.
1. Verse 30. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus in glorious splendor. Eternity, heaven is real.
2. Verse 31. Moses and Elijah come to reassure Jesus concerning his coming suffering and death.
C. Verse 32. The bright glory was there. Still the disciples had to rouse themselves from their dullness.
. Once awake and fully aware the disciples become eyewitnesses of this glorious event.
2. Verse 33a. The present is now important to them. “Master, it is good for us to be here.”
D. At times, and maybe all too often, we are much like these sleepy disciples. Our minds have become dull to the glory of Jesus. We have grown accustomed to the glory of Jesus that we may not always appreciate this precious gift. Our minds can become dull (sleepy) to the wickedness of the world in which we live. Our hearts can become dull to the dangers of evil that oppose Christ and his glorious kingdom. Romans 13 describes the love believers have as God’s gift. "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed" (ROMANS 13:11). Salvation was near during the time of Paul. It is much nearer now. We will want to be awake to the glory of Jesus. We see Jesus’ glory in everything connected with Jesus.
E. How do we enjoy that present glory of Jesus? How do we learn to look forward to Jesus glory yet to be revealed at Judgment Day? We do this by learning the truth of Peter’s confession: “Master, it is good for us to be here.” By grace God has called each one of us out of darkness. We understand that the world around us is very dark. The wickedness of mankind grows worse with every generation. God does not leave us on our own. By his living and active word God reveals to believers the very glory of Jesus. "It is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’" (EPHESIANS 5:14). It is good for us to be here to see the glory of Jesus.
F. The light of the gospel shines on us. The light of the glory of Jesus shines in us. This divine light of the glorious gospel of Jesus our Savior is to shine through us. The world’s darkness is great. But it is not overwhelming. Believers are the shining lights of God. In this dark world believers bring light and life to the thoughtless thousands still sitting in the dark. "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever" (DANIEL 12:3). The glory of Jesus on the mount was “bright as a flash of lightning”. Now believers sharing the same enlightening gospel message also “shine like the brightness of the heavens” and “like stars forever”.
“MASTER, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE” to see and share the glory of Jesus in everything.
II. IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE TO HEAR THE FATHER’S VOICE.
A. Jesus is at the height of his popularity. He takes his disciples to a solitary place for prayer.
1. The disciples witness the glory of Jesus and Moses and Elijah. This miracle is for them.
2. Verse 33b. Peter wants to stay on the mountain. He does not want to return to the crowds.
B. Verse 34. They are covered with a cloud. The disciples are scared. Their faith is still a bit dull.
1. Verse 35. The voice of the heavenly Father reassures the disciples. They hear and listen.
2. Once again, “This is my Son,…listen to him.” The Father and the Son are one. Listen.
C. Verse 36. Jesus and his disciples were alone. They would return to the crowds seeking Jesus.
1. The disciples were quiet concerning these events until after Jesus’ resurrection.
2. It was not yet the time for the glory of Jesus to be revealed. That time would come later.
D. “Master, it is good for us to be here.” This was the confession of Peter after seeing Jesus’ glory. This is our confession when we hear our heavenly Father’s voice. We are quite aware of the many words that the world uses to influence people. Man’s words of wisdom do not compare at all to the simple truth that our heavenly Father reveals to the believer. Now, more than ever we need to pay close attention to what God wants us to hear, know, believe, and confess. "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 PETER 1:19). God’s light shines in our hearts.
E. For anyone to confess: “Master, it is good for us to be here” is one of the greatest miracles of faith. By nature we are sinners. In fact, we are born into this world as the very enemies of God. That is an enormous deficit to overcome in becoming one of God’s own. Satan tries to distract us from the importance of hearing the voice of our heavenly Father. The world would have us think we have no time to listen to God speak. Our sinful nature all too readily agrees with such temptations. This is not a new problem. "To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it" (JEREMIAH 6:10).
F. Thankfully the Lord God Almighty gives us the solution to the temptations of the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature. We learn to love to listen to the voice of our heavenly Father as we grow in our Christian faith. This happens whenever we hear, read, or study the Holy Scriptures. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God"(COLOSSIANS 3:16). God’s word dwells in our personal, daily reading of the Bible. God’s word dwells in us richly whenever we gather together in worship to teach, encourage, and sing with thankfulness in our hearts.
CONC: “MASTER, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE”. This was the confession of Peter when he saw the glory of Jesus. This is our confession as we strive against everything that stands opposed to God’s will. This takes a conscious effort. God gives each of us strength by showing us his glory and speaking to our hearts with his word. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (JOHN 1:14). Believers see the very glory of Jesus in his word and sacraments. We also see the glory of Jesus in the face of our fellow believers in this house of worship. Believers hear our Father’s voice in his holy word. We also hear the voice of our heavenly Father in the voices of our fellow believers as we worship together. “MASTER (LORD), IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE”. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
TRANSF. rdgs.:
EXODUS 24:12,15-18;
2 PETER 1:16-21;
MATTHEW 17:1-9;
(PSALM 148)
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