YOU NEED A LONG ‘EXPOSURE’ TO JESUS
Lk. 9:28-36
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Two friends ran into each other. One was so down and miserable that the other said, "What's wrong, brother?"
2. "I'll tell you what's wrong. Three weeks ago my uncle died and left me $40,000. Then two weeks ago by long lost cousin died and left me $85,000 and last week my business partner died and left me $250,000.
3. His friend replied, "Wow! So why are you so depressed?" "Well," said the guy, "this week -- Nothing!"
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, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 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, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped 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. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
C. VISION & SHUTTER SPEED
1. The disciples had known Jesus for three years. But their perception of Jesus was too limited. They had barely grasped His being the Messiah, but little more. They needed a new & deeper revelation of Jesus! So do we!
2. SIGHT (DEF.)
a. THE POWER or faculty OF SEEING; perception by use of the eyes; vision. [some people are physically blind; others can’t see spiritual things, or only very dimly].
b. Sight involves ONE’S RANGE OF VISION. [Some can only see things near at hand, nearsighted; other’s the opposite. What is our “range” of spiritual vision? Can we believe for a small miracle? Can God change our country’s direction?]
c. Sight can be a FULL VIEW OR ONLY A GLIMPSE. Many have only gotten a glimpse of Jesus and never have taken the time to “gaze” – a prolonged look that lets the full image of Jesus into our souls.
3. SHUTTER SPEED.
a. An analogy is the “shutter speed” on a camera; how fast it opens and closes, and how much light is let in. The longer the exposure, the more concrete the image will be on the photographic film or sensor.
b. It’s the same with Jesus in our souls! The longer we look at Him, the more clear the ‘image’ of Jesus will be reproduced in us.
c. The Transfiguration was a LONG EXPOSURE of Peter, James, and John to the Person of Jesus. An indelible impression was made on their souls.
D. THESIS
1. We’re going to look at the 3 segments of this exposure to Jesus: the manifestation of the Kingdom of God; the Transfiguration of Jesus; and the Cloud & the Voice.
2. The title of this message is, “You Need A Long Exposure To Jesus!”
I. THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
A. EVENTS OF THE DAY ALLUDED TO
1. “About eight days after Jesus said this…” (vs. 1). There was a monumental day (8 days earlier) where an unusual number of pivotal events took place (see Lk. 8):
a. Peter’s Great Confession (vss. 18-20).
b. Jesus’ first announcement of His suffering (22).
c. The disciples were devastated (Mt. 16:22; Mk. 8:32).
d. Promise: “Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power” (vs 27).
2. HUMOR. Now these disciples really needed something; they needed a lot of character tweaking.
a. At times they were pompous, like the deacon who was endeavoring to impress upon a class of Sunday school boys the importance of living the Christian life.
b. "Why do people call me a Christian?" the man asked. After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, "Maybe it’s because they don’t know you." We all need perfecting!
B. HOW DOES THE KINGDOM COME?
1. PEOPLE ASSUME IT WILL PHYSICALLY COME. Luke 19:11, “…He was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. Acts 1:6, “So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
2. THIS KINGDOM IS NOT VISIBLE, BUT A MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S PRESENCE. “The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts]” Lk. 17:20-21 AMP.
3. SPIRITUAL SIGHT IS AN ORGAN OF NEW BIRTH. John 3:3; “In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4. IT INVOLVES THE HOLY SPIRIT. Rom. 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” 1 Cor, 4:20, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
C. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE IT?
JESUS’ COMPANIONS: Peter James and John. They appear to be:
1. Most receptive to Him.
2. Willing to give up the most to follow Him.
3. They combined faith with instant action.
4. They were taken with Jesus to 3 Locations:
a. When Jairus’ Daughter Raised,
b. The Transfiguration,
c. The Garden of Gethsemane.
D. WHAT BROUGHT ON THIS KINGDOM EXPERIENCE?
1. PRAYER. It was No accident. “As He [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of His face changed…” (vs. 9). Prayer makes the connection between Earth and Heaven. Prayer will Change you.
2. As Jesus prayed, the aperture/ shutter of heaven was opened, and the lens was focused on that obscure mountain top to reveal Who Jesus was.
II. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS
A. THE “FORM” OF GOD SHOWN THROUGH
1. Matthew says, "His face did shine as the sun and His raiment was white as the light." Light shone from within His being, making even His clothes appear white.
2. Paul said, "... in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" Col. 2:9. The deity of Jesus, previously veiled, now shone through Jesus’ earthly form.
3. This same light had shown forth in Genesis 1:3; “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” 2 Cor. 4:6.
4. Saul of Tarsus recognized his blindness when he saw that light. The Apostle John saw Him on the island of Patmos, describing Him as:
5. “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance” Rev. 1:14-16. John fell at His feet as a dead man!
6. NOTE: IF YOU EVER SEE JESUS IN ALL HIS GLORY, YOU’LL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!
B. THE EFFECT OF THE TRANFIGURATION?
1. What was the effect of Moses’ stay for 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai? His face shone with the glory of God!
2. What effect did the long exposure to Jesus have on His disciples? “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” Acts 4:13.
3. Jesus is the “Image of the Invisible God” (Col. 1:15), because Christ is the visible manifestation of all that God is. But unlike Moses, whose face faded, we may see the full and unfading glory of God manifest in the person of Christ.
4. The word translated “Image” in Hebrews 1:3 is the Greek word “Xarakter” and denotes a tool for engraving or a stamp/seal. The Son of God is “the very image of His [the Father’s] substance [Gr. “hypostasis”].” He, as the great Engraving Tool, wants to engrave His image and likeness on your soul!
5. But it takes exposure to Him. Photographers know that fast shutter speeds require more light. Five minutes may be enough time to unload the dishwasher, boil an egg, or drink a cup of coffee, but it’s not enough time to reproduce Christ in your life! More time – prayer, Bible.
6. The longer the exposure to Jesus, the more concrete His Image will be on the photographic film of your soul.
7. BEHOLDING…WE ARE TRANSFORMED. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18.
C. APPEARANCE OF MOSES AND ELIJAH
1. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear, talking to Jesus about his departure. What an exciting moment for those two great patriarchs to huddle with the Messiah just before he overthrows all the powers of hell and brings in everlasting righteousness!
2. Peter, who’s been taking a little nap, suddenly perks up and makes the silly suggestion he set up 3 Tabernacles in honor of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. That's why you shouldn't get caught sleeping!
3. HUMOR: 7 BEST THINGS TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK:
---"They told me at the blood bank this might happen."
---"I was just trying out the 15 minute power-nap they raved about at the time management course you sent me to."
--- "Whew! I guess I left the top off the White-Out. You probably got here just in time!"
--- "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm."
--- "Gee. Why did you interrupt me? I'd almost figured out the solution to our biggest problem!"
--- "Someone must've put decaf in the wrong pot..." and the number one best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk...
--- "In Jesus name, amen!"
III. THE CLOUD & THE VOICE
34 “While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped 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.”
A. A CLOUD APPEARS, SURROUNDS
1. This wasn’t an ordinary cloud: Mt 17:5 describes it as a "bright cloud,” it was “Luminous.”
2. This refers to the splendor of God’s presence, the brilliant light emanating from God (as in the Shekinah glory in the pillar of cloud and in the Holy of Holies).
3. The presence/Spirit of God is everywhere; however, at times His presence is manifested more visibly. The most concrete and complete manifestation took place in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
B. THE FATHER SPEAKS
1. As Peter was foolishly giving equal footing to the Great Lawgiver Moses and the Prophet of Fire, Elijah, to Jesus Christ – God the Father interrupts: “This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him.”
2. The Transfiguration not only supports the identity of Jesus as the Son of God, but the Father’s statement identifies Him as the ultimate Messenger and Voice of God.
3. No man is on par with the Son of God! So we can’t get our eyes on men: THEY FAIL. Elijah feared Jezebel and fled to Mt. Sinai. Moses struck the Rock twice.
C. “JESUS WAS FOUND ALONE”
1. With the conclusion of the Father speaking, the aperture of heaven closed and the disciples looked up to find Moses and Elijah gone, but Jesus remaining.
2. The Law & the Prophets cannot save; no doctrine, no teaching can save: Only Jesus can!
3. After all is said and done, Jesus stands alone! No one else is like Him. Don’t look to other men; Jesus, as God, is in a class by Himself.
4. ONLY JESUS:
a. Quiets the winds and waves;
b. Has the Words of eternal life;
c. Died on the cross for your sins;
d. Rose from the dead;
e. At the End of Time -- only Jesus will stand!
5. Remember Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the "Image" and the Rock cut out without hands that broke it up and became a great mountain that filled all things. That Rock was Christ!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. "Maybe you know the story of Sir John Bowring. A brilliant man who spoke five languages, Sir John was twice elected to Parliament. Knighted by the queen, he served at one time as governor of Hong Kong. It's said he wrote thirty-six books on a variety of subjects.
2. Today he’s best known for a hymn he wrote after a boat trip, sailing along the coast of China. Passing Macao, a city devastated by an earthquake, he spied the ruins of a mission church. Protruding from those ruins was the cross which had stood atop the chapel. That cross caused him to write these memorable words:
3. In the cross of Christ I glory / Towering o'er the wrecks of time / All the light of sacred story / Gathers round its head sublime.
4. Still today the cross of Jesus Christ towers over the wrecks of time—faded dreams, lost hopes, disappointments, violent acts of terrorism, wars, and the lack of peace. In the end, the cross of Christ will triumph over all.
B. THE CALL
1. We can’t live on the mountaintops. As soon as Jesus and the 3 came down off the mountain, and they went down into the valley where a boy was demon-possessed and his father was enormously upset. Off the mountaintop into the problems of real life.
2. But the disciples discovered that God is also down in the valley. God’s not only a God of the mountains, but also a God of the valleys! His grace is sufficient for us.
3. Jesus said, "I’ll be with you always, even to the end of the age." That's what we need -- His ABIDING PRESENCE!
4. How many of you would say, "I need a new mountaintop experience?" I want you to come up to the front and we're going to pray for you, that God would give you a new revelation of Jesus Christ in all of His glory!
5. How many of you would say, "I'm struggling in the Valley! I don't think I can get up the mountain; I need God's help to get me through this hour!"
6. You also come forward. We’ll get those who are on the mountain top to pray for those who are in the Valley!
