Introduction:
• What we will address today is not necessarily the next Red Letters of our series but it fits here beautifully as a discussion of the Majesty, Glory and Splendor of our Savior.
• Today we will discuss the meaning of the transfiguration and its affects upon our faith.
• We will also be challenged to allow God to transform us!
Let’s begin by defining “transfiguration.”
I. Transfiguration - The Greek word translated as "transfiguration" is the word "metamor-phothe," from which we get “metamorphosis." A complete change of appearance & form.
A. Jesus went through more than one transfiguration.
1. Jesus left heaven’s glory, robed Himself in humanity, became a little lower than the angels all for us.
2. Jesus became the sacrificial lamb.
3. Jesus proved Himself alive after His crucifixion. (Transforming from death to life)
B. Jesus was transfigured back to His heavenly state on the Mount of Transfiguration and Peter, James and John were able to “behold His majesty and see His glory!”
1. Luke 9:32 - But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
- The Apostle John later talked about this in the beginning of his gospel.
2. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
II. Glory - May we behold God’s glory!
A. His glory is revealed to those who hunger. Are we hungry for God’s glory?
1. Psalms 119:20 AMP My heart is breaking with the longing that it has for Your ordinances and judgments at all times.
2. Psalms 119:81 AMP My soul languishes and grows faint for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.
3. John 6:35 AMP Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time).
B. His glory is revealed to those who seek. Are we willing to put forth the effort to seek?
1. Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
C. His glory is revealed to those who believe. Do we really believe?
1. 2 Peter 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
III. Read 2 Peter 1:16-21: Majesty - sovereign power, authority, or dignity; royal bearing or aspect - Merriam Webster’s Dictionary
A. Beginning with the first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, and continuing throughout their preaching and teaching, the apostles appealed to two lines of evidences upon which our faith is to rest. They are:
1. The Testimony of Apostolic Eyewitness.
2. The Testimony of Old Testament Prophecies.
B. The Testimony of Apostolic Witness
2 Peter 1:16-18
16. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
1. They did not follow fables - They saw Him as in splendor, glory and majesty! - Eyewinesses
2. In Acts 10:41 Peter stated that they had “ate and drank with Jesus after He was risen from the dead!” - Eyewitnesses
3. John describes his “eyewitness account” with the risen Christ like this:
1 John 1:1-3
1. 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, of the Word of life;
2. (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
C. The Testimony of Old Testament Prophecy
2 Peter 1:19-21
19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
1. Why is the prophecies of old a “more sure word of prophecy” now? Because they find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
- Scriptures like Isaiah 9:6-7 & Isaiah 53:1-12 talked of a “coming Messiah”. Jesus was the fulfillment of those prophecies and the Apostles (and many others) were eyewitnesses also!
2. “A light that shines in a dark place” speaks of the “cloud” of the prophetic.
- When Jesus is revealed the cloud lifts!
- “No prophecy of the Scripture is of private interpretation” therefore, the REVEALED MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST became the “light that shined in a dark place” and through the revelation of God, He was revealed to be the Son of God! (This is borne out through the words of Jesus when He said, “I am the light of the world…”)
3. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed!
- In the OT “holy men of God spake as they were moved on by the Holy Ghost.” In the NT Holy men of God are vessels the Holy Ghost uses to speak through! (The Holy Spirit came upon people in the OT, The Holy Spirit came into people in the NT)
Closing: The transfiguration is more than a neat Sunday School story. The transfiguration was eyewitness proof (evidence) that Jesus is the Son of God!
1. Jesus wants to transform us today! (Take us from glory to glory)
2. Jesus wants to reveal Himself to us today!
3. Jesus wants to work through us today!
4. Jesus desires that we behold His Majesty and see His glory!
