The Transfiguration Series

The Great Commission

Part 13 – Jesus is Transfigured

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –

“Seminary Students will be preaching”

April 6th – Lori Ulman

April 13th – Lynnette Higgins

April 20th – Walker Spriggs

April 27th – Deacon Kurt Ulman

WHERE WE ARE AT

† Peter confesses Jesus is God

† Jesus foretells His death

† Jesus is Transfigured

INTRODUCTION

Peter had confessed that Jesus was Lord. And the Lord let Him know how important that statement was.

The confession that Jesus IS God is what Salvation is hinged upon.

Jesus then foretells His death, and Peter, forgetting who the shepherd was, forgot his place and grabbed Jesus by the arm and led Him aside and said to Him, “No, you can not die!”

Sometimes when things are good in our lives, we forget who is leading, and who we are to follow.

Sometimes we try to lead God where we think we should go.

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 17:1-8

1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don’t be afraid." 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

I. JESUS SHOWS THE PLAN OF GOD FOR REDEMPTION

a. Jesus takes Peter, James and John his brother to a high place in the mountains apart from the other Disciples.

i. Many times Jesus goes off to pray and be alone in the Spirit.

ii. We see Jesus do this after hard times, and before hard times.

1. John the Baptist killed

2. Before the Crucifixion

b. The Glory of the Lord shined from Jesus.

i. His face shined as the sun and His clothes were white from the light.

1. Jesus revealed He is God by showing His glory!

Revelation 1:16

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.

The Glory that only God can shine.

We can sometimes see this in other people, but it’s in internal glow, which comes from the Holy Spirit. This is the presence of God and His Glory shining outwardly.

So bright, it made the clothes appear to turn white.

As Jesus reveals Himself, two more figures appear.

c. Moses and Elijah appear.

i. Moses represents the Old Covenant of the Law and Prophets.

1. Many places in scripture, it is called The Law of Moses, or Books of Moses. The Jews associated Moses with the Law.

ii. Elijah represents the New Covenant and raptured Saints.

1. He represents the New Covenant and the Raptured saints because;

a. The biblical story of Elijah’s departure is unique. Elijah, in company with Elisha, approaches the Jordan. He rolls up his mantle and strikes the water (2 Kings 2:8). The water immediately divides and Elijah and Elisha cross on dry land. Suddenly, a chariot of fire and horses of fire appear and Elijah is lifted up to heaven in a whirlwind. As Elijah is lifted up, his mantle falls to the ground and Elisha picks it up.

Elijah was ushered up into heaven. He did not die.

b. Based on a prophecy in Malachi, many Jews still await his return as precursor to the coming of the Messiah.

The Pessach tradition places a chair and place setting at the table for Elijah, showing they expect his return before the Messiah.

Elijah will return just before the Messiah comes.

I believe scripture points to Elijah being one of the Two Saints in Tribulation that comes before the Second Coming of Christ.

So Elijah, because he was raptured, and will return shortly after we are raptured to be with the Lord for 7 years during Tribulation, he represents the New Covenant.

iii. These two men represent all the followers of God throughout time.

We see this in heaven as well.

In revelation you read of the 24 Elders, 12 on each side of the Throne of God, one side representing the Old Covenant and the other side representing the New Covenant, 12 tribes, 12 apostles.