Sermon Central
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Witnessed By Disciples
Contributed by Bishop Johnathan Hester on Feb 18, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there
Witnessed by Disciples
STATING THE SCRIPTURES (Matthew 17:1-12)
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
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.
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
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. Get up, he said. Don’t be afraid. When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead. The disciples asked him, Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?
Jesus replied, To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist
SETTING THE STAGE
After a trip of 6 or so days and a very long day a small weary group of people stopped at the bottom of a mountain to make camp for the night.
Four men left this group and started walking up a small trail that lead to a beautiful spot high up on Mt. Tabor.
Two of the men were picking up small limb’s that were laying on the ground. The larger of the men maybe in his late twenties was starting a fire with leaves and small sticks.
These three men sit around the fire warming themselves from the chill of the night air. Setting so they can see their leader from the glow of the setting sun as day slowly turns to night.
They notice that their master had been standing quietly five or six feet from the edge of a cliff and about 25 feet from them. He had been there for what seemed to them a long time.
The way they were sitting they could see a beautiful view of the setting sun that was leaving behind a reddish blue sky.
The man that brought them to this place began to slowly lower his hands from praise to place them by his side.
Just then right before their eyes Peter, James and John saw the appearance of Jesus change from the inside out. The magnificent array of lights engulfed them.
Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light that radiated out into the night in all directions.
They stood trying to block the light with their hands and peeped around their cloths that were hanging from their arms. Finally they looked directly into the bright light that seem to fill the night.
They realized by way of Gods Spirit that the men they saw through the bright light were Moses and Elijah. The three were in deep conversation with each other.
Peter, after a short time started slowly walking towards Jesus, Moses and Elijah. In Peters mind he couldn’t believe that his master was actually talking with Moses and Elijah. After all Moses was the giver of the law and Elijah was the greatest prophet of all time.
In his excitement he spoke to Jesus in a loud and nervous voice as the three continue to talk.
He said Master, what would you think if I built three monument right here. . Peter, in his exuberance about what was happening, kept talking barely aware that he was talking so much.
Suddenly a large cloud appeared over them. Deep within the cloud a terrifying voice said: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Right then it was like every drop of strength left their bodies. They fell to the ground on their faces and couldn’t move until Jesus touched them.
Jesus said arise and don’t be afraid. When they arose and looked around the only person they saw was Jesus.
Over 40 years later Peter now in his early 70’s tells of this story again in his letter to the world. This time he says the prophets of old had foretold everything about Jesus.
