The Certainty Of Christ's Future Glory
Book of Luke 9
Since His days as a babe in the arms of His mother Mary, Jesus Christ knew exactly what He would go through. Jesus knew everything that lied ahead of Him in the days He would spend on this earth.
Luk 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
Jesus did not say He "would" suffer, He said He "must" suffer!
The suffering of Jesus Christ was a necessary to be obedient to His Father in Heaven!
The Father's will was the Son's law!
The entire nation of Israel had looked for the Messiah and having rejected Jesus the Messiah, many of them are still looking for the Messiah to come.
These people had not grasped the full meaning of the Messiah as written in the Old Testament Scriptures.
The work that the Lord Jesus Christ was sent to accomplish demanded the cross!
Messiah came first to redeem His people!
These Jews could only see His sovereignty, His power, and His glory!
They could only see His ruling and His reigning on this earth which will come later.
We can see that Jesus accepted the things that were about to happen to Him!
His willing acceptance of all these things were required. It was love that would be nailed to that cross along with all our sin!
There were 3 Jewish groups who would take the lead in killing Jesus.
The elders, the respected men of the community. Israel had no government of it's own at this time.
The chief priests, the religious system that was in place.
The scribes, who made copies of the Scriptures but taught the oral law.
Men from these 3 groups made up the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of Jewish justice.
We can see why we must have men on our own Supreme Court who are not politically motivated even today!
Jesus Christ was to bear His cross for all mankind!
BUT, there was another cross, a cross man was to bear for the Messiah!
To be a disciple of Jesus would bring it's own suffering!
*****Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The truth is that following the Lord Jesus Christ entails a "daily" willingness to die for Him!
We all have the tendency to indulge ourselves in our own desires.
The Lord Jesus, in His own words says that "we are to deny ourselves daily", in order to become His disciple!
Taking up our own cross refers to a condemned man hauling his own cross to the place of execution.
Jesus Christ did this very thing and He is our example even in this thing!
Each of us must follow Jesus and not someone else of this earth!
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.
The modern day Church has forgotten that we are to be like Christ.
Jesus Christ is to be our example in everything that we face!
No doubt these Jews knew exactly what the cross stood for. They had seen many criminals bearing their cross to the place of execution!
Part of the execution by the cross was the public display in places where it was easily seen by all people.
We should understand the our own cross does not mean we are to bear life's hardships.
It does not mean we are to bear poor health, or abuse by the government, or the abuse of our parents, or our spouse or even a wayward child!
The cross is an instrument of death! We are to die to ourselves!
We are to die mentally and actively to the things of this world and we are to do this daily!
We are to have the mind of Christ!
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
This is not a negative behavior because it is a positive behavior!
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
When we die to ourselves we become alive to God!
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
This is when God can make a use of us!
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
We need to understand what life really means.
*****Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Life as we know it on this earth quickly passes away!
We are born as babes and then the aging process begins and we fade and decay until there is only a lifeless corpse buried in some grave.
This in itself defeats all the laws of evolution. We never evolve we only decay just as all the things in our universe are doing the same!
When we work only to please ourselves we will lose our life eternally!
Life is not something that we possess!
1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Life is given by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
God gave us this life we have now in order that we may have fellowship with Him.
1Jn 1:3 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.
God gave us this life in order that we might fellowship with one another.
Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
God gave us this life in order that we be able to help save this world that is lost in sin!
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
We should be able to see that life is only real when we release ourselves to serve the Triune God!
There are no advantages to a life without Christ Jesus!
*****Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
If we sit down and think about these words of Jesus we can come to only one conclusion.
There are no eternal advantages of materialism!
There are actually some men who devote their time in pursuit of gaining all the riches this world, though that be impossible.
The truth of all those that reject Jesus Christ is that they will truly be cast into the Burning Lake of Fire.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Those that live only for themselves are actually wasting their lives on themselves.
Those that deny themselves and pick up their own cross and follow Jesus make their lives count for something that is truly important!
To be castaway is to suffer loss of, or to forfeit, To Lose What Is Of A Greater Value!
*****Luk 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
The truth is no man on the same level of man in their moral nature could ever be a Savior!
The judgment on the materialist of this world will be tragic.
Most of mankind are ashamed when they come face to face with the Word of God!
Most of mankind actually find comfort in their acceptance in a society of unbelievers.
Most of mankind find comfort in the sinful pleasures of this world.
The truth is Jesus will return to judge this world!
**Jesus will return in His own glory:
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
**Jesus will return in the glory of God:
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
**Jesus will return in the glory of the Angels:
Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
When Jesus Christ returns in His glory He will be ashamed of all those that have rejected Him and who showed their shame in Him!
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here on earth the greatest reward is salvation!
BUT, the reward to those who are saved is God's Kingdom!
Each believer has his place reserved in the Kingdom of God as soon as he believes!
Standing before Jesus this day were some who would be eyewitness of His death and resurrection.
Standing before Jesus that day were some who would witness the coming of the Holy Spirit.
And standing before Jesus that day would be some who would be eyewitnesses to His glory!
And now we see the the certainty of Christ's future glory.
*****Luk 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
Peter, James, and John could be said to be the inner circle of the 12 disciples.
They were all partners in the fishing business before coming to Christ and they would become fishers of men.
What we know is the Jesus had just announced His death on the cross it seems that God knew He needed a very special strength to face the pressure of the cross.
That added strength would come in His transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The disciples also would need some added strength and these three of the inner circle would witness the transfiguration, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter.
God gave them a glimpse of the glory of His Son!
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
And then Jesus began to pray.
We should know that the weight of the sin of the world, including our own sin already weighed heavy on Jesus at this time.
We should also know that the time was short before Jesus would give these disciples the keys to the Church.
*****Luk 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Luke says His countenance was altered and His raiment was white and glistering.
Matthew said His face did shine as the Sun.
Mark wrote His raiment became shining exceeding whits as snow as no fuller could white them.
On this day was Jesus seen in all His glory and in just a few days He would be unrecognizable!
Isa 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
But God had a purpose for all these things.
God was showing these men that Jesus was not only the Master teacher, not only the Miracle worker, not only a great Prophet, but that Christ Jesus was indeed a third part of the Triune God!
Jesus allowed His Godly nature to shine through Him.
Even on this day these disciples had no excuse for doubting the Savior!
The needs of these disciples were met but there was also a need of Jesus Himself.
We should understand that when our needs are desperate God will meet those needs in a special way!
We have recently learned that before major decisions are made it takes intense prayer.
We see here that when there are special needs it takes intense prayer!
These things can change our own countenance!
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Peace and blessedness comes to those who know the Lord!
But God was not through yet.
*****Luk 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Luk 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Moses the great Lawgiver appeared to Jesus and they discussed how Jesus would accomplish the fulfillment of the law on the cross in Jerusalem, which is God's great love for us..
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
Elijah the great Prophet appeared to Jesus and they discussed how Jesus would accomplish the fulfillment of all the prophets in Jerusalem with His life, His burial, His resurrection and His return a second time.
Luk 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
These two great men of the Old testament were giving strength to the only One who could fulfill the New Testament.
Jesus represented the New Covenant, Moses represents the Old Covenant, Elijah represents the prophesy that would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Peter, James, and John represented the Jews to whom the Covenants of Abraham and of David would be fulfilled.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Peter, James and John also represented the Apostles who would have the keys to building the Church!
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Peter was not that rock but Christ the Son of the Living God is that solid rock foundation of the Church of the Living God!
We should notice that Jesus was going to Jerusalem to accomplish the wishes of His Father in Heaven.
Jesus, the man. clearly understood the details of the great work which He and His Father were soon to accomplish in Jerusalem!
Both Moses and Elijah had trusted, and believed and hoped in this day when God would provide the means of salvation for all people, of all generations!
The truth is all our faith, and all our hope are realized and fulfilled in Christ Jesus!
That's why it is called "Grace"!
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Today we truly think of death as a bad thing but in reality to the Christian, death is a good thing and we should discuss our death with other Christians.
Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Sharing the knowledge of our home going can be an encouragement to others!
But Peter "with the foot shaped mouth" needed to learn another lesson along with James and John.
*****Luk 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.
Luk 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
The Lord Jesus had brought had brought these three chosen disciples to be witness of this event.
Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
They all had fallen asleep again while Jesus was praying but they were suddenly awaken by the "Shekinah Glory" of God.
They were in the very presence of God Himself and they knew they were on hallowed ground!
These disciples at once saw the source of the Lord Jesus' strength.
The throne of God is in Heaven but at this time the throne of Jesus Christ would be the cross.
It was good for them to be there on the Mount of Transfiguration!
Transfiguration is a change in form!
It is during the Church Age that we all stand on the Mount of Transfiguration and see the Glory of the Cross!
But we cannot spend the rest of our lives on the Mountain Top!
We cannot build shelter and homes and stay on the mountain top.
God calls us all down into the valley to spread the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!
When God has revealed in us the glory of His Son then we are to consecrate our lives to the work the Lord has given us to do just as He gave to all His disciples.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Just like Peter, we may not know what to say to these things but God will give us the answers!
*****Luk 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
Luk 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Most of the time God will speak to us in His still voice but but Peter, James, and John heard something else on this day.
When you are in the presence of God you will realize just how puny we human are compared to the awesomeness of the Almighty God!
**This was a bright cloud.
This cloud was bright because it contained the Shekinah Glory of God.
This was the same cloud that had guided Israel in their 40 years in the wilderness.
This was the same cloud that rested on the Tabernacle that Moses built.
This was the same cloud that rested on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies.
This was the same cloud where God dwells.
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Peter never forgot this day!
2Pe 1:16 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.
2Pe 1:17 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.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
**This was a bright cloud that overshadowed the Lord Jesus Christ.
When God gave Moses the laws of the Old Covenant, God came in a dark and overshadowing cloud:
Exo 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
The point being that the Old Covenant was dark and threatening:
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
The New Covenant in the Lord Jesus Christ is bright because it is given to save and to bless and not to threaten and condemn.
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Add to this:
Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
**And maybe the most important of all, the voice that came out of the cloud spoke and said "This Is My Beloved SON"!
God has given us the only means of salvation!
God has given us the only chance we will have to get to Heaven!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
**God's message was very clear when He said "HEAR HIM"!
Those soon to be Apostles were to hear what Jesus had to say!
We are to listen to what Jesus has to say!
God warns and commands every living man, woman, and child to listen to Christ Jesus!
Why?
1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
Faith is the key that unlocks the Glory of God!
1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
After God speaks He will give us some time to think about His words.
*****Luk 9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Quietness, Jesus was standing alone, No one said spoke the remainder of that night.
These disciples did not speak of these things until after the resurrection and the ascension of Christ back to Heaven.
Once we hear the Word of God, the things that Jesus spoke, there should be a time for silence, a time for being still, and a time for meditating on what Jesus says.
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
Psa 83:17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
Psa 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Solomon wrote that there is a time for all things and now is the time for "Grace"!
Now is the time for all the servants of God to spread the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ"!
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Just as we see that these Apostles saw the glory of Christ, we can be certain of Christ future glory!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Book of Luke 9
Since His days as a babe in the arms of His mother Mary, Jesus Christ knew exactly what He would go through. Jesus knew everything that lied ahead of Him in the days He would spend on this earth.
Luk 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
Jesus did not say He "would" suffer, He said He "must" suffer!
The suffering of Jesus Christ was a necessary to be obedient to His Father in Heaven!
The Father's will was the Son's law!
The entire nation of Israel had looked for the Messiah and having rejected Jesus the Messiah, many of them are still looking for the Messiah to come.
These people had not grasped the full meaning of the Messiah as written in the Old Testament Scriptures.
The work that the Lord Jesus Christ was sent to accomplish demanded the cross!
Messiah came first to redeem His people!
These Jews could only see His sovereignty, His power, and His glory!
They could only see His ruling and His reigning on this earth which will come later.
We can see that Jesus accepted the things that were about to happen to Him!
His willing acceptance of all these things were required. It was love that would be nailed to that cross along with all our sin!
There were 3 Jewish groups who would take the lead in killing Jesus.
The elders, the respected men of the community. Israel had no government of it's own at this time.
The chief priests, the religious system that was in place.
The scribes, who made copies of the Scriptures but taught the oral law.
Men from these 3 groups made up the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of Jewish justice.
We can see why we must have men on our own Supreme Court who are not politically motivated even today!
Jesus Christ was to bear His cross for all mankind!
BUT, there was another cross, a cross man was to bear for the Messiah!
To be a disciple of Jesus would bring it's own suffering!
*****Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The truth is that following the Lord Jesus Christ entails a "daily" willingness to die for Him!
We all have the tendency to indulge ourselves in our own desires.
The Lord Jesus, in His own words says that "we are to deny ourselves daily", in order to become His disciple!
Taking up our own cross refers to a condemned man hauling his own cross to the place of execution.
Jesus Christ did this very thing and He is our example even in this thing!
Each of us must follow Jesus and not someone else of this earth!
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.
The modern day Church has forgotten that we are to be like Christ.
Jesus Christ is to be our example in everything that we face!
No doubt these Jews knew exactly what the cross stood for. They had seen many criminals bearing their cross to the place of execution!
Part of the execution by the cross was the public display in places where it was easily seen by all people.
We should understand the our own cross does not mean we are to bear life's hardships.
It does not mean we are to bear poor health, or abuse by the government, or the abuse of our parents, or our spouse or even a wayward child!
The cross is an instrument of death! We are to die to ourselves!
We are to die mentally and actively to the things of this world and we are to do this daily!
We are to have the mind of Christ!
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
This is not a negative behavior because it is a positive behavior!
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
When we die to ourselves we become alive to God!
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
This is when God can make a use of us!
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
We need to understand what life really means.
*****Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Life as we know it on this earth quickly passes away!
We are born as babes and then the aging process begins and we fade and decay until there is only a lifeless corpse buried in some grave.
This in itself defeats all the laws of evolution. We never evolve we only decay just as all the things in our universe are doing the same!
When we work only to please ourselves we will lose our life eternally!
Life is not something that we possess!
1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Life is given by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
God gave us this life we have now in order that we may have fellowship with Him.
1Jn 1:3 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.
God gave us this life in order that we might fellowship with one another.
Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
God gave us this life in order that we be able to help save this world that is lost in sin!
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
We should be able to see that life is only real when we release ourselves to serve the Triune God!
There are no advantages to a life without Christ Jesus!
*****Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
If we sit down and think about these words of Jesus we can come to only one conclusion.
There are no eternal advantages of materialism!
There are actually some men who devote their time in pursuit of gaining all the riches this world, though that be impossible.
The truth of all those that reject Jesus Christ is that they will truly be cast into the Burning Lake of Fire.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Those that live only for themselves are actually wasting their lives on themselves.
Those that deny themselves and pick up their own cross and follow Jesus make their lives count for something that is truly important!
To be castaway is to suffer loss of, or to forfeit, To Lose What Is Of A Greater Value!
*****Luk 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
The truth is no man on the same level of man in their moral nature could ever be a Savior!
The judgment on the materialist of this world will be tragic.
Most of mankind are ashamed when they come face to face with the Word of God!
Most of mankind actually find comfort in their acceptance in a society of unbelievers.
Most of mankind find comfort in the sinful pleasures of this world.
The truth is Jesus will return to judge this world!
**Jesus will return in His own glory:
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
**Jesus will return in the glory of God:
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
**Jesus will return in the glory of the Angels:
Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
When Jesus Christ returns in His glory He will be ashamed of all those that have rejected Him and who showed their shame in Him!
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here on earth the greatest reward is salvation!
BUT, the reward to those who are saved is God's Kingdom!
Each believer has his place reserved in the Kingdom of God as soon as he believes!
Standing before Jesus this day were some who would be eyewitness of His death and resurrection.
Standing before Jesus that day were some who would witness the coming of the Holy Spirit.
And standing before Jesus that day would be some who would be eyewitnesses to His glory!
And now we see the the certainty of Christ's future glory.
*****Luk 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
Peter, James, and John could be said to be the inner circle of the 12 disciples.
They were all partners in the fishing business before coming to Christ and they would become fishers of men.
What we know is the Jesus had just announced His death on the cross it seems that God knew He needed a very special strength to face the pressure of the cross.
That added strength would come in His transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The disciples also would need some added strength and these three of the inner circle would witness the transfiguration, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter.
God gave them a glimpse of the glory of His Son!
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
And then Jesus began to pray.
We should know that the weight of the sin of the world, including our own sin already weighed heavy on Jesus at this time.
We should also know that the time was short before Jesus would give these disciples the keys to the Church.
*****Luk 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Luke says His countenance was altered and His raiment was white and glistering.
Matthew said His face did shine as the Sun.
Mark wrote His raiment became shining exceeding whits as snow as no fuller could white them.
On this day was Jesus seen in all His glory and in just a few days He would be unrecognizable!
Isa 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
But God had a purpose for all these things.
God was showing these men that Jesus was not only the Master teacher, not only the Miracle worker, not only a great Prophet, but that Christ Jesus was indeed a third part of the Triune God!
Jesus allowed His Godly nature to shine through Him.
Even on this day these disciples had no excuse for doubting the Savior!
The needs of these disciples were met but there was also a need of Jesus Himself.
We should understand that when our needs are desperate God will meet those needs in a special way!
We have recently learned that before major decisions are made it takes intense prayer.
We see here that when there are special needs it takes intense prayer!
These things can change our own countenance!
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Peace and blessedness comes to those who know the Lord!
But God was not through yet.
*****Luk 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Luk 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Moses the great Lawgiver appeared to Jesus and they discussed how Jesus would accomplish the fulfillment of the law on the cross in Jerusalem, which is God's great love for us..
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
Elijah the great Prophet appeared to Jesus and they discussed how Jesus would accomplish the fulfillment of all the prophets in Jerusalem with His life, His burial, His resurrection and His return a second time.
Luk 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
These two great men of the Old testament were giving strength to the only One who could fulfill the New Testament.
Jesus represented the New Covenant, Moses represents the Old Covenant, Elijah represents the prophesy that would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Peter, James, and John represented the Jews to whom the Covenants of Abraham and of David would be fulfilled.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Peter, James and John also represented the Apostles who would have the keys to building the Church!
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Peter was not that rock but Christ the Son of the Living God is that solid rock foundation of the Church of the Living God!
We should notice that Jesus was going to Jerusalem to accomplish the wishes of His Father in Heaven.
Jesus, the man. clearly understood the details of the great work which He and His Father were soon to accomplish in Jerusalem!
Both Moses and Elijah had trusted, and believed and hoped in this day when God would provide the means of salvation for all people, of all generations!
The truth is all our faith, and all our hope are realized and fulfilled in Christ Jesus!
That's why it is called "Grace"!
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Today we truly think of death as a bad thing but in reality to the Christian, death is a good thing and we should discuss our death with other Christians.
Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Sharing the knowledge of our home going can be an encouragement to others!
But Peter "with the foot shaped mouth" needed to learn another lesson along with James and John.
*****Luk 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.
Luk 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
The Lord Jesus had brought had brought these three chosen disciples to be witness of this event.
Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
They all had fallen asleep again while Jesus was praying but they were suddenly awaken by the "Shekinah Glory" of God.
They were in the very presence of God Himself and they knew they were on hallowed ground!
These disciples at once saw the source of the Lord Jesus' strength.
The throne of God is in Heaven but at this time the throne of Jesus Christ would be the cross.
It was good for them to be there on the Mount of Transfiguration!
Transfiguration is a change in form!
It is during the Church Age that we all stand on the Mount of Transfiguration and see the Glory of the Cross!
But we cannot spend the rest of our lives on the Mountain Top!
We cannot build shelter and homes and stay on the mountain top.
God calls us all down into the valley to spread the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!
When God has revealed in us the glory of His Son then we are to consecrate our lives to the work the Lord has given us to do just as He gave to all His disciples.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Just like Peter, we may not know what to say to these things but God will give us the answers!
*****Luk 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
Luk 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Most of the time God will speak to us in His still voice but but Peter, James, and John heard something else on this day.
When you are in the presence of God you will realize just how puny we human are compared to the awesomeness of the Almighty God!
**This was a bright cloud.
This cloud was bright because it contained the Shekinah Glory of God.
This was the same cloud that had guided Israel in their 40 years in the wilderness.
This was the same cloud that rested on the Tabernacle that Moses built.
This was the same cloud that rested on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies.
This was the same cloud where God dwells.
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Peter never forgot this day!
2Pe 1:16 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.
2Pe 1:17 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.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
**This was a bright cloud that overshadowed the Lord Jesus Christ.
When God gave Moses the laws of the Old Covenant, God came in a dark and overshadowing cloud:
Exo 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
The point being that the Old Covenant was dark and threatening:
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
The New Covenant in the Lord Jesus Christ is bright because it is given to save and to bless and not to threaten and condemn.
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Add to this:
Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
**And maybe the most important of all, the voice that came out of the cloud spoke and said "This Is My Beloved SON"!
God has given us the only means of salvation!
God has given us the only chance we will have to get to Heaven!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
**God's message was very clear when He said "HEAR HIM"!
Those soon to be Apostles were to hear what Jesus had to say!
We are to listen to what Jesus has to say!
God warns and commands every living man, woman, and child to listen to Christ Jesus!
Why?
1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
Faith is the key that unlocks the Glory of God!
1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
After God speaks He will give us some time to think about His words.
*****Luk 9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Quietness, Jesus was standing alone, No one said spoke the remainder of that night.
These disciples did not speak of these things until after the resurrection and the ascension of Christ back to Heaven.
Once we hear the Word of God, the things that Jesus spoke, there should be a time for silence, a time for being still, and a time for meditating on what Jesus says.
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
Psa 83:17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
Psa 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Solomon wrote that there is a time for all things and now is the time for "Grace"!
Now is the time for all the servants of God to spread the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ"!
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Just as we see that these Apostles saw the glory of Christ, we can be certain of Christ future glory!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
