A Glimpse of Glory

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

26 August 2018

Updated: 24 August 2018

By:

Boyce Belt

A Glimpse of Glory

Opening:

• Prayer

Text:

Mark 9:2-13 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to 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. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

Introduction:

The events of today’s text take place on the heels of last week’s lesson when Jesus began to speak to his disciples of His impending death.

1. The Revelation of Glory

1. Transformed

1. The word transfigured describes a change on the outside that comes from the inside.  It is the opposite of Masquerade which is an outward change that does not come from within.^[1]
2. Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (KJV) Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
4. Note that our Lord was once again praying, which suggest that prayer is one of the keys to a transformed life.^[2]

2. Transcendent

1. Peter desired to place Moses and Elijah on the same level with Jesus.^[3]
2. This amazing experiences was not only to show the disciples that Jesus was God’s Son, but also to show them that he supersedes the law and the prophets and that they were subordinate to Him.  It also explained that what Jesus was doing was no mystery to the Old Testament.  The Old Testament people had been long looking forward to the Messiah and His kingdom.^[4]
3. The law in the person of Moses and the prophets in the person of Elijah came now to do homage to Jesus Christ, and to render up their authority into his hands; as he was the end of the law and the grand subject of the predictions of the prophets.^[5]
4. Moses and Elijah conversed with the Lord on his death because in it all the rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices of the law as well as the predictions of the prophets were fulfilled.^[6]
5. The disciples wished to detain Moses and Elijah that they might hear them: but God shows that the law which had been in force, and the prophets which had prophesied until now, must all give place to Jesus; and he alone must now be attended to, as the way, the truth, and the life.^[7]

3. Triumphant

2. The Response to Glory

1. God’s Glory Reflected (Moses)
2. Man’s Sinfulness Revealed (Isaiah)
3. Carnality’s Wisdom Rejected

1. Peter felt something had to be said
2. The desire to remain in that place

1. The implication of Peter’s statement that it is good for us to be here is that it is good for us to always be here.^[8]
2. Many desire to camp on pas blessings, but we must descend the mountain to face the enemy.  We will note in next weeks lesson that immediately on coming from the mount they were faced with a demon possessed boy.
3. Peter wanted Jesus to hold on to the glory apart from the suffering, but this was not God’s plan.^[9]
4. Discipleship means denying self, taking up a cross, and following Him, and you cannot do that and selfishly stay on the mount of glory.  If we want to share the glory of Christ on the mountaintop, we must be willing to follow Him into the sufferings of the valley below.^[10]

3. In Luke’s account (chapter 9) we are told that Moses and Elijah were discussing with Jesus His impending death.  The disciples had to learn that suffering and glory go together.^[11]

3. The Recommendation from Glory — Mark 9:7 (KJV) And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

1. Hear the Word

1. The important thing is not seeing wonderful sights but hearing God’s Word.^[12]
2. 2 Peter 1:16-21 (KJV) 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.  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.

2. Heed the Word

1. The memory of visions will fade, but the unchanging Word abides forever.  The glorious vision was not an end in itself; it was God’s way of confirming the Word.^[13]
2. The affirmation by the heavenly Father of Jesus’ redemptive mission commands the disciples to accept Jesus’ instructions about His suffering.^[14]

3. Herald the Word

Conclusion:

Next Week: A Powerless Church Mark 9:14-29

As wonderful as these experiences are, they are not the basis for consistent Christian life.  That can come only through the Word of God.  Experiences come and go, but the Word remains.  Our recollection of past experiences will fade, but God’s word never changes.  The farther we get from these events, the less impact they make on our lives.  That was why the Father said, “hear him?” and why Peter made this same emphasis on the wording His report (2 Peter 1:12-21).  Our own personal “transfiguration” comes from inner reviews and that comes from the Word.^[15]

Prayer