Jesus took
Peter, James, and John up the mountain to pray.
-
Disciple
making
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Example
and Exercise
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And
they fell asleep
o
Sometimes,
I’m accused of being boring when I teach. Apparently, I’m not alone.
o
Reflection
of a deeper problem – spiritual struggle to cherish the things of God.
While Jesus
was praying, His face changed somehow.
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Clothes
became dazzling white – like a flash of lightning!
Two O.T.
heroes appeared.
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Moses
– led Israel during the exodus to the promised land.
o
He
didn’t get to enter, then, but now! Here he is!
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Elijah
– Great prophet – God did awesome miracles through him to turn Israel’s hearts
back to their savior.
o
Jesus
was there to reconcile all sinners to God!
They spoke
with Jesus about his departure.
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What
do you think that is?
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Original
says, his exodus.
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Great
act of salvation – the cross!
All this
glory wakes up Peter, James, and John.
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They
don’t know what to say!
o
Sleepiness
to vision of Jesus’ glory
o
Normal
Jesus to lightning bright Jesus!
-
Peter
pipes up – but he misses the point.
o
Good
to be here?
o
Exodus
– the salvation is the main the thing, and that requires leaving the mountain.
Cloud
envelopes them – “This is My Son, My Chosen One, listen to Him.”
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Listen
to Him.
Have you
ever thought about how many voices clamor for your attention? How many
messengers bombard you daily, moment by moment, crying out – “Listen to me!”
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Distracting!
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Who
do you listen to?
Plugged in.
-
Smart
Phone and Smart Watch … dumb me!
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Music
– does it have a message? Some do, and it is not always godly.
o
“I
don’t listen to the words.” Really? (Born at night, but not last night!)
o
We
sing along as we drive down the road. Do you think that doesn’t influence you?
o
Biblical
meditation – repetition.
-
News
– Fox? CNN? MSNBC? NPR?
o
Find
it uplifting?
o
Don’t
forget that the news is a business. Selling outrage. “If it bleeds, it leads!”
o
They
shape the way we think, and the way we look at the world. Holiness is not their
priority.
-
Social
Media – Political echo chambers. Posed pictures of perfection.
o
“Friends”
you’ve never met. (Me too!)
o
Sell
a sense of discontent, and pushing ideas that have no basis in God’s Word.
One more
voice to consider – that voice in your head.
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Joke
– “I talk to myself because sometimes I need to consult an expert.”
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Are
your thoughts authoritative over all things?
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Is
it wise to trust your own ideas abot what is good, right, fair and just … even
if you disagree with what God says?
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In
the end, whose opinion matters when we talk about
o
How
to treat aliens and strangers?
o
Sexuality?
o
Providing
for the sick and impoverished?
o
Protection
of life from conception to the moment a person takes their last breath?
o
Because
God has somethings to say on each of those topics … and what he says doesn’t
always seem to be honored.
-
One
of the most dangers statements I have ever heard is, “I know the Bible says …
but I think.”
o
The
temptation to place ourselves above God.
o
We
become judges of God.
And friends,
this makes it all the more important to know what Jesus teaches and says – what
he emphasizes to us is this:
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“The
Kingdom of God has come! Repent and believe the Good News!”
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It
is a kingdom of grace
o
Emphasis
is the exodus – God bringing salvation to sinners, leading us out of slavery.
o
Calls
us the church – “those who are called out”
o
John
10 – the Good Shepherd – leads us out of a life dominated by sin and the
desires of the flesh into holiness through his forgiveness and the work of the
Spirit to transform us.
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Jesus
calls sleepy disciples like you and me to wake up and see His glory.
o
Not
the glory at the mountain
o
Hidden
glory revealed on a hill just outside of Jerusalem – glory of the cross when He
was lifted up to save us from sin and death.
o
Without
words, Jesus on the cross proclaims – “I love you. I forgive you. I redeem you.
I restore you. I reconcile you to the Father.”
Listen to
Jesus.
-
Yes,
he says, “Follow me! Live this way! Turn from sin! Think like me!”
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But
his central message is:
o
Your
sins are forgiven.
o
I
feed your faith – given in baptism, fed with Jesus’ body and blood.
o
You
are free.
§ Not free to chase after the
priorities of the messengers of the world. Not free to satisfy the cravings of
your sinful flesh. You could do that in trespasses and sin.
§ You are free to live in Jesus’ love
and salvation, rescued in Jesus’ exodus, the great act of salvation He
discussed with Moses and Elijah at the mountain. Amen.
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