GETTING READY FOR THE CROSS
Luke 9:28-36
Eight days Before going to the mountain to pray, Christ had set the stage for the transfiguration.
Jesus asked Peter who do you say I am? He replied, Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus told the twelve disciples that He would be taken to Jerusalem, rejected by the elders, the chief priest, and the teachers of the law. He would be killed and raised on the
third day. He warned the disciple not to tell anyone.
You would think the knowledge of Jesus\’ pending death and resurrection would be fresh in the minds of the disciples. But they soon forgot His words. Jesus words did not fit
Their perception of their Messiah.
Even though the Word does not fit our understanding, we must accept it.
SET ASIDE ALONE TIME WITH GOD
V:28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
When we go into prayer, we have the Lord as our advocate
We have the angles as our comforters.
We have the Holy Spirit as our helper in prayer.
Your private prayer takes you out of this world into heavenly places.
Ephesians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Prayer is the time to bring our petitions and supplication to the Lord. But it is also the time to allow the Lord to refresh our minds about the spiritual blessing He has for us. We can be comforted in our daily problems by remembering the promises Jesus has made to us. Prayer is a time to listen to the Lord\’s guidance. Prayer is a time of
Praise and worship. Prayer is a time of thanksgiving.
The Lord took only three of the twelve disciples up to the mountain to pray.
He took Peter who was quick with a word. Peter would become the leader
In the new Church
He took James the first disciple to be martyred.
He took John the one He loved and the last to die.
He wrote the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John
When we pray, we ought to lift ourselves out of the worldly environment to a place of
solitude. When we connect with Jesus in prayer we are in the heavenly realm.
We never know how God will use our prayers.
THE POWER TO CHANGE IS IN PRAYER
V:29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
Prayer changes things. The first change ought to be in us. There was a change in His face. It became radiant.
When we get out of self and get into the Lord, there is going to be a change.
Prayer ought to have a purpose. Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the mountain for
them a glimpse of heavenly beings. They became His witnesses to the Father\’s work.
Jesus’s clothes changed to being bright as a flash of lighting. God will clean up, not just
on the outside but the inside.
Hebrews 10:22
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
The purpose of prayer is to develop a close relationship with the Father.
IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, THE LORD IS OUR COMFORT
V:30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
Jesus had three witnesses from heaven. Moses, Elijah, and the Father
Moses and Elijah represent two ways we enter heaven.
Moses died and then was taken into heaven.
Elijah was transfigured into heaven alive.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Whatever we are going through in life, God has a word of comfort. Jesus at the start of His ministry was comforted by angels in the desert. Throughout His ministry, Jesus would go off and pray alone.
It was the Father who sent the two glorified saints to discuss with Jesus His death, resurrection, and accession back into heaven. Perhaps they strengthen His resolve to endure the cross according to the will of the Father.
If Jesus took time to be comforted by the Lord, we ought to be of the same mind
IN PRAYER, KEEP YOUR MIND ENGAGED
V:32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
The Lord was praying, but Peter, James, and John were not participating in the prayer.
After a long day, sleep can become easy
You would think the knowledge of Jesus\’ pending death and resurrection would be fresh in the minds of the disciples. But they soon forgot His words. Jesus words did not fit
Their perception of their Messiah.
Even though the Word does not fit our understanding, we must accept it.
They woke up in the middle of the conversation.
It may have been the bright light that awakened them. They witness the glory of Christ and the two men with Him. This was a new revelation to them.
According to the discussion 8 days earlier, the Jews had reported to Herod the possible resurrection of John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. This may have played into their acceptance of resurrected saints. Sometimes it\’s easy to mix superstition with facts.
When others are praying, we all need to be involved. There is power in cooperate prayer.
Anything is possible if two can touch and agree.
IT’S GOOD TO BE WITH JESUS
V:33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, \”Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\” (He did not know what he was saying.)
As usual, Peter was quick with a suggestion. When he was wrong, he was all the way wrong. Why would glorified saints with a home in heaven need temporary shelter on earth?
When Peter was right, He was all the way right. He had a connection with the
Holy Spirit.
Certainly, it was good for the disciples to witness Christ in His glory with the saints.
In Christ is all knowledge. No one told Peter the glorified saints were Moses and Elijah.
Knowledge of scripture is uncommon knowledge. 8 days earlier, Peter got
insight from the Holy Spirit of who Jesus was.
THE WORD CONFIRMS ITSELF
V:34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, \”This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.\”
The cloud represented the presence of God. It was God in a cloud that protected Israel as they traveled through the desert to the promised land. When things are confusing, meditation on the Word brings clarity. According to Matthew 17 when the disciple heard the Father speak, they fell down on their faces and were terrified.
The three disciples in the cloud heard the conforming, comforting word of God.
This is the Word we all need. Three things to pay attention to:
1)This is My Son. Jesus is the Son of God.
2)I have chosen Him. The Father chose Jesus to bear the cross for our sins
3) Listen to Him. The Word is truth. The Word is profitable. The Word provides
guidance and directions. The Word provides peace and joy. The Word is Spirit
inspired.
The Word of God is all you need to know about everything.
Prayer changes things. The first change ought to be in us. There was a change in His face. It became radiant.
When we get out of self and get into the Lord, there is going to be a change.
Prayer ought to have a purpose. Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the mountain for
them a glimpse of heavenly beings. They became His witnesses to the Father\’s work.
The purpose of prayer is to develop a close relationship with the Father.
Whatever we are going through in life, God has a word of comfort. Jesus at the start of His ministry was comforted by angels in the desert. Throughout His ministry, Jesus would go off and pray alone.
It was the Father who sent the two glorified saints to discuss with Jesus His death, resurrection, and accession back into heaven. Perhaps they strengthen His resolve to endure the cross according to the will of the Father.
When others are praying, we all need to be involved. There is power in cooperate prayer.
Anything is possible if two can touch and agree.
THE WORD OF GOD IS COMPLETE
V:36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and told no one at that time what they had seen.
All the disciples needed to know about Jesus was complete in their minds. They had a vision and information that would never leave them. They had the comfort and insight they would need for the mission of the Gospel. It was truly Good for them to be there because they had the prelude to the Good News Of Jesus Christ.
Why would they keep it to themselves? First, they didn\’t fully understand what they
had witnessed. Second, they were commanded not to tell anyone until He was raised from the dead.
The Word of God is complete. You cannot add anything to it or take any words
From it.
Revelation 22:18-19
If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Let us get ready for the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
