Grosey's Messages

Luke 9  THE GLIMPSE OF HIS GLORY

27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God."

28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.

30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,

31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.

33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" --- not knowing what he said.

34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.

35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"

36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

A Boy Is Healed

37 Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.

38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, "Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.

39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.

40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not."

41 Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."

42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,

44 "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."

45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.

47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him,

48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great."

49 Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."

50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side."

51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.

53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"

55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."

58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

59 Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God."

61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."

62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

THE GLIMPSE OF THE GLORY OF JESUS

Mount Tabor or Mount Hermon?  Jesus and His three closest friends walked to the top and He began to pray. The most significant experiences of His earthly life occurred when He was praying; that ought to teach us something. As He was praying, He was transfigured. The Greek word is the verb metamorphoo. We get our word metamorphosis from it. It means "a change on the outside which comes from within."  Jesus was changed from an ordinary looking man into a figure of light with brilliant beams radiating from his body. The reason His clothes became white was from the light emanating from His body. I can just imagine Simon Peter rubbing his eyes, wondering if he was really seeing what he thought he was seeing. This is a very important event in Jesus' life, because it confirms He was not merely a man. He was God in the flesh. For most of His 33 years of human existence, His human flesh obscured and veiled His Deity. But at this time, His true divine nature was revealed.

This is how Peter describes it 2Peter 1: 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

1. IT IS THE GLIMPSE OF HIS ETERNAL GLORY

The writer of Hebrews pulls back the veil and lets us know who Jesus really is. "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being sustaining all things by his powerful word." (Hebrews 1:3) A respected theologian, Dr. Kent Hughes writes in his commentary:

"For a brief moment the veil of Jesus' humanity was lifted and His true essence was allowed to shine through. The glory which was always in the depths of His being rose to the surface for that one time in His earthly life. Or, put another way, He slipped back into eternity to His pre-human glory. It was a glance back and a look forward into His future glory!"

The word "glory" carries with it the idea of glowing brilliance. When the angels visited the shepherds outside Bethlehem, the "glory of the Lord shone all around them." There is a brilliant light associated with the character and nature of God. There are three Biblical statements summarizing the nature of God. We are told (1) God is holy; (2) God is love; and (3) God is light. Peter, James and John saw this  glory in Jesus. Have you glimpsed that glory? John saw Him and he wrote "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow and his eyes were like blazing fire. ... His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." (Revelation 1:14, 16) Sound familiar? That's how Jesus appeared on the mountain. In Exodus 33, Moses asked God directly to let him see His glory. God told Moses if he looked at His face, he would die instantly. So, the Lord placed Moses in a cleft in the rock and His glory "passed by." Moses was allowed to glimpse the "afterglow" of God's glory but that was enough. Moses came down the mountain with his face shining and glowing as if he had gotten the sunburn to end all sunburns. My friend, you don't have to see the glory of God with your eyes—in fact, it would blind you.

2. IT IS THE GLIMPSE OF HIS SAVING GLORY

Two visitors appear on the mountain and they are talking with Jesus. One is identified as Moses

and the other as Elijah. By the way, that confirms we will keep our personal identity in heaven.

Why Moses and Elijah? Why not Noah and Jonah, or Abraham and David? Once you understand the significance of Moses and Elijah, you'll begin to see why Jesus allowed the disciples to witness His transfiguration. Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets, but it goes much deeper than that. Verse 31 tells us "they were talking about his departure (exodus) which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem." They were talking about Jesus' upcoming death. The New Testament uses the word "departure" interchangeably with "death." Just before he died, Paul wrote, "The time of my departure is at hand." I like that. "Departure" means you are headed somewhere. Moses and Elijah are unique because they both had unusual deaths. They weren't actually deaths at all; they were more like "departures."

This passage shows us that the Old Testament saints in glory take a deep interest in Christ's atoning death. We are told that when Moses and Elijah appeared in glory with our Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration, they "talked with Him." And what was the subject of their conversation? We are not obliged to make conjectures and guesses about this. Luke tells us, "they spoke of His decease, which He should accomplish at Jerusalem." They knew the meaning of that death. They knew how much depended on it. Therefore they "talked" about it. It is a grave mistake to suppose that holy men and women under the Old Testament knew nothing about the sacrifice which Christ was to offer up for the sin of the word. Their light, no doubt, was far less clear than ours. They saw things afar off and indistinctly, which we see, as it were, close at hand. But there is not the slightest proof that any Old Testament saint ever looked to any other satisfaction for sin, but that which God promised to make by sending Messiah. From Abel downwards the whole company of old believers appear to have been ever resting on a promised sacrifice, and a blood of almighty efficacy yet to be revealed. From the beginning of the world there has never been but one foundation of hope and peace for sinners--the death of an Almighty Mediator between God and man. It was the subject of which Moses and Elijah were seen speaking when they appeared in glory. They spoke of the atoning death of Christ.

Let us take heed that this death of Christ is the ground of all our confidence. Nothing else will give us comfort in the hour of death and the day of judgment. Our own works are all defective and imperfect. Our sins are more in number than the hairs of our heads. (Psalm 40:12.) Christ dying for our sins, and rising again for our justification, must be our only plea, if we wish to be saved. Happy is that man who has learned to cease from his own works, and to glory in nothing but the cross of Christ! If saints in glory see in Christ's death so much beauty, that they must needs talk of it, how much more ought sinners on earth.

3. IT WAS A GLIMPSE OF HIS RESURRECTION GLORY

We are told that when our Lord appeared in glory, Moses and Elijah were seen with Him, standing and speaking with Him. Moses had been dead nearly fifteen hundred years. Elijah had been taken up by a whirlwind from the earth more than nine hundred years before this time. Yet here these holy men were seen once more alive, and not only alive, but in glory!

The last chapter of Deuteronomy tells us on the day Moses died God took him to a tall mountain and showed him the Promised Land. Basically God said, "This is the land I promised to Abraham. I'm letting you see it, but you will not cross over into it." (Deuteronomy 34:4) Moses died there and it says "God buried him, and to this day, no one knows where his grave is." There is a pseudoepigraphical Jewish writing called The Assumption of Moses claims Moses' body was assumed into heaven. We don't know for sure, but when you jump over to the little book of Jude, we find the archangel Michael disputed with the devil about the body of Moses. (Jude 9) So, it's entirely possible Moses was raised, because there he was, 1,600 years later standing before Jesus. "Let us take comfort in the blessed thought that there is a resurrection and a life to come. All is not over, when the last breath is drawn. There is another world beyond the grave. But, above all, let us take comfort in the thought, that until the day dawns, and the resurrection begins, the people of God are safe with Christ." Ryle.

MOSES–The forerunner of those who will be raised up (dead and buried)

The Bible says when Jesus returns, the dead in Christ will rise first (they have six feet further to go). Moses is a representative of all of the precious saints who have died. The moment a Christian dies, their soul and spirit goes to be with Jesus. Paul wrote, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8) But the bodies of believers have been buried, or burned or lost at sea. When Jesus returns, these bodies will be resurrected and these folks will live with the Lord forever. Have you had a loved one who has already died? Perhaps your grandparents or parents or spouse or children have already died. When Jesus returns, they will be resurrected, like Moses. And you will recognize them just as Jesus recognized Moses.

4. IT WAS A GLIMPSE OF HIS RETURNING GLORY

J.C. Ryle says "this passage shows us something of the glory which Christ will have at His second coming. We read that "the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His clothing was white and glistering," and that the disciples who were with Him "saw His glory."

We need not doubt that this marvelous vision was meant to encourage and strengthen our Lord's disciples. They had just been hearing of the cross and passion, and the self-denial and sufferings to which they must submit themselves, if they would be saved. They were now cheered by a glimpse of the "glory that should follow," and the reward which all faithful servants of their Master would one day receive. They had seen their Master's day of weakness. They now saw, for a few minutes, a pattern and specimen of His future power. We know exactly what happened to Elijah. We are told in 2 Kings 2 Elijah didn't die. Instead, he was "caught up" by a chariot of fire and was taken to heaven in a whirlwind. Now, think about those two deaths. Moses died and was raised. Elijah didn't die, but was caught up to heaven. Is that ringing any bells for you yet? The Transfiguration is a preview of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which will launch the Kingdom of God. 1 Thessalonians 4:16- 17: "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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be CAUGHT UP [Latin raptio] with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." Moses and Elijah represent the two categories of people who will be claimed by Jesus when He returns.

Those of us who are alive when Jesus returns won't die—we will be raptured. The English word "rapture" doesn't appear in the Bible. We get it from the Latin word raptio, which is the translation of the word harpadzo, which means "caught up." Just as Elijah didn't die but was "caught up" to heaven in a chariot of fire, that's what will happen to us when Jesus returns. The Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek in 132 BC. Seventy-two translators were used so the Greek translation of the Old Testament is called the "Septuagint" (LXX). Long before Jesus promised His return and Paul wrote about it, the translators of the LXX were translating 2 Kings 2. Can you guess which Greek word they used to describe what happened to Elijah when he was "caught up" in a fiery chariot? They used the word harpadzo—exactly the same word Paul used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. So, Elijah was "raptured" without dying and that's what is going to happen to those of us who know Jesus.

Again, in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, we read what's going to happen: "Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep [die physically], but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." Then Paul goes on to say, "then will be brought to pass the saying, 'death where is your sting? O, grave where is your victory?" As we are being raptured, those of us alive will be singing, "Death where is your sting—you didn't get me!" Those saints who are in the grave will be rising up taunting the grave saying, "Grave, where is your victory? You thought you had me, but I'm set free!"

Are you excited about the Second Coming of Jesus? The first Christians were. Dr. Alexander Maclaren writes: "The Early Church thought more about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ than about death or heaven. They were not looking for a cleft in the ground called a grave—but for a cleavage in the sky called glory!" The Transfiguration of Jesus is a preview of a coming attraction—the Second Coming of Jesus.

IT WAS A GLIMPSE OF HIS GLORY IN YOUR LIVES

If Jesus is glorious, you should listen to Him! DO YOU LISTEN TO JESUS ALONE?

The three disciples were in such awe at the scene it seemed almost like a dream; they were even sleepy. But verse 32 says they came fully awake and saw Jesus and the two other men. Simon Peter was always good at saying the wrong thing. He was the kind of guy who felt it was his job to fill every moment of silence with some verbal observation. The only time Peter ever opened his mouth was to change feet. He does it again saying, "Lord it is good for us to be here." Peter really had a grasp for the obvious! But like the rest of us, he kept on talking and got deeper in trouble. He said, "Let's build three tabernacles here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He was going to be the chairman of the building committee and they were going to have their very own Discover the Joy but not to build one building but three! These were to be shrines to commemorate this occasion. He made a big mistake when he put Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. But God is about to correct his misunderstanding.

At that moment a cloud enveloped them.  The glory of God was present. Just as the cloud had led Moses through the wilderness, this cloud settled on top of the mountain. Then the disciples heard the voice of the Father. It was gentle rebuke to Peter because the Father didn't say anything about Moses or Elijah. He said, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen, LISTEN to Him." Then the disciples saw Jesus alone. What a lesson! Peter was so influenced by that mountaintop experience, he wrote about it in one of his letters ten years later: 2 Peter 1:16 - 18: We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses to his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Did you notice the Father didn't say, "This is my Son, talk to Him?" Sometimes worship is just being still and quiet and listening for that still small voice. Remember when God called little Samuel's name? Samuel said, "Speak Lord for your servant is listening." Most of us rush into the presence of the Lord with a shopping list of needs and say, "Listen, Lord, your servant is speaking." Jesus is speaking—are you really listening?

LISTEN TO JESUS ABOUT THE THINGS HE WANTS YOU TO DO.

We're surrounded by crowds of hurting people who need our help. Oh, the mountaintop is sweet because we commune with Jesus! But when you return to the valley, people have all kinds of needs.

One fellow said to me once "I don't want those kind of people coming to my church." I said as gently as I could, "First of all, it's not your church—and what kind of people are you talking about?" "You know, those 'messed-up' people. We don't want them bringing their problems into this church." I said, "Those are exactly the kind of people that Jesus welcomed and helped—and since this is his church, I'm going to keep on welcoming them, too!"

Powerless disciples have nothing to offer a hurting world.

 I fear that multitudes of hurting people come to the church of the Lord Jesus and are hopeful the disciples of Jesus, the church, can help them and they go away disappointed. How many times has a couple on the verge of divorce come to our church or any church, seeking help? They come and depart disappointed. They could say, "I brought my sick marriage to the church for healing–but they could not." How many times has a broken hearted person struggling with emotional and physical abuse come to our church and said, "I brought my battered heart to church for healing–but they could not." Those words "they could not" keep echoing in my mind. We must realize the one resource we have that secular service organizations do not have is the power of Jesus Christ. That's the key. Jesus said, " ... apart from me, you can do NOTHING." (John 15:5) "But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you." (Acts 1:8) A self-centered, carnal Christian is a liability to the Body of Christ.

Physical suffering can be caused by demonic control but that is not always the case. Many times the New Testament records Jesus cast out demons and healed the sick. This boy's agony was demon-induced. The mean spirit caused him to have violent convulsions, while screaming and foaming at the mouth. Matthew reports the demon made the boy fall into the fire and into the water. Demons are invisible evil spirits who are determined to cause us misery. Our modern world often writes off demon activity as some old magic imagined by pre-scientific people. Dr. John Phillips compares our attitude to that of the residents of London during the Plague of 1665.

Thousands of people were dying mysteriously. Today we know a deadly virus spread by germs invisible to the naked eye caused the Bubonic plague. Dr. Phillips asserts if you could go back 400 years in time and tell the leading English physician invisible germs caused the plague, he would have laughed at you. The doctors would have ignored you and continued their "modern practice" of bleeding victims and burning foul-smelling potions to cure people. Dr. Phillips writes: "Modern man has adopted this kind of attitude about demons. We tell them that the world is in the grip of Satan, that he has countless hosts of invisible demons to aid him in his dark designs against mankind. People look at us with pitying scorn and suggest we peddle our theory to the publishers of science fiction. But, it is true all the same. Our world has been invaded by a virus far more deadly than the bubonic plague, a virus all the more deadly because it is able to think and because it directs its attacks against the soul rather than the body."

Angelic and demonic spirits are invisible to the naked eye but unlike a deadly virus, which can be seen through a microscope, you can't see these spirits with any instrument except the Word of God.

The devil and his demons don't want you to be aware of them. They prefer to remain incognito.  The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis contains fictional letters a head demon, Screwtape, writes to his nephew Wormwood, giving him instructions on how to best torment a his assigned victim. In one letter Screwtape writes, "The fact that demons are predominately comic figures in the modern imagination will help you. If any faint suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that, he therefore cannot believe in you." (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters).

 The devil and his demons try to prevent you from drawing near to Jesus

At the very moment the boy was brought before the Jesus, the demon caused a severe

convulsion. It wasn't just a coincidence. The main purpose of Satan and his fallen angels is to keep you from drawing close to Jesus. Charles Spurgeon writes:

As soon as ever the devil perceived that Christ was near he began to rend and tear his poor victim–like a bad tenant whose lease is out, he hates the Landlord, and so he does all the damage he can, because he is evicted. Often just before men are converted, they are worse than ever; there is an unusual display of their desperate wickedness, for then the devil has great wrath, now that his time is short.

" ... bring him to ME"

Finally, let's focus on Jesus. Can't you just picture Jesus spreading His arms open as He gives the invitation? He says, "Bring him to ME. Come just as you are." Dr. Luke simply says, "Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father." The crowd must have grown quiet because it says in verse 43, "and they were all amazed at the greatness of God."

Spiritual burdens are lifted by Jesus

Did you bring some burdens today? It may be a sick child, a sick marriage, a sick

heart or a sick checkbook. Do you hear Jesus saying, "Bring your problem to me?" He sees your need and He cares. Will you cast all your cares upon Him today? He cares for you.

The Majesty of Jesus Overwhelms Our

PRIDE (v. 46-48)

PREJUDICES (v. 49-50)

PURPOSES (v. 51)

1. Jesus was born to die for us . "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18

2. Your life direction will determine your destination. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

PRIDE (v. 52-55)

1. Some people will reject Jesus (and His followers)

2. We are not to judge and punish those who reject us

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger

does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20

PRIORITIES (v. 56-62)

Following Jesus must have priority over your:

1. Possessions

"Lord I will follow you anywhere!" Remember, Jesus has the ability to see beyond a person's words to examine our hearts. He saw in the heart of this man he really hadn't counted the cost of discipleship. He warned the man even foxes and birds have places to stay, but the Son of Man was what we would call today a homeless person. Here was a man who obviously cherished and treasured his home and his possessions. Jesus told him in order to follow Him he would have to leave his comfort zone. The idea of home is precious to all of us. Most of us agree with the saying, "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." We get attached to the people in our home, and to the "stuff" we have accumulated through the years. Have you ever stopped to consider the earthly poverty of Jesus? He had no possessions. When He died, his only possessions were the clothes on his back. His was so poor He had to get his tax payments out of the mouth of a fish. He was so poor He had to be buried in a borrowed tomb! I love 2 Corinthians 8:9, "You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

2. Plans

He wants to be excused to bury his father. On the surface you may think Jesus' reply is harsh and uncaring. Jesus doesn't accept the excuse. Instead He says, "Let the dead bury the dead—but you go and preach the kingdom of God." Is Jesus implying we should neglect our family in their time of need? Not at all.  Bible scholars agree the phrase "First, I must bury my father" refers to the duty of a firstborn son to stay close to his home until his father died. Now, we can be certain this man's father had not just died in the past few hours. Jewish burial customs dictated a corpse be buried within 24 hours of death, because they didn't embalm like the Egyptians had done for years. So, if the man's father recently died, he wouldn't have been out in the setting where Jesus was calling for disciples; he would have been following the carefully prescribed burial customs. No, this man's father was still alive. He was telling Jesus one day he would follow Jesus. That day would be sometime in the future after his father died, then he would follow Jesus. In other words, this potential disciple already had his prearranged plans in place and he would not deviate from his plans. Jesus was using a play on words when He said, "Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead." But because there were thousands of people dying spiritually, it was a higher priority to preach the good news of the kingdom to them.

You really intend to follow Jesus, but there are some other things you think you have to do first.