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Sunday Morning 11 Nov 2007
Mat 17v1-8
Intro:
In this text we have a great picture of the kingdom of God
in both it’s “here and now aspects” and it’s “to come”
aspects.
Why do I say that this event is an illustration of the
kingdom?
Matthew 16:28 28 I tell you the truth, some
who are standing here will not taste death before they see
the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
What is the kingdom like now? V1 and v7-8
A) The kingdom now can be likened to a journey- v1.
V1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and
John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain
by themselves.”
In this journey Jesus is in charge - “he took with him”
We don’t chose to go ourselves! Jesus has to take us.
This shows that to be in the kingdom is a privilege!
Consider that if you are in the kingdom you have been
“taken”. chosen!
In this journey Jesus leads the way - “led them”
Not only have we been taken but we are then led!
Jesus does not just get us into the Kingdom, he then
continues to lead us. Life in the kingdom starts Now!
Not when we die!
Note: the importance of being led.
Danger of getting lost if not led.
The Leader knows the way.
Being led means we are going in a planned direction.
Thus not time wasting or going around in circles.
As Jesus leads us how should we view our lives? As
obedient servants of the Kingdom. We have work to do
that we are being led to.
In this journey the going is often hard - “up a high
mountain” probably Mt Hermon. 9166 feet high! 9232 feet -
another source.
Climbing up a mountain is no easy task. Time, effort and
sweat are required.
So life in the kingdom now is often not
easy.
But we have Jesus!
B) In the kingdom now we have 2 words of
encouragement - that come along with a tender touch: v7
“But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't
be afraid." ”
“get up” - get on with the work basically
As we climb the mountain we often fall!
The world, the flesh and the devil often trip us up.
But the kingdom word is simply “get up.”
Don’t let the falling down stop you from the climb!
You’ll never enjoy the end if you give up!
So Jesus never says to us “stay down!”
why? Because of the second word -
“don’t be afraid” - the comfort of the kingdom now, as
always, is that we don’t need to be afraid of anything.
In other words Jesus says you will make it! The top may
seem like a long way off but just keep on going. There
is nothing to be afraid of.
You cannot fail! No test that will defeat you!
Note the way in which these Kingdom Words are spoken: he
came to them and he touched them! So tender, so loving and
compassionate. This Jesus who was moments before
transfigured was still the same compassionate Saviour.
C) in the kingdom now we have the work of looking to Jesus.
8 When they looked up, they saw no-one
except Jesus. ”
This is our job as we live in the kingdom now. As we
climb the hill. We look to the top. We look to Jesus.
How often in rock climb climbers tell beginners not to
look down.
We to can’t afford to take our eyes off Jesus!
This is what life in the kingdom now is all about. We
keep focused on Jesus.
Only with this clear focus can we really live in the
kingdom.
Think of what there is out there to distract us:
Materialism. Life is all about how much stuff we can get
before we die!
Worry about the world and tomorrow - all the prophecies
of doom about climate change and oil shortage etc.
But the disciples lifts up her eyes and sees only Jesus
and that is all we need!
Jesus is at the centre of the world. Everything that
goes on, goes on round about Him.
The Journey is all about Jesus:
He is the one who takes us and leads us in the first place.
He is the one who encourages us along the way. And he is the
One who we are aiming for in the End: we look to Him. He is
the Mountain Top. He is the Peak. He is the Goal.
sunday evening 11th nov 2007
What will the kingdom be like? V2- 6
A) The place we are going to is a place of change - v2
Transfiguration
“there he was transfigured before them…………” the brightness
is the visualisation of Gods glory.
“metamorfo,omai
be changed in form, be transformed”
metamorphosis!
Jesus was changed before their very eyes. For Jesus is
was not so much a change as an unveiling. His glory was
now being let lose / his true identity revealed!
This glorious Jesus is the Messiah the disciples had
already been following! But now with the mask taken
away!
For us too in the Kingdom Come we will be changed! yet
not as an unveiling but as a true transforming.
All the elements of sin that still remain will be taken
away and our salvation will run into its end point of
glorification! Rom 8 v30.
B) It will be a place of community / fellowship / goodness-
v3 & 4.
3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and
Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to
Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I
will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and
one for Elijah."
There is community and fellowship. Jesus was talking
with these two OT greats. Representative of the whole
OT, the Law and the Prophets.
True fellowship can only taken place between those who
really know each other. And Peter knows who these guys
are!
Thus, heaven will be a place where we know everyone and
where we are fully known. There will be no secrets,
nothing to hid. Perfect community! Nothing to be ashamed
of!
This will all happen instantly and suddenly - “just
then!”
We will brake into the new world but yet it will be
perfectly natural, very familiar! There will be
discussion, talking, fellowship!
It will be a good place to be - v4. "Lord, it is good
for us to be here.”
Some of the images we have of the Kingdom Come are very
dull and boring! Nothing could be further from the
truth.
Peter may not have been fully aware of what was going on
but he did know that it was good. Just something really
good.
We possibly come close to that when we have a really
good experience and all we can say about it is that it
was “just so good!”.
C) It will be a place of beauty (a bright cloud enveloped
them), love, encouragement (with him I am well pleased) and
listening - v5
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud
enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my
Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to
him!"
The Kingdom to come will be beautiful - “a bright
cloud”. In nature the bright clouds in the sky are quite
beautiful. In the bible the image of the cloud is often
used to describe Gods glory and power and presence. The
kingdom to come will be a place of Gods glory, power and
presence. And we can add to that Beauty.
It will be a place of love too. This almost goes without
saying. Yet, the Father did say it! “I love you!”
There will be no doubt in the kingdom come that we are
loved unconditionally.
It will be a place where we are encouraged to fulfil the
calling that God has placed on our lives! “with him I am
well pleased.” That word will be spoken to us also.
“well done my good and faithful servant.” And yet there
will still be work to do. We will still have a calling
to fulfil - yet this calling will be followed without
the pain and toil that we associate work with at this
point in the kingdom.
And it will be a place of listening. Just as we listen
in the kingdom now, so we will listen then. In other
words we will be learning new things! What we know of
God already is wonderful and too much to properly apply,
yet there is more to come! Thus we will always be
Learners! Even in the fullness of the Kingdom Come we
will be Learners. Listening and learning. Growing and
maturing!
D) It will be a place of worship - v6
“6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face
down to the ground, terrified.”
This is a picture of total fear at the sound of the
Almighty.
They are so afraid that they bury their faces in the ground!
This is the disciples reaction, on this side of the kingdom.
But in the Kingdom Come our worship will have no fear
whatsoever.
Maybe at times we do still fear God. Because we know of
his holiness and our sinfulness.
In the Kingdom Come there will be perfect love, and
where there is that love, there is no fear!
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love
drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The
one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Our example of worship in the Kingdom Come is Moses and
Elijah as they stand there glorified and in the presence
of the Glorious Jesus - at ease, talking!
God will still be almighty and holy - the same yesterday
today and forever - but we will be changed. There will
be no sin & no fear!
Yet it will still be utterly awesome.
Note: the disciples are able to bear the glorified,
transfigured presence of Jesus. But they cannot bear the
voice of God! And indeed at the Voice of God all the
revealed glory is gone! V8.
Thus our worship experience in heaven will be glorious
and awesome and powerful; although fear-less.