The Gospel According to Mark (Part 29)

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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 29)

Welcome to Jesus church here and online

We are traveling through the way of Jesus

• Early Christians actually didn’t call themselves Christians
  • That term is actually used 3 times in the scriptures
  • But the predominant term used for Christians was “The Way”

Acts 24:14 (Paul)

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the prophets.

• The reason this was used more than the term Christian
  • Christ was the long awaited king… and while Jesus is King
  • Believers more identified with Jesus as the messiah
  • And no one wants to say “I’m a messiahian”
• Christ was used – But more in contrast to Caesar
  • Paul uses Christ in his letters as who we should pledge loyalty to
  • That Jesus is the long awaited King
  • While we are the followers of the King –
• Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life”
  • So this was adopted as the name for followers of the Messiah
  • That probably changed around 300 AD with Constantine
  • Made Christianity the official religion of Rome
    • The way was a term that felt more like a sect…
    • Which Rome would not have wanted

So we are traveling through the way of Jesus

• Last week we looked at a question Jesus asks
  • And the answer that Peter gives
  • But the story asks the question to us as well
  • Jesus says “Who do you say that I am”
• Peter SEES Jesus clearly as the son of God for the very first time
  • And what Mark is posing to us… how do you see Jesus
  • Who do you say that he is

Today we jump in Mark 9

• At the end of Mark 8 Jesus tells disciples he will come again
  • And he will come in the Glory of his father with the angels

Mark 9:1-9

And he said to them, “Assuredly I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves, and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here, and let us make three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying “This is my beloved son, her Him!” Suddenly when they had looked around they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

[PRAY]

I think listening is quickly becoming a lost art

Definition of listening NOT waiting for your turn to talk

• Social media – Ironically supposed to enhance communication
  • Twitter – People were having panic attacks
  • Because they limited how many times you could post to 2400
  • And people whine about being put in “Twitter Jail”
    • We DO NOT KNOW how to listen
• And sometimes it makes things really awkward
  • Like have you ever been at a birthday party
  • You start telling the group circle you’re story… really into it
  • Only to look up and no one is listening
    • No good way to play that off – Worst feeling
    • Luckily only affects you b/c guess what…
    • No one was listening
• I come from a pretty loud Italian family
  • Best way to be heard is be loudest… so if you aren’t loud (sorry)
  • Some people went to preschool
  • Learned the take turns talking game (Red ball)
• My wife is great communicator respects the law of the ball (I don’t)
  • We will be in the car and she’s telling a story
    • I’ll yell out “LOOK A CLOUD”

TAG – All that to say: I know I need to work on listening

[Brings us to our story]

Only time in Bible God actually talks over someone

While Peter is still talking… God talks over Peter

• And I don’t blame him – Peter does most of the talking in the N.T.
  • Even though its Gods story
  • Peter is that guy who thinks its gotta be about me
• And they’re in an amazing situation: Jesus, Peter, James and John
  • On Mountain and Jesus starts glowing like a nite brite
  • Moses and Elijah appear
• What does Peter do?
  • Peter does what Peter does (what humans do)
  • Peter speaks up… WHY?
  • Obviously I’m here to say something and do something

Mk 9:4-5

And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter answered…

• Here’s the funny thing… no one asked him a question
  • Peter is the guy who answers the question no one asked
    • So good that I’m here
      • Jesus – Son of God… Moses – Giver of the law
      • Elijah – Great Prophet… Me – the fisherman
  • What a great team
    • Reason it’s good I’m here is b/c I build stuff… build huts
    • Imagine Moses asking Jesus “who is this guy?”
    • Jesus – “It’s a looong story”

And its funny b/c as Christians we look at Peter and we shake our heads

• But who are we kidding: We’re the exact SAME
  • We find moments of inspiration
  • End of conference / New Years resolution / Inspiring event
  • To do something and say something
• God it’s a good thing that I’m alive
  • Now let me tell you exactly how I’m going to help you out
  • And we list all of this Huts we can make for God
    • Now was Peters hut idea bad thing? In of itself… NO

But God talks OVER Peter – Not only does he talk over Peter…

• He sends a cloud to envelop Peter
  • Equivalent – my daughter who loves to talk
  • Just taking a blanket and drop it over her head
    • “Just stop”
• God doesn’t just speak over Peter, he sends a fog
  • And FOG doesn’t stand for “favor of God”
  • God blinds him by fog and talks over him
  • Doesn’t even let him finish his sentence

Very apparent God is completely disinterested in what Peter is saying –

• God’s like, okay that’s enough – Like the dog whisperer
  • Silence you with Fog & my booming, audible voice from heaven
  • “This is my son in whom I am well pleased, listen to him.”
    • Next thing – Peter, James and John are on their faces
    • If I was John… I’d be like “Peter shut your big mouth”

2 quick observations

1 – Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light

• Significant b/c Jews knew there was a parallel being made here
  • Another great leader had his face shine brightly as well
  • But there is a distinct difference

Ex. 34:29

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking to God.

• Moses face did the same thing as Jesus…
  • But after Moses leaves… his face begins to fade
  • What’s does that communicate
    • Jesus face was shining from within
    • Moses face was shining from without
• Message: Jesus is greater than Moses, the law and is its fulfillment
  • His glory is not a reflection of God… its b/c he IS God
  • His is the promised messiah

2 – Why Moses and Elijah… why not Abraham… David… Isaiah

• Moses and Elijah both significant in Jewish history
  • Moses receiver of the law
  • Elijah most prominent prophet of OT
• Both had magnanimous moments with God on mountain tops
  • Moses on Mt. Sinah / Elijah on Mt. Horeb
  • Both left this Earth mysteriously
    • Moses was buried by God – hid bones
    • Elijah – Caught up in a whirl wind
    • Jewish belief was that both were taken by God
  • Larger than life hero’s
    • Moses – Representing the law
    • Elijah – Representing the prophets
      • Jesus standing in glorified state
• Message to Israel
  • One has come who has fulfilled the law
  • One has come who has fulfilled the prophets
    • Prophet, Priest and King

Back to story – Peter does what humans do

Peter is watching this and is compelled to speak up

• Peter thinks Jesus brought him there to do stuff and say stuff
  • Because I am Peter
  • Why else would he bring me…
• Which is a good question – Why are Peter, James and John there?
  • Clearly not there for what Peter thought
  • And that’s such a relevant question to us
    • Reason they were on mountain
    • Same reason we are on Earth
• Why am I in Gods story, why am I on Gods team, what’s my role?
  • Peter thinks reason is he builds stuff and can talk
  • God tells him he missed the point by blinding and silencing
    • On faces and terrified
    • BUT THE ANSWER is right at the beginning of the text

Mk 9:2

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves, and He was transfigured before them.

Just imagine how this all played out… walking up the mountain unsure…

• Wouldn’t you think Jesus could have given a little heads up
  • Hey guys just so you know…
    • My face is about to turn into a U2 concert
    • Clothes are about to become a Tide commercial
  • But don’t worry its just the Transfiguration
    • Where my essence inside is gonna be revealed outside
    • It’ll Moment declaring my deity and messiahship
• AND YOU’RE witnesses to help world know how this went down

Mk 9:4

And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

• You wanna know why they were there…
  • They were there to look and listen… they were there to witness
  • But did you want us to do anything
    • I’m good with huts
    • James can do numbers
    • John can run fast and loves people

The transfiguration was for their transformation

Because life is not so much about what you can build

• As it is about what we are called to witness
  • Their primary call to join Jesus… exact same that we’re called to
  • To see something and witness something
  • We just want to figure out all the huts we can build
    • We line up our huts
• There is nothing wrong with building huts… God calls us to do stuff
  • But there is something FAR more important
  • Over what you can build… say… do…
  • ITS WHO YOU CAN SEE

Mk 9:7

… and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him (listen to him… pay attention…)

There are only 2 times in Synoptic that God speaks directly to Earth

• Both times they say the exact same thing

Matt. 3:17

And behold, a voice from heaven said, “this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”

• Fast forward to transfiguration
  • Peter has a plan, an idea, gonna help God, gonna be amazing
  • God interrupts with
    • “this is my son in whom I am well pleased, listen to him”

When God audibly repeats himself to Earth…

• Should be abundantly clear that this is the most important thing
  • God is trying to send a message to earth
  • You must witness what I’ve given to you in Jesus
    • Before you get busy
    • Doing… Talking… Saying… Building
• Stop and do the most important thing
  • Witness, admire, soak in, relish my son
  • Just stop and make Him first
• And if God has to, he will blind you so you stop looking at yourself
  • He will quiet you so you stop listening to yourself (WHY)
    • So you can hear him
    • So you can see him
  • Remember this all goes together
    • Do you have eyes but cannot see…
    • Do you have ears but cannot hear…
  • And their response is They fall on their faces
    • God is speaking the most crucial declaration in all the N.T.
    • This is the one I love
    • Know me, see me, hear me, have relationship with me
      • All because of him

Resounding message: We need to witness to God first

You can have plans… disciplines… resolutions

• But none of that can come before we take time to witness Jesus
  • So many of us are so afraid we are gonna miss God
  • How do I make sure I see Him… make sure I hear Him
  • What if I miss him
    • Am I gonna miss that promotion
    • Am I gonna get in a wreck
    • Will my kids get hurt
• Is this Gods point… is that how God operated
  • Peter is so occupied with missing an opportunity… he’s a mess
  • But what Jesus does for them he does for us

Matt 16:7-8

But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid. When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

• God does want you afraid – he is good/gracious when we miss it
  • He will walk across a room… touch you and say “Have no fear”
    • There is no fear in witnessing
  • B/C when you fulfill your primary job to witness Jesus’ work
    • Easy to fulfill your secondary job to engage in Jesus’ work

Luke 10:40-42 (remember when Martha was busy making her tents)

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me. And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.

It says they lifted up eyes and saw no one… but Jesus only

• Where is Moses… where is Elijah
  • No longer needed
    • No law to fulfill… prophecies to interpret
    • Just Jesus to love
  • It all points to Jesus
    • All the law point to Jesus
    • All the prophecies point to Jesus
    • It’s about Jesus

Every sermon that will ever leave my mouth – It will be about Jesus

• Doesn’t matter if you know enough… do enough
  • Just find Jesus… adore Jesus… love Jesus
  • He will help you with the rest
• Why are we on this mountain
  • It’s not about what you build
  • It’s about what you witness

This morning we get to witness…

• Have ___ people who want to declare that Jesus changed their lives
  • And are asking us not to do anything… but to bare witness
  • Of what Jesus has done